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The Power of Music

"Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."¹

Today we remember how..

"Music has power to unite people. On September 11, 2001, members of Congress gathered on the Capitol steps to sing 'God Bless America.' At that time, the House and Senate members saw the black plume of smoke rising from the Pentagon across the Potomac River. One year later in 2002, the House and Senate held a solemn joint meeting in New York's Federal Hall. It was only the second meeting of Congress held outside Washington in the past two centuries. These lawmakers went to New York City to show their solidarity with the people there. Once again, the power of music united them as they held hands and sang 'God Bless America' with a high school choir.

"Music has power to move people. Consider the hauntingly beautiful melody we know as 'Taps.' Brig. Gen. Daniel Butterfield composed this music in July 1862 at Harrison's Landing in Virginia. Butterfield was dissatisfied with the custom of firing three rifle volleys at the conclusion of burials during battle. Butterfield probably altered an older piece known as 'Tattoo,' a French bugle call used to signal 'lights out.' The words of 'Taps' are: 'Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lakes, From the hills, From the sky. All is well. Safely rest. God is nigh.' Who has not been moved by the power of this music?

"Music has power to heal people. 'Music can be a powerful catalyst in the healing process,' writes Don Campbell, author of The Mozart Effect. This book cites many examples 'in which sound and music are used to help patients suffering from everything from anxiety to cancer, high blood pressure to chronic pain and mental distress.'²

"Three thousand years ago, David played his harp to let the power of music heal the depression and fear of King Saul.³ As William Congreve (1670-1729) said, 'Music has charms to soothe the savage breast, to soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak.'"⁴

And music has power to worship God. One of the many marvelous God-given gifts is the gift of music. And, as the Apostle Paul admonishes, let us use this gift to worship and thank God for the unfathomable gift of his love, the Lord Jesus Christ, who died to save us from the tragic consequences of our sins.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank You for the gift of music. Please put a song in my heart and may it never be far from my lips—a song of thanksgiving, praise to and worship of You for all Your wonderful works—and especially for the gift of Your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who died on the cross in my place to save me from my sins>—and a lost and hopeless eternity. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus's name, amen."

1. Ephesians 5:19-20 (NIV).
2. www.msnbc.com/news, June 13, 2002.
3. 1 Samuel 16.
4. This article, cited on www.sermons.com, is from Religion in Daily Life by the Rev. Edward Chinn, D.Min.

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