Melodious Medicine

“From the brain to the heart, singing has been found to bring a wide range of benefits to those who do it, particularly if they do it in groups. It can draw people closer together, prime our bodies to fight off disease and even suppress pain…"Singing is a cognitive, physical, emotional and social act," says Alex Street, a researcher at the Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy Research who studies how music can be used to help children and adults recover from brain injuries. Psychologists have long marvelled at how people who sing together can develop a powerful sense of social cohesion, with even among the most reluctant of vocalists becoming united in song. Research has shown that complete strangers can forge unusually close bonds after singing together for an hour. Perhaps unsurprisingly, there are clear physical benefits for the lungs and respiratory system from singing. Some researchers have been using singing to help people with lung diseases, for example…But singing also produces other measurable physical effects. It has been found to improve people's heart rate and blood pressure. Singing in groups or choirs has even been found to boost our immune function in ways that simply listening to the same music cannot.”*

How about that? Not only do we sing to honor and praise the God of heaven but it is also good for us! The God Who created us included wiring that allows us to enjoy health benefits from singing. No wonder we are encouraged so often to participate.“Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; speak of all His wonders” (1 Chronicles 16:9). “Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day” (1 Chronicles 16:23). “But let all who take refuge in You be glad, let them ever sing for joy…” (Psalm 5:11). “I will sing to the LORD, because He has dealt bountifully with me”

(Psalm 13:6).

So go ahead and sing. It’s good for you!

God loves you!

Mike

*bbc.com; “Why singing is surprisingly good for your health”; 12-1-25

The Gods Of Success

“Now in the time of his distress this same King Ahaz became yet more unfaithful to the LORD. For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus which had defeated him, and said, “Because the gods of the kings of Aram helped them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me.” But they became the downfall of him and all Israel” (2 Chronicles 28:22-23).

King Ahaz was one of the most evil leaders of the southern kingdom of Judah. His father, King Jotham, had been a good king (2 Chronicles 27:2-6) but the son didn’t follow in the steps of the father. The Bible reveals some of his wickedness: “But he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel; he also made molten images for the Baals. Moreover, he burned incense in the valley of Ben-hinnom and burned his sons in fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD had driven out before the sons of Israel. He sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills and under every green tree”

(2 Chronicles 28:2-4).

As the opening text of this article makes plain, part of the problem of pursuing evil in our lives is that it dulls our senses when we face times of trial. When King Ahaz was facing invasion by hostile armies and failed alliances (2 Chronicles 28:5-8,16-21), he foolishly chose to bow down to the “god of success” rather than to the true God of heaven. Did you notice his reasoning? “The gods of Aram must be right because they are successful and I’m not.” But beware! As the saying goes: “All that glitters isn’t gold.”

The temptation to make life decisions based on the success of others is pervasive and dangerous. “He’s rich so he must be doing something right.” She’s at the top of her profession so her methods for getting there must be praiseworthy.” But both statements are drawing unnecessary conclusions. Success without submission to God is ultimately fleeting. Ahaz learned that lesson too late.

God loves you!

Mike