Healing, Restoration, and Deliverance to God's People
As we continue in this month's issue we see that Lucifer had the charge of music before his fall as seen in Ezekiel 28:13 through 15, so he understands how to use it to draw people into idolatry.
Ezekiel 28:13-15 13Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.14Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.15Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
The average listener will listen for sheer pleasure, hearing the music without thinking; this is absent-minded listening. The result of this is a kind of brainless state of mind, and the sound appeal of the music (with or without words) is a potent force of suggestive power. The Babylonians believed that incantation, a primitive form of music, was the most effective treatment in psychiatry to rehabilitate an individual. Not only the words but also the rhythmic movement of the chanting was influential. This, coupled with their music during the time of King Nebuchadnezzar's reign, led the people to bow in worship to idols.
Daniel 3:4-74Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,5That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:6And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.7Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
They heard and followed, resulting in falling down and worshipping the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. By obedience, they worshipped a false god, an idol. They were, in essence, hypnotized (according to Webster: to be dazzled or overcome by or as if by suggestion) by the sound of music. Music without God in it, either by player, singer, or in content, can lead into false worship as seen in the above verses of Scripture. As seen thus far, the commanding power of music can promote life or endorse death.
James 3:15This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.Romans 8:5-75For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.6For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
But the godly design of music is to support life, blessing, healing, and deliverance.
II Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things thatpertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.
The "all things" in the above verse has to include music.
Ephesians 4:29Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.II Corinthians 3:18But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
So it is with music. When it reflects the glory of the Lord, it can heal, deliver, and inspire God's people because it will have God's Word in it.
Psalm 107:20:He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.Psalm 32:7Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.
Rhythm
It is said that rhythm is the first of musical elements. Most historians agree that music started with the beating of a rhythm. God's Word disagrees.
Job 38:7When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
The Hebrew word for "sang" is ranan. It means, to give a ringing cry; to cry aloud. The word for "together" is yachad. It means, union, unitedness; alike. So when these sons of God sang together, they must have been singing, shouting with unity for joy. This is the first mention in God's Word, chronologically, of any form of music. There is no reference to the beating of a rhythm. So much for the historians.
But there is something to be said of rhythms. The fascination and emotional impact of simple rhythms repeated over and over has a hypnotic consequence. Rhythm releases the motor reflexes even if the response is not with actual physical movement; it is connected with physical motion in the imagination. This refers to Dr. Luria's experiments discussed earlier. This notion implies that certain rhythms in music can control the mind. A believer of God's Word is to control his own mind as Scripture teaches.
II Corinthians 10:5Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.
A believer is to control his own thoughts and emotions and obey Christ, not the music. In Him lies our wholeness as a believer.
Acts 4:12Neither is there salvation [deliverance, preservation, safety] in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved [made whole].
Melody
The melody must be of good, sound construction to the end of being pleasing and satisfying. It must be such that it will arouse a godly response in the listener so as to make right choices and decisions. Melody arouses the mind to act. When without lyrics, melody is the essential unit of communication in music.
Larger tone gamuts, plus increased use of wider and wider skips between single notes, has left many listeners confused, even exasperated. The grasp of the central key is lost. This is how the devil and his music tear down and devastate the mind. The effect of godly music should be just the opposite; to edify the believer and to help him believe the Word of God. God's Word is where deliverance from fear, worry, anxiety, and doubt comes, and it is the source of all true healing and hope.
Luke 8:50But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.Mark 9:23Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.John 20:31But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.I Peter 1:21Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
An added note on melody is that the high point, also known as the climax of the melodic line, which usually represents the peak of intensity, has a striking effect on the listener. Think of the healing that is available to take place in the life of a person when he is brought to the high point of believing God's Word and turning to the Lord with his whole heart.
Matthew 9:20-2220And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:21For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.22But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
The climax, or high point is like touching the hem of the Lord Jesus Christ's garment. This is wholeness!
To be continued... ÿ