Music is a phenomena that we do not entirely understand or appreciate. The sound of a song can bring back a myriad of memories. Music also has the ability to alter our current state of emotions--from melancholy to joyful or, if we are not careful, to a state of depression or even anger. It also has the power to alter our current thought process, sending us down a path of contemplation that we may not have otherwise ventured.
There is something about music that seems to reach into the inner recesses of the human soul. We certainly see this in the lives of Saul and David: "And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him." I Samuel 16:23 (or you can read the whole chapter here)
Each time David played the music from his harp for Saul, the spirit sent by God to cause Saul distress would depart. Now, the reason why God would send a distressing spirit upon Saul is, perhaps, for another blog entry. But one cannot help but see the affect that the playing of music had on Saul's spirit.
It is this phenomena that should cause us to pause and reconsider the types of lyrics and melodies we are subjecting ourselves to. I am always a bit troubled when I hear the justification echoed that "well, I am not listening to the words, I just like the way it sounds." It is incorrect to assume that we can separate the words from the music. In any event, such a state of mind ignores the affect that music has on the listener.
I hope we will pause to consider the type of music that we subscribe to and, in so doing, I hope we will take note of the influence that such music has upon us.
Soli Deo Gloria
There is something about music that seems to reach into the inner recesses of the human soul. We certainly see this in the lives of Saul and David: "And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him." I Samuel 16:23 (or you can read the whole chapter here)
Each time David played the music from his harp for Saul, the spirit sent by God to cause Saul distress would depart. Now, the reason why God would send a distressing spirit upon Saul is, perhaps, for another blog entry. But one cannot help but see the affect that the playing of music had on Saul's spirit.
It is this phenomena that should cause us to pause and reconsider the types of lyrics and melodies we are subjecting ourselves to. I am always a bit troubled when I hear the justification echoed that "well, I am not listening to the words, I just like the way it sounds." It is incorrect to assume that we can separate the words from the music. In any event, such a state of mind ignores the affect that music has on the listener.
I hope we will pause to consider the type of music that we subscribe to and, in so doing, I hope we will take note of the influence that such music has upon us.
Soli Deo Gloria
2 comments:
I am very interested in how music and the other arts can be used to invoke the very best in us and induce either an initial or an ongoing conversion to God. It takes a skillful person to make music, and a skillful person to use music and the arts well.
Recently, I have encountered music from Taize, an ecumenical community in France. It is reaching all sorts of people who wander all over the world, to induce them to greater love for God and neighbor.
I think part of the music's strong appeal and greatness is its simplicity. It can be quickly learned by anyone. Its tone almost reduces and focuses the person to one single idea or emotion. Its character is classic and will never change, probably because the basic man never changes.
It is profoundly and simply Christian.
Thanks for your insight Anthony.
Do you have a link or a specific album with respect to the music from Taize?
Post a Comment