From Sadness To Singing

From Sadness To Singing

Psalm 13:1 How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?

[2] How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?

[3] Consider and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;

[4] Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.

[5] But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.

[6] I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

It has been said that songs and music are the language of the soul.

Music has the ability to quicken your heart rate; it can cause you to relax.

It can alter your mood, it can cause you to feel depressed, or it can cheer you up.

Music can excite your emotions or it can help you to meditate upon the Lord. It can cause anxiety or relieve anxiety.

Whether we realize it or not, music affects us.

That’s why it’s so important to listen to the right kind of music and ask the right kind of questions.

How does it affect me emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually?

If the kind of music that I’m listening to is not helping me, then I’m not going to listen to it.

Because it’s just not worth the risk! Why would I listen to something that is hazardous to my spiritual health?

I’m not going to take the chance.

The Bible talks about music. As a matter of fact, music was important to the people of Israel.

They sang and the played musical instruments as they marched into battle.

They sang after they won the battle.

Exodus 15:1 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

[2] The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

Music is powerful!

David played music to soothe the heart of King Saul when he had been tormented by an evil spirit.

That evil spirit would leave for awhile, and Saul was strengthened physically and emotionally. (See 1 Samuel 16)

Years later it was David who needed encouragement. He was depressed and he was suffering emotionally because he was battling with the spirit of despair.

And in Psalm 13 we hear this man crying desperately for God to help him.

He was in a situation or circumstance that he obviously felt like he just couldn’t deal with it anymore.

There are a lot of folks who feel this way today. They are troubled in their spirit. They’re stressed to the limit. They’re over worked and under paid.

They’re having family problems; teenage problems, money problems, etc…

Depression is having a field day. It’s attacking all ages, cultures, and genders.

I’ve come to tell you; don’t lie down to that spirit. Don’t give up your spiritual walk with God to entertain depression.

Sing your way out of it! Worship your way out of it!

Music won’t solve your problems, but listening to the right kind of music sure will encourage you; it sure will make you feel better.

And when you feel better about yourself, you won’t be stressed and depressed.

It’s not a good feeling when you feel like nobody cares, or that you’ve been forgotten or forsaken, and that all your efforts to hear from God are useless.

That’s how David felt. He was struggling with depression.

I’ve walked into somebody’s house today! You need to know something; God still knows who you are. He has not forgotten you. He has not forsaken you.

He knows where you live. He knows your name. He knows about your situation.

David was so depressed that He actually felt like God had forgotten him.

Psalm 13:1 How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?

Some historians believe that at the time David wrote the 13th Psalm that he was running from Saul.

The men of King Saul were hunting David like an animal.

He constantly had to look over his back to make sure that his enemy wasn’t able to catch him by surprise.

He had come close to death so many times but somehow managed to escape.

And now he is weary; he is drained physically, mentally, and emotionally.

He is running on fumes and it was during this time in his desperation for help that he writes, God, when are you going to help me.