By Marney Blom
Towering almost 400 feet above the main gateway into Jerusalem, is a stringed suspension bridge known as “David’s harp” a striking symbol of a monarch who was a skilled musician, and the greatest king ever to rule over Israel.
For the past 2000 years, however, the seraphic sounds of a Davidic harp ensemble all but vanished after the destruction of the second temple. Although harp music was central to the 24-hour, seven-day a week temple worship King David initiated, also referred to in Scripture as the Tabernacle of David, for approximately two millennia no Davidic harps, harpists and certainly no harp schools were to be found in Israel.
Until now.
Michael-David, a classically trained Canadian musician, composer and producer, recently launched Israel’s first modern school of the harp in the city of Jerusalem. It’s an appropriate venture for those, such as Jerusalem House of Prayer for all Nations founder Tom Hess, who see the reintroduction of harp worship as a necessary component of the restoration of the Tabernacle of David, also known as the “times of the final redemption” the days immediately preceding the coming of the Messiah.
“We live in the generation of the restoration of the tabernacle of David, preparing for the Son of David,” he says, “and David was the one that played the harp. David was king of Israel. He was the one that started 24/7.”
From beginners to professionals, Michael-David’s 14 harp students have been drawn to Jerusalem from six nations to be mentored in a unique style of harp playing. Although music technique is core to Michael-David’s curriculum, it takes a backseat to improvisation and being lead by the whims and nuances of the Spirit. Michael-David explains that he has modeled his school after the way he believes King David would have played his harp. “Obviously his way of playing was very spontaneous, very ad libbed, straight off, without having any form of music holding him back. When the students of the prophetic harp come here, I teach them these concepts.”
Teachers and students attend the harp school to learn not just how to play the instrument with skill, but how to worship, hear God’s voice and express these impressions through harp music and prophetic song. Some correlate the re-emergence of harp worship with the fulfillment of prophetic Scriptures. Michael-David elaborates.
“The restoration speaks of what was originally going on: 24-hour praise and worship around the throne of God. That ceased after the temple was destroyed and Amos 9 speaks of how [the Temple] will be restored” . It is also connected with aliyah [the return of the Jewish people to the land of Israel] because at the end of that portion of Scripture it speaks of the Jewish people returning to the land never again to be plucked out.”
Tom Hess agrees. “We’re at a time right now where we are going to see the beginning of a shift. Many more people are going to be picking up the harp and it will be restored as a primary instrument in leading worship. I believe we are going to see the day when many of the 24/7 watches around the world will be lead by harpists.”
For professionally trained American concert harpist Elizabeth Lilly, the school of the prophetic harp was a life-changing experience. “At the prophetic harp school we’re really learning to play from our hearts and to play what God is giving us in the Spirit. It’s very different from when I go to my jobs and play the music that is written in front of me.”
Prophetic harp student Daniel Rosborough of Ontario says, “It’s a very accelerated process. “We’ve learned to compose and transpose music, and we’ve learned all the chords. I think the challenge is to stay in tune with what God is trying to do in and through this course.”
Elizabeth Merz of Germany relates to this sentiment. “I don’t have to play perfect music. I just play from my heart to God. It’s an eternal quality.”
As Michael-David and his harp students take their newly-acquired skills to the streets of Jerusalem, the celestial sounds of an ensemble of harpists is again heard rising from the City of David the historic home of the great harpist-king of Israel.
And for those who witnessed the birth of the harp ensemble in Jerusalem, that was a heavenly sound.
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