Music and Me

A Journal of Joy: Things that make my heart smile…

By Barbara Dahlgren

I can honestly say I like most genres of music. I enjoy opera, country, worship songs, western, pop, rock ‘n roll, rap, classical, musicals, jazz, the blues, old hymns, and most of whatever else is out there. I’m not saying I like every song in every genre, but I can usually find at least one or two I like.

Music can be powerful and beneficial. Kendra Cherry lists the ways in her December 2019 article for Verywell Mind entitled “How Listening to Music Can Have Psychological Benefits.”

  • Music can relieve stress.
  • Music can improve cognitive performance.
  • Music can improve your mood.
  • Music can improve your memory.
  • Music can help manage pain.
  • Music can help some sleep better.
  • Music can improve motivation.
  • Music can help alleviate depression.
  • Music can increase endurance and performance.

Music can also help teach. When we sing something we remember the words. One of the first songs we teach children ends with, “Now I’ve sung my A-B-Cs, next time won’t you sing with me?” Stroke patients who have lost their speech can be taught to speak again by singing. Those who stutter have been helped through singing.

When my dad had Alzheimer’s he could not remember people’s names. However, he could listen to a CD of gospel songs and sing every one of them without missing a beat or lyric. There were times he couldn’t remember my name but we bonded by singing old hymns together. Then he would look at me, smile, and say, “You know what that song says is true. God is great!”      

God created music and it can be a powerful tool. The Psalms show us that music was used to praise and worship God, but music was used for other purposes in biblical times as well.

Music soothed the soul. When a bad spirit came upon Saul, David played his harp (1 Samuel 16:23). Saul was refreshed and the evil spirit departed.  

Music inspired. When Jehoshaphat was going into battle he appointed singers unto the Lord. As they went out before the army, they sang, “Praise the Lord; for his mercy endures forever” (2 Chronicles 20:21-22).

Music taught God’s Word. “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” (Colossians 3:16).

Music released the power of God. Paul and Silas found this out when they were in jail. “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, and the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s shackles were loosed” (Acts 16:25-26).

Music etched the mighty power of God into memories. In Exodus 15:1, Moses sang a song of praise to God for deliverance from Pharaoh. “Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord: I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously…” It’s quite long so I won’t quote all of it here. Some say this song of Moses is the oldest recorded song in the world.

Songs were used throughout biblical times to express joy, triumph, grief, relief, celebration, thanks, praise, and so on. Matthew 26:30 tells us that when the last supper had ended Jesus and the disciples sang a hymn before leaving. What a powerful image!

God created music and it is good, even if man tries to pollute it. God put something in me that loves music and I’m so grateful. When I unexpectedly hear one of favorite songs – and I have a lot of favorites – it fills me with joy.  

*****

O Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth! How great thou art! Fill my heart and my mouth with songs of praise for You and Your greatness. When music floods my soul let me remember that You created music and it is good.

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