Miriam v Kenaniah

             Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels and dancing. Miriam sang to them: “Sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. Both horse and driver he has hurled into the sea.” (Exodus 15:20-21)

Kenaniah the head Levite was in charge of the singing; that was his responsibility because he was skillful at it. (I Chronicles 15:22)

“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. (Joel 2:28)

There are references to singing in Genesis but not attributed to any specific person. Laban’s rebuke of Jacob for absconding with his family included that Laban didn’t even have the chance to play the timbrel or sing and dance them off. In Exodus, Miriam was called a prophet, not a singer. She led the worship team at least once. Moses taught the Israelites at least one song, but their songs weren’t entertainment. In part, they were designed to help people remember.

Once Israel had a king, they developed a branch of the Levites dedicated to music, with Kenaniah as the leader. If nothing else, David needed someone to sing the songs he wrote.

Perhaps there were always the “Kenaniahs” around – people who could make a living through their art. But through Scripture, creatives didn’t seem to be a separate, special class of people. People sang. People made up songs. They invented things. They were like “mighty warriors” who might be “the least of the least.” Somewhere along the line, we lost our way. We bought into the idea that only the Kenaniahs (and their lines) or only the James Pattersons, Taylor Swifts, Magic Johnsons, and whatever superstar we might choose – only these can write stories, sing songs, be athletes, or whatever. If we can’t be a superstar, we can’t be creative. This idea kept me from writing for decades.

But creativity has never been only for the select few. We are made in the image of God, who is the Creator. In Joel, He promised that when His Spirit was poured out on people, they would dream dreams and see visions. And dreams and visions are – among other things – sources of inspiration for creativity. That doesn’t mean we’ll all be superstars. Your creativity may never reach beyond your kitchen or your church, but we can all be Miriams, who pick up a timbrel and sing – or whatever. It’s not limited to only Kenaniahs and the superstars anymore.