Ezekiel 44:10-16 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) 10 But the Levites who went far away from Me when Israel went astray, who went astray from Me after their idols, they shall bear [the punishment for] their iniquity and guilt.
11 They shall minister in My sanctuary, having oversight as guards at the gates of the temple and ministering in the temple. They shall slay the burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall attend the people to serve them.
12 Because [the priests] ministered to [the people] before their idols and became a stumbling block of iniquity and guilt to the house of Israel, therefore I have lifted up My hand and have sworn against them, says the Lord God, that they shall bear the punishment for their iniquity and guilt.
13 And they shall not come near to Me to do the office of a priest to Me, nor come near to any of My holy things that are most sacred; but they shall bear their shame and their punishment for the abominations which they have committed.
14 Yet I will appoint them as caretakers to have charge of the temple, for all the service of the temple and for all that will be done in it.
15 But the Levitical priests, the sons of Zadok, who kept the charge of My sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from Me, shall come near to Me to minister to Me, and they shall attend Me to offer to Me the fat and the blood, says the Lord God.
16 They shall enter into My sanctuary; and they shall come near to My table to minister to Me, and they shall keep My charge.
Some, not all, worship leaders have unwittingly led those who follow them astray. Whether they realize it or not, they have put ministry before God and sitting at the Lord's feet daily. In doing so, they have idolized fame, making a name for themselves, and working the ministry life instead of having a pure heart of worship before God the Father and spending quality time with Him. As the leader goes, so do the followers. If the worship leaders are not in a close relationship with God the Father, neither will the followers be. Followers look to the leaders to tell them what true relationship with Father is and what authentic worship looks like. If the leaders are focused on popularity in ministry, then they do not have the time or energy to pour into a personal relationship with God the Father. Therefore, their worship is cursory at best, hollow, and not pleasing to God. It becomes only lip service. Likewise the followers will follow suit thinking if it is okay for the leaders then it must be okay for them as well. Thus the perpetuation of empty worship of God. For the songs are performed as if they are just like any other song without a thought of the meaning of the lyrics, instead of truly glorifying the Father. For this very reason leaders will be judged more harshly than followers at the Judgment Seat. These leaders would have been those who would have only been allowed to be the gatekeepers for the Temple of the Lord. They would have been prohibited from the inner sanctuary where the Father resides; the intimate place of fellowship with Him.
Then there are those who are true sons and daughters of Zadok who lead the Body of Christ into pure-hearted worship. These are those who press into relationship with the Father and worship Him in the secret place of intimacy with Him; who keep themselves from the idol worship of success and popularity. When they lead worship Holy Spirit permeates the atmosphere and leads the followers into to pure worship. Worship from the heart that puts Christ front and center and on the Throne of the music. The type of worship that touches the heart of hearts of the followers and presents to them the tangible presence of God. Life-changing worship that leads the audience into a deeper place with the Father. These pure worship leaders would have had access to the Holy of Holies and minister to the Lord personally in the Temple in the Jerusalem.
It all comes down to the motive of the heart and relationship with God the Father. So where do you stand? Do you really know God the Father and have a pure heart of worship as a result of a close personal relationship with Him? Or do you know of God and He is only an acquaintance to you? Will you merely be a gatekeeper of the Temple of God or have the authority to enter the inner chamber and be allowed to minister to the Father personally? This is important to consider. What we do with our relationship with God the Father here in this life will be mirrored in our level of honor and reward in heaven.