As a Christian music artist, I find it especially comforting and inspiring that the Bible has so much to say about the power of music! So, even several millenia ago musicians had official leadership jobs. Creativity was respected. In fact, musicians were important members of armies, preceding the soldiers onto the battlefield playing their instruments. Of course, in the Psalms, there are many verses that refer to music – various instruments, jubilant singing, praise, birds joining song with flutes and lyres, cymbals symbolizing the Lord’s thundering voice. But in the Bible, we find a great example of healing Christian music which brought relief to a king who was tormented by an evil spirit. What can we learn from this example of millenia ago of the effect of music on the soul?

There is a piece of classical music entitled “The Little Shepherd,” published in 1908 by Claude Debussey. The imagery my music teacher painted for me while I was practicing it, was to picture a little shepherd boy on a hill by himself, overlooking his flock playing this rather mournful melody on his flute. The sounds dip and swell with interesting flourishes and unordinary rhythms. I always pictured him as King David, the great psalmist of the Bible, as a little boy keeping watch over his father’s sheep. How many hours a day he played music in the fields? Did he carry something with him to jot down lyrics? Were his songs an extension of his conversation with Almighty God? Were the melodies prayers rising from his heart, communicating a depth of emotion in the more pure way he was capable of?

If the answer to these questions is “yes,” then I can related. Every human emotion has found release through music; I have experienced] a plethora of them seated on a piano bench. The one I value the most, however, is when the notes become as a spoken prayer carried directly to the throne room of my God.

On the topic of throne rooms, think about 1 Samuel 16:14-23. Before he become King, David’s days of playing harp in the fields were interrupted by orders play music for King Saul. His royal duty? To soothe the King Saul’s foul moods.

Saul has disobeyed the Lord and therefore God has set his replacement in motion.(1 Samuel 15) Little did Saul know, the prophet Samuel, under the Lord’s direction, had already anointed David the shepherd boy to be the next king of Israel. (1 Samuel 16:1-13) Evidently David was a gifted musicial since that talent gained him a job in the King’s court. He was also touted as a brave and well-spoken soldier, which David would continue to prove as time went on. His healing music, however, is what first gave him entrance with the king.

By disobeying God, Saul has lost the Lord’s anointing. The Lord removed his Spirit from Saul, and in fact, sent an evil spirit to bother him. Worried, the people who served King Saul decied to find a great musician who could play well and make Saul feel better. (1 Samuel 16:15-17) David was recommended and eventually to work for the king full time. (1 Samuel 16:18-22) When the evil spirit would torment Saul, David would play his harp, and Saul would find healing.

Haven’t we all experienced times of anger, fear, worry, anguish, grief and decided to play a favorite song (either on your ipod or with an instrument) and soon began feeling relief? What is it about music that affects us in this way? What gives music this healing power?

The healing power referenced in these verses stems from David has the Spirit of God resting on him. (1 Samuel 16:13) What an important truth for any Christian artist to keep in mind! The skill, the gift, is from God alone – even from the instant of conception. The Creator weaves in threads of understanding and talent which will allow us to become a skilled and intuitive musician.

There is a gulf between a skilled musician and one who combines skill with intuition! I have heard many skilled musicians play, but not many possess the intuition and a depth of emotion to balance the technical ability. I often tell my piano students, “Anyone can play the notes on the page. It takes a special musician to make those notes come alive to express emotion. It takes a special musician to give the listener goosebumps.”

And the ability to do that comes as a gift of God. Let us not ever think it is something inherently wonderful in ourselves! It is the God’s Spirit flowing through our hands, our voice and touching people, bringing healing to the hurting, inspiring praise, ushering in an spirit of worship.

Just as the Lord used David’s musical gift to bring King Saul relief, we can turn over ourselves and our talent to Almighty God, asking that His Holy Spirit would use our music to heal.

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