King Saul and King David

In 1 Samuel 16, we see that King Saul had young David play music for him to soothe his troubled spirit:

"Then Saul sent to Jesse, saying, ‘Please let David stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight.’ And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him.” (1 Samuel 16:22-23).

This passage highlights the power of music to bypass cognition and directly influence emotions. Music can have a calming effect, as it did for Saul, or it can have a stimulating effect, much like the energy of a punk concert. While music is a powerful tool, its effects depend on how it is used and what it directs the heart toward.

But let’s contrast Saul and David on this point. In the Psalms, David recounts times when he, too, was troubled in spirit. He sings a Psalm, and the titles sometimes indicate the use of an instrument. Yet, his solution is never the instrument itself but meditation on the Lord. As David writes in Psalm 143:5, “I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands.”

For David, musical instruments were an aid to his singing, not a means of bypassing cognition to manipulate his emotions. When he directed for there to be musical instruments in public worship at the Temple they were played by the Levites. What truly affected his emotions was his understanding of who God is and what God has done. The Psalms display the full range of human emotions, and in every case, the principle remains the same:

• When fearful, meditate on the works of God.
• When joyful, praise God for His glorious deeds. When lonely or distraught, find comfort in communion with God. •

David’s response to his emotions was not escapism but worship, grounded in truth.

This is what Saul failed to do. He wanted music to calm him, but he did not seek the Lord or find comfort in meditating on His works. As a result, Saul’s experiences only grew worse as he drifted further from God. He did not train himself in the godly practice of going to the Lord in prayer and meditation. Instead, he sought an easier way out—using music to manipulate his emotions rather than truly seeking God.

The Psalms train us in how to deal with emotions in a godly way. Emotions are part of our nature as created by God, but they are also affected by our sin. They are what get us “into motion.” When a speaker wants to get his audience to act quickly, he appeals to their emotions. We must learn how to interpret our emotions in a way that pleases God and how to act on them in a way that is consistent with His Word. The Psalms teach us exactly what we need to know about emotions.

The longing for instruments expressed by people I speak with is a longing for the emotional influence they have. Instead, our longing should be for the content of the Psalms and to sing them with understanding together with the entire congregation.