Whoever sings songs to a heavy heart is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, and like vinegar on soda. (Proverbs 25:20 ESV)
Music and Love
Music and love are interconnected. Not merely do we often use music to assist in romantic feelings, but music, scripturally, is an important tool of love.
Consider this Proverb. Singing songs is a way to lift the heart of someone suffering. The Proverb does not examine exactly how this works. And really, we do not need to know. Somehow, music is an act of kindness. Somehow, music is something we can do FOR someone else. Somehow, music is an indicator of encouragement, thoughtfulness, and affection.
In other words, music communicates love. In fact, music is a means of love.
Consider David, when first called into King Saul’s service. Already by this time, David knew that God intended David to be the King of Israel. And while eventually loyal David served Saul best in the battlefield, David began by showing his loyalty, devotion, and formal love to King Saul by playing music for him. (I Samuel 16:21-22)
Clearly, that music helped Saul, and so was an act of love from David. Clearly that music lifted Saul’s heavy heart, and so was an act of love from David. Clearly that music eventually was a sacrificial, dangerous action, and so was an act of love from David.
If music sooths the grieving heart, lifts our praises to God, provides insights into our troubles, calms our fears, raises our spirits, relieves our internal pains, and provides peace in conflict, than we should give music to each other more often.
Because we love.
Take the love God grants us.