As a Christian musician, I find it especially reassuring and inspiring that the Bible has so much to say about healing music! So, even several millenia ago musicians had official roles in leadership. Creativity was honored. In fact, musicians were crucial members of the military, leading the soldiers onto the battlefield playing their instruments. Of course, in the Psalms, multitudes of verses refer to music – various instruments, jubilant singing, praise, cymbals symbolizing the Lord’s thundering voice, birds joining song with flutes and lyres. But in the Bible, we find a fascinating example of healing Christian music which brought relief to a king who was tortured by an evil spirit. What can we learn from this example of centuries 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 teacher describe for me while I was learning the piece, was to picture a young shepherd on a hill alone, watching over his sheep playing this rather mournful melody on his flute. The sounds dip and swell with interesting trills and unordinary rhythms. I always pictured him as King David, the great psalmist of the Bible, as a little boy watching his father’s flocks. I wonder how many hours a day in the field did he play music? Did he carry a quill pen with him to pen the psalms? Were his songs an extension of how he spoke with the God of Abraham? Was the music a prayer rising from his soul, communicating a depth of emotion in the purest form he was capable of?

If “yes” is the answer to any of these questions, then I can related. All human emotions have found expression through music; I personally have experienced] a plethora of them seated on a piano bench. The one I value the most, however, is when the notes become a prayer directly to God in His throne room.

On the topic of throne rooms, look at 1 Samuel 16:14-23. Before he become King, David’s days of playing harp in the fields were interrupted by a summons to play music for King Saul. His royal duty? To calm the King when he was overwhelmed with a foul mood.

Saul has disobeyed God’s commands and therefore been rejected as King.(1 Samuel 15) Unbeknownst to Saul, 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 well-spoken and courageous warrior, which David would prove later in his life. His healing music, however, is what first gave him entrance with the king.

Because King Saul had disobeyed the Lord, God had rejected him as king. The Lord removed his Spirit from Saul, and in fact, sent an evil spirit to torment him. Worried, the people who attended the King suggested finding a good musician who could play well and make Saul feel better. (1 Samuel 16:15-17) David was recommended and eventually brought into full time service to the king. (1 Samuel 16:18-22) David would play music when the evil spirit tormented Saul 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 a CD or with an instrument) and soon began to feel better? Why does music affect us this way? Why is it that music has healing power?

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

There is a gulf between a skilled musician and one who joins skill with intuition! I have heard many skilled musicians play, but not many have the intuition and a depth of emotion to accompany the technical talent. I often tell my piano students, “Anyone can play the notes on the page. It takes a special musician to bring those notes to life with emotion.

And the ability to do that comes only from an anointing of God. Remember that it’s not something we can take credit for! It is the Spirit of God flowing through our hands, our voice and blessing others, bringing healing to the hurting, encouraging praise, ushering in an attitude of worship.

Just as the Lord used the music of David to soothe King Saul, we can sacrifice ourselves and our talent to Almighty God, asking that His Holy Spirit would use our music to heal.

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