Magnificent Prayer #145
Magnificent Prayer #145
Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the LORD has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts—to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic craftsmanship.”
Exodus 35:30–33
[One of Oswald Chambers’ passions was for the gospel of Christ to impact artists, poets, and writers—what he referred to as the “aesthetic kingdom.” In an 1895 letter he wrote the following:]
Our Savior, as far as my limited knowledge goes, has no representative to teach, to reprove, to exhort [in the aesthetic kingdom]…and oh, Spirit of God, Thou knowest that an ambition, a longing, a love has seized me powerfully and convinced me of the lack…
The kingdom of the aesthetic lies in a groveling quagmire, half fine, half impure. There is a crying need for a fearless preacher of Christ in the midst of that kingdom, for a fearless writer, writing with the blood of Christ, proclaiming His claims in the midst of that kingdom, for a fearless lecturer above pandering to popular taste, to warn and exhort that all the kingdoms of this world are to become Christ’s—and that artists, poets, and musicians be good and fearless Christians…
I think I have heard that cry and have seen the beseeching look of Christ toward that kingdom, longing for it to be His own…The duty of ministers is to instruct the people out of their bigoted notions against art.
It is for the artist [who is a Christian] to enter this aesthetic kingdom and live and struggle and strain for its salvation and exaltation.
OSWALD CHAMBERS
Pray About It: There is indeed a need for Christians to have a voice in the arts. In centuries past, lovers of Christ dominated the arts. Today, we have surrendered the aesthetic kingdom to the enemy—and far too often we even partake of the resulting “art” that emanates from hell.
For pray-ers who are artists, musicians, poets, writers or otherwise a member of the “aesthetic kingdom” don’t surrender your faith in pursuit of success. Instead, yield your gift to the Master Designer of the universe. Seek your creative edge through Him.
One often forgotten advantage to prayer is that it enhances creativity. It was said that George Frideric Handel fasted and prayed for many days before composing the “Hallelujah Chorus.” He later said that as he composed, “I did think I did see all heaven before me, and the great God Himself.”
In your prayer time, ask the Greatest Creator of all to sharpen your gifts and to allow you to be a vessel of his originality. If you aren’t artistically gifted, pray for those who are.
We desperately need a revival in the arts community.
Holy Spirit, think through me till your ideas are my ideas.
AMY CARMICHAEL
All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything the LORD has commanded.
Exodus 35:10
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