WE HUMANS CAN USE SOME HELP

"And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took a harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him . . . And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him." (1 Sam 16:23; 2 Kgs 3:15).

Here are two unusual occasions from which great spiritual lessons can be learned. They have been recorded for our edification, and provide insights into things occurring in the unseen world.

In the first text, king Saul was often troubled and agitated by an evil spirit. During these occasions, David, the "sweet Psalmist of Israel," would play skillfully upon his harp. He did so while the evil spirit was troubling Saul, and in the very presence of the king. The result of David's skillful playing was threefold. Saul was refreshed, got well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

In the second text, the prophet Elisha is the subject. He had been stood before the king of Israel, for whom the prophet had no personal regard. He did, however, respect king Jehosaphat, who was also there. Standing before him, Elisha said, "As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, surely were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you, nor see you" (2 Kgs 3:14). Because a word from the Lord was required, Elisha determined to obtain one. However, the circumstances were not conducive to hearing from the Lord. This prompted Elisha to say, "But now bring me a minstrel." As that musician played, we are told "the hand of the LORD came upon him" ( 3:15). As a result, the prophet received an appropriate word from the Lord (3:16-19).

In both of these texts, spiritual advantages were realized without a word. Nothing was addressed to the intellect, yet the individuals involved experienced wonderful things. First, Saul was refreshed and got well. Second, a word from the Lord was given to Elisha. Both were results of skillfully played instrumental music–something difficult for some to receive. Both involved the response of the unseen world, where changes in character do not take place.

Through these texts the nature of spiritual life can be seen. There are times when refreshment is realized through very practical means–means that are a departure from the norm. It would have been inappropriate for king Saul to seek refreshment only when David played on the harp. Too, it would have been out of order for Elisha to only seek a word from the Lord only when a minstrel was playing before him. However, under the proper circumstances, these means were available to both men.

There is a great liberty in Christ Jesus. It includes the ability to profit from simple remedies during extraordinarily difficult times. How often I have been refreshed by the sound of godly music, or by the expressions of a godly musician. I have often been profited by such.

There are things that can be divulged through music in unique ways. David once said, "I will open my dark saying upon the harp" (Psa 49:4). That is, as he played, he would be able to profitably express the thoughts of his heart. As David pondered the truth, he found it too large for his intellect. There were mysteries that he did not comprehend. However, he was not content to leave it that way. He tuned his harp, and set about to have his understanding enlarged as he played to the Lord. He was not content to bask in light so bright he could not identify anything. He wanted to know the glorious details of the truth–to see its implications, and be able to express them profitably. Who has not profited from his marvelous Psalms? And what were those Psalms? They were occasions when, as he played, the truth of God was opened to him. He not only saw the Lord as his Shepherd, but he went about to express the benefits realized when following Him (Psalm 23).

There are people who are convinced instrumental music is improper in the presence of the Lord. They feel so strongly about it, they have actually judged other believers with their private criteria. If their imagination were true, what would we do with these texts? How could we account for an evil spirit leaving at the sound of a musical instrument? What can be said of the Spirit of the Lord coming upon a prophet at the sound of an instrument? And what of a man of God being able to see the wide perspective of truth as he played upon his harp?

Ah, child of God, take advantage of every means God has provided. You can be refreshed spiritually by very ordinary means.

PRAYER POINT: Father, in Jesus name I thank You for the extraordinary benefits that can be realized by very ordinary means.

-- Monday: THE NECESSITY AND LOGIC OF PERSEVERANCE --