Sing yourself happy!
September 20, 2020
I’ve loved music all my life. No matter the genre, if a song is lyrically imaginative and accompanied by a matching melody, I will probably enjoy it. I’m careful about the message, though, because music tends to stick in our heads and it affects our moods. It can make us laugh, feel sad, angry or happy. Sung with the right voice, the right song in the right place at the right time has the power to inspire and transport us. A well-chosen song can be a reliable path to joy, and an ill-chosen one to woe.
In 1 Sam 16:15-23, the Bible records an interesting story about the uplifting power of music. King Saul was suffering from some kind of mental torment and his aides, recognizing the psychological benefits of music, decided to find a musician who would play for him during his bouts. They found David, a skilled harpist, and the plan worked. David’s music relaxed Saul and eased his troubled mind. In fact, Saul liked David so much that he decided to keep him in his service.
The story’s message is especially important now as people struggle to keep their song under the pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bible encourages Christians to “sing and make music” in their hearts to God and to “speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs” (Eph. 5:19). Believers are to sing and dance in praise (Ps. 149:3); sing in gratitude (Ps. 100:1-5); sing when happy (Ps. 57:7); and sing even in tough circumstances (Acts 16:25). No matter what is happening in our lives, we are told to hold onto our song. So, go ahead and sing yourself happy!