In the midst of sorrows we sing. Music has a way to help us process the issues of life in positive ways. It can facilitate change by motivating us to press on and not give up. It can cause us to stand up for the things we believe in. Music can enable the hearer to have an elevated mood and to heal from a low state of mind. Music can be a catalyst and provoke the brain to release endorphines that promote healing. Studies have demo strated that music therapy has helped many to find peace and relief in their most trying times. Music in the hospital’s oncology department was calming and soothing for dad. They played beautiful classical music that was accesible to every patient in that oncology floor.
The Bible says, that the music David played for King Saul gave him relief from the evil spirit that was tormenting him.
And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor in my sight.” And whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him.
1 Samuel 16:22-23
Music Therapy is not some new discovery. God provided music so mankind could connect with him. He provided music so we would sing songs of worship.
He provided music so we could express our innermost feelings and emotions. Music is a method for our releasing stress, and finding peace.
Music has been used in celebrations, weddings, life achievements, graduations, funerals and in so many more ways.
The tones and sounds, the measures and beats, the loudness and the softness, the highs and lows all provide us with a wonderful outlet in which we can find excitement, rest, peace and hope, joy and a sense of gratification.
A Misused Tool Can Bring Harm
The enemy of humanity has used music to harm. He has perverted the gift of God by damaging the gift with dark tones, tones that evoke despair and even suicidal ideations. He has caused many to cling to some music that degrades women, separates the classes, causes divisions of race and such things. The devil has used music to bring some people down as they sing about all their hatred and their negative ideations and thereby push the youth to behave and feel rejection and alienation. Everything God has intended for good, the enemy has utilized for evil.
How many addicts and alcoholics do we find in the music industry today. Some have died still empty and hurting and angry. They have used music to channel their pain. In turn they have harmed many.
How we use Music can determine the outcomes we will have. When God is in the mix the outcomes are favourable. These produce blessings and not a curse. How we control what comes in to our experience, what we listen to and what we allow oursleves to take part of will bring about the outcomes accordingly. God has afforded us the power to choose. We can choose what we hear. We can listen to things that will. Bring us joy and hope. We can sing songs that elevate the mood and makes us feel fulfilled. We can use Self Control.
The Bible tells us, “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:7
Some have said, you are what you eat. The same can be said of Music. You will be affected by what and whom you choose to listen to.
A study published July 2015 – “Music Training Alters the Course of Adolescent Auditory Development,” published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
The study demonstrated that providing enrichment experiences for students through musical classes of band and chorus brought their scores up. It found that achievement in academic progress is linked to music. The academic progress occurs when the students engage their abilities and perform.
Scripture tells us, in so many ways, of how Israel was told by the Lord to March in to battle with the singers and levites ahead. They were to worship God in song and shout to God for deliverance from their enemies.
We find this story, in scripture in the book of 2 Chronicles 20:1-9, 13-15, 18-22
After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle. Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, Engedi). Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord , and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord ; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord . And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord , before the new court, and said, “O Lord , God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you. Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? And they have lived in it and have built for you in it a sanctuary for your name, saying, ‘If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you— for your name is in this house—and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.’ Meanwhile all Judah stood before the Lord , with their little ones, their wives, and their children. And the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s. Then Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord , worshiping the Lord . And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord , the God of Israel, with a very loud voice. And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.” And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, “Give thanks to the Lord , for his steadfast love endures forever.” And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed.
In the story of these events, we read how the king was afraid and how he prayed to God.
We also find that there had to be an active part of the response the king and his people had to perform, in order for God to move on their behalf.
1. The king humbled himself and acknowledged his fear to the Lord.
2. The king recognized God was his only source of salvation.
3. The king obeyed and purposed to worship God.
In the midst of this time of crisis, our nation faces the same choices. The same challenges. As a people we need to humble oursleves before God. We need to admit our incapacity to mend this issue. We need to recognize that without God, we are helpless. We do not have the answers for this Pandemic. We do not have the ability control all matters across the world.
We need to do as that King did. WE NEED TO PRAY TO GOD EARNESTLY.
Next we need to position oursleves in Faith. There is but one God and one Mediator between God and man. The Lord Jesus has paid the highest price, his own life, for our Redemption. He alone is the Alpha and Omega. He is Yeshua the long awaited Messiah. He alone has the Power to Save and to Heal.
The Bible tells us, that without Faith it is Impossible to Please God. We cannot claim we are able to do anything when the very breath we breath is given to us by Him.
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Hebrews 11:6
And lastly, We Must Obey God. We cannot ask of Him anything If we are not willing to submit to him. He can only heal us when we cling to that Old Rugged Cross and Admit we are Sinners and Need His Forgiveness. We need to consider our ways and how as a nation, we have failed God. We have allowed many things to harm our youth, our elderly and our people for the sake of making a profit. We have allowed Music to be used to harm.
If we humble oursleves and acknowledge our need God will hear us. He will help us. He will draw near to us. We will have the victory. We can sing a song of Hope and Thanks as We Wait for God To Act on Our Behalf.
“Then He will hear from heaven and heal our land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
King Jehoshaphat called for the singers and the levites. He placed them in front of the battle to sing.
The Musical Expression of Our Faith is a Weapon of War!!!
Church use your voices! Sing!!! Play the Drums, the guitar, the piano, clap the hands. Sing and shout!
Sing to the God of Abraham, Jacob and Isaac. Sing to the Lord Messiah Jesus Christ, the One Who Paid the Price For your Freedom.
Play the Instruments of Praise and Worship. Sing To The Lord A New Song in the Midst of This Battle.
MUSIC IS OUR RIGHT!!!
Use whatever means necessary. Do not allow the world to dictate to you that you cannot sing. Play and Instrument and Make a Joful Noise Unto The Lord. Let all the Earth Know that We are not a People that will Cower Under Pressure!
If we cannot sing in the church buildings, We can Sing and Shout in our homes on the Streets.
LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED!
God inhabits the praises of his people.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16
Let The Efficacy of Our Songs Be What Moves The Hand of God as We actively Raise Our Voice and Bow Our Knees.
God will Fight our Battles When Humble ourselves and then Sing and Praise His Name.
Think of your own name…. The Lord Calls You To Actively Praise Him. Speak his name. Tell of the goodness of God.
“Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, break out in a song! Judges 5:12
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1
Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord , all the earth! Sing to the Lord , bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the Lord , and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods.
Psalm 96:1-4
Life and Faith By Deb 
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