This book which I just borrowed from the Library@Esplanade last Tue :
Music Soothes the Soul- features engaging stories from 70- musicians, artists, scientist and entrepreneurs who show how music can positively impact our lives. Written by a very young teenager, Matthew Bernstein. At 17 , his first book was published.
How this book was written? Well, Matthew interviewed every 70 of them by phone or by email. The stories of their musical ventures and how music played and influence their lives and inspired others. He always ended the interview with this question " Please complete the following sentence:
"Music matters to me because......"
- it expresses every type of emotion that a human can feel [Art Alexakis]
- it's the soundtrack of our lives. Ever since the caveman started to beat out rhythm, it has been every culture on Earth. It's as important as language [Jessica Baron]
- it makes life better [Eric Bieshke]
- it brings people together in a way other things don't. It is something that crosses all boundaries [Carla De Santis Black]
- it enables me to express myself using a universal language [ Michael Cartellone]
- It is the language of the human soul [Mark Churchill]
- it is my lifeforce [Bill Conti]
- it is the fundamental voice in my life [Brian Dallow]
- it reflects where we come from and where we are going [Jacob Edgar]
- it reminds that that we're all connected and a part of the universe [Christopher "Kiff" Gallagher Jr]
- it has the power to create change [Adam Gardner]
- it's therapy. It helps me to get through the ups and downs of life [Isaac Hanson]
The above is just a little summary...
A Short testimony
As I sat at the pool this late morning on this Hari Raya Puasa holiday, reading through the lives of such a pool of talented people, the verse in 1 Sam 16:23 came to me.
Strangely today, after the shower of rain, there was not a single soul at the pool! All I heard was the rushing of the waters back into the side of the pool . That was music to my ears.
And so as I pondered over some of the interviewees' summaries of why music matters to them? Indeed how true the importance of music was back in Saul and David's time. The Lord used the harp as the instrument to create the change in Saul's emotions.
But at the same time, I asked a curious question "why does a good God allow evil spirit to enter Saul in the first place?"
Why let an evil spirit torment Saul?
Quite an interesting thought as about a month ago, some loved one I know was seemingly tormented by an evil spirit. There was such a change in the demeanor of the person and it was rather scary!
Yes, all created things are under God's control. And it would appear that sometimes, the Lord allowed evil spirit to torment. Permission was granted by Him - just as in the case of Job. Satan and the demons will attack the person whom God had permitted to do so. Why not? When we disobey - can we be open to the doors of the devil for torment? To see a loved one being tormented is in no way fun. Seemed that hell broke loose and chaos was at its peak. Peace was shaken in the atmosphere.
During the course of this eventful month, the person made a comment aloud - wanted to spring clean the house suddenly. Something that had never been mentioned before . It brought to my mind about Luke 11 regarding the unclean spirit bringing in 7 more to the cleansed house. Oh my! May the Lord forbid! So arising from this sudden change in the person's personality whom I thought was "demonised", the prayer chain was activated. It brought unity in prayer and praise . Worship and singspiration , standing in the gap for repentance with prayers and annointing of oil.
So yes, that worship and singing was the therapy and antidote to the scary circumstance. Just like what David did, whenever he played the harp, the evil spirit departed from Saul.
Now that a month had passed. Things seemed to have normalised. Thank God for this. Thank God this was temporary. Rom 8:28. Eph 6:10-18. Our fight is against the principalities and not flesh and blood. Our Lord Jesus whose blood was shed on the cross has overcome Satan.
Reflections
Music indeed Soothes the Soul!
It is the universal language that echoes in the soul.
To many, music is like the blood in the veins and the air one breathe, the hum of our pulse.
Music is that universal language. It puts a smile on our face. It transcends cultures and the beat and rhythm moves our little feet! It causes us to dance!
It is no wonder what the psalms painted to us. All the singing and the worship due to His name. A mere play of the 7 wonderful notes...do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-DO!
Thank You Lord for the world of Music!
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