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Sound and Music Therapy is a New Twist on an Old Remedy
The benefits of sound and music therapy are proven scientifically,
although researchers are puzzled as to why it works. This treatment
has been used for people with mental disorders and as a stress reliever, but
now some doctors and dentists are actually using sound and music therapy to
help control pain. We all know what kind of music raises us up and
what kind puts us down, meaning that it can have an affect on our brain
chemistry. I also noticed as early as high school, that I could
remember every word to a song that I liked, but could not remember my
history lesson!
It's amazing, isn't it, that it has taken mankind
this long to tap in to this proven treatment, even though it was used
in the Bible at around 1025 BC.
- 1 Samuel 16:23 And it came to pass, when the
evil spirit
from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his
hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed
from him.
Saul's own bad choices had left him in foul spirits, literally. The
music produced by David's harp relieved him of this condition; made him feel
better.
In Ephesians and Colossians, Paul prescribes sound and music therapy for
good clean, Christian living.
- Ephesians 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and
hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to
the Lord;
- Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all
wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Here is a most interesting perception on sound and music therapy!
I have not found any commentaries to back this up, but read verse 13 in
context with the other verses. Notice that James' advice for the
"merry" to sing psalms, is written right in the middle of all of the
prayers for healing afflictions and sickness. Perhaps James was
advising them to us sound and music therapy as part of healing the sick.
- Jam 5:13-16 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is
any merry? let him sing psalms.
- 14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the
church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the
name of the Lord:
- 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord
shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be
forgiven him.
- 16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another,
that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous
man availeth much.
Suggested Listening
I mentioned elsewhere that I have used music to calm myself during
anxiety attacks. Some of my favorites:
- Terry McAlmon has some extremely calming spiritual music.
His albums, Visit Us, I Came to Worship You and The Sound of Heaven
are some that I have used to calm my nervous spirit!
- Darlene Zschech's song, Jesus, What a Beautiful
Name will chase the blues away in a heartbeat. It's easy to
remember, so you can sing it in the shower to chase your own blues
away!
- Steven Curtis Chapman will certainly stop you in your overly
rushed tracks with Be Still and Know that He is God. It's a
must have!
- You are a Child of Mine by Mark Schulz always serves to remind
me that I'm ok. How can I be otherwise?
- Something About that Name is an old favorite. All unclean
feelings will flee as the words Master, Savior, Jesus ring about
your home. If you don't believe, try singing Jesus Loves Me to
silence negative thoughts. It works.
Sound and Music Therapy is a vital part of fighting the battle of
Spiritual Warfare as well.
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