Music. There is little that moves a human being more that a beautiful melody, a catchy beat, a thrashing guitar riff, or a clever lyric. Ezekiel 28:13 seems to suggest that Satan played a major role in the music played in Heaven before his fall. That is why, today, while music can be both a major force to heal our spirits and renew our minds, Satan can pervert it to infect our thinking and ignite fleshly desires. Simply put, music is powerful.
Have you ever heard the "live" version of "Killing Me Softly With His Song" sung by the late Luther Vandross? Check it out on You Tube some time. It's an incredibly beautiful and moving song about the power of music and lyrics.
How does this fit in with 1 Samuel 19 and all this prophesying we read about at the end of the chapter? Well, "prophesying", according to many commentators and biblical historians, was more than simply foretelling the future. Prophesying was an art form. Throughout scripture we will see examples of prophets proclaiming the word of the Lord through poems and music. In chapter 19, David runs to Samuel's school for prophets to hide from Saul. We find Samuel teaching and directing a group of prophetic students in the art of prophesying. And here we see this strange thing happening. As Saul's messenger's of death arrive to kill David, they hear the amazingly powerful combination of beautiful music and the word of God being sung by a choir of prophets. Through this Spirit-filled concert, God overwhelms these evil men's desire for blood and they become entranced by what they hear. The music and lyrics are so powerful that these men join in and begin prophesying themselves!!
Have you ever heard the "live" version of "Killing Me Softly With His Song" sung by the late Luther Vandross? Check it out on You Tube some time. It's an incredibly beautiful and moving song about the power of music and lyrics.
How does this fit in with 1 Samuel 19 and all this prophesying we read about at the end of the chapter? Well, "prophesying", according to many commentators and biblical historians, was more than simply foretelling the future. Prophesying was an art form. Throughout scripture we will see examples of prophets proclaiming the word of the Lord through poems and music. In chapter 19, David runs to Samuel's school for prophets to hide from Saul. We find Samuel teaching and directing a group of prophetic students in the art of prophesying. And here we see this strange thing happening. As Saul's messenger's of death arrive to kill David, they hear the amazingly powerful combination of beautiful music and the word of God being sung by a choir of prophets. Through this Spirit-filled concert, God overwhelms these evil men's desire for blood and they become entranced by what they hear. The music and lyrics are so powerful that these men join in and begin prophesying themselves!!
Later, Saul decides that if you're going to get something done right, you got to do it yourself. So he sets off to Samuel's prophet university to kill David. But even before he arrives, the faint echos of this anointed music melts his soul and even SAUL begins to join the chorus!! The music of God literally brings him to total submission as he lay on the ground paralyzed by the power of God! What a sight to see! As these evil men are overcome by the sweet sound of music from the throne of God, David slips away and escapes. God uses music to fulfill His purpose.
Sometimes I see churches using music to simply fill the gaps in the service before the preacher delivers his sermon. And when I help lead in praise and worship at my church, I am guilty of sometimes just moving my lips and going through the motions. Shame on me! When spirit-filled music fills a room, it can tame the wildest spirit! It can break the hardest heart! It can lift a crippled soul! It is vital to the health of any church body! Music is powerful. Don't ever underestimate it's influence on the heart.
Kill me softly with Your song, oh God!
Prayer: Thank you Lord for music. May my lips praise you and my voice be raised to sing your praises daily. Place a new song in my heart to glorify Your Name.
Sometimes I see churches using music to simply fill the gaps in the service before the preacher delivers his sermon. And when I help lead in praise and worship at my church, I am guilty of sometimes just moving my lips and going through the motions. Shame on me! When spirit-filled music fills a room, it can tame the wildest spirit! It can break the hardest heart! It can lift a crippled soul! It is vital to the health of any church body! Music is powerful. Don't ever underestimate it's influence on the heart.
Kill me softly with Your song, oh God!
Prayer: Thank you Lord for music. May my lips praise you and my voice be raised to sing your praises daily. Place a new song in my heart to glorify Your Name.
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