The Healing Power of Music

Thursday, June 23

The Healing Power of Music

Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.1 Samuel 16:23 

Music therapy is a growing field. Research suggests that music therapy is more than just a nice perk. More and more, people are recognizing the healing power of music. According to a study presented at the American College of Cardiology’s 2020 conference, just 30-minutes a day of listening to music lowered anxiety levels and pain in patients who had survived heart attacks. But this should not surprise us. In 1 Samuel we know David was able to soothe the disrupting spirit that aroused Saul through music.

In the Old Testament, we’re told that after many victories Saul turned away from God. When the spirit of God left Saul and an evil spirit moved in. The result was that King Saul was driven nearly to the point of madness. One of his counselors told him that he knew of a young man whose singing might just help relieve his burden. That was how David came to sing in King Saul’s courts. And we’re told that when “…David would take his harp and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.” 1 Samuel 16

Music has the power to heal and change our mode. There is so much power within music, if not careful we can take this for granted.