Chapter 95—The Benefits of Music
The melody of praise is the atmosphere of heaven; and when
heaven comes in touch with the earth there is music and song,—
“thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.”
Above the new-created earth, as it lay, fair and unblemished, under
the smile of God, “the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of
God shouted for joy.” So human hearts, in sympathy with heaven, have
responded to God’s goodness in notes of praise. Many of the events of
human history have been linked with song....
Music a Precious Gift
The history of the songs of the Bible is full of suggestion as to
the uses and benefits of music and song. Music is often perverted to
serve purposes of evil, and it thus becomes one of the most alluring
agencies of temptation. But, rightly employed, it is a precious gift
of God, designed to uplift the thoughts to high and noble themes, to
inspire and elevate the soul.
As the children of Israel, journeying through the wilderness,
cheered their way by the music of sacred song, so God bids His chil-
dren today gladden their pilgrim life. There are few means more
effective for fixing His words in the memory than repeating them in
song. And such song has wonderful power. It has power to subdue
rude and uncultivated natures; power to quicken thought and to awaken
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sympathy, to promote harmony of action, and to banish the gloom and
foreboding that destroy courage and weaken effort.
It is one of the most effective means of impressing the heart with
spiritual truth. How often to the soul hard-pressed and ready to despair,
memory recalls some word of God’s,—the long-forgotten burden of a
childhood song,—and temptations lose their power, life takes on new
meaning and new purpose, and courage and gladness are imparted to
other souls!
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