Was Satan a Worship Leader – the Argument FOR:
The verse in Ezekiel names a musical instrument, “timbrels,” a musical term used throughout the Old Testament. Immediately following the word, is another word that is quite possibly another musical term.
The Ezekiel account could likely mean, “Satan, you have been prepared for an occupation using praise tambourines and pipes.”
Was Satan a Worship Leader – the Argument AGAINST:
The verse contains one musical term buried within a gem-related context. The preceding portion of Ezekiel 28:13 says “every precious stone was your covering.” (NKJV) Most translations render a word that generally means “tambourines” as “settings” in this instance because it seems to flow with the theme.
Ezekiel is probably using the image of tambourines to describe the extravagance of Satan’s beauty: He is so laden with jewels that he is like tambourine fixed not with cheap metal pieces but with jewels.
WAS SATAN A WORSHIP LEADER—DOES IT MATTER?
Whether or not Satan was in charge of music before he fell from glory is probably of little consequence. The real takeaway is why he fell—pride.
The reason I tend to think of Satan as a former worship leader is the powerful connection between music and pride. I can’t imagine any other skill that would make a created being so full of himself as to think he could overthrow God himself.
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While at a lesser scale, worship leaders are susceptible to similar mistakes. Each week our voices are amplified and we sing cool songs and get thanks and “nice-jobs” from congregants. Especially talented worship leaders leave the church altogether to follow careers in the mainstream market. According to VH1, Usher, Katy Perry, John Legend, Carrie Underwood and many others started in church.
Not saying that these artists are the devil—indeed many keep their standards and make a positive impression on the mainstream market. The point is, there is a lot of personal glory to be had for excellent musicians. That fact could be just the lasting legacy of the first musician in the universe—Satan himself.
This article asking “was Satan a worship leader” originally appeared here.
