Musicians and friends and leaders of Urban Strings, we’ve been looking forward to this morning for a long time. I am responsible for the content of this worship service, not the music, but I’m responsible for this. You see a lot of references to music in the service this morning. We’re doing this in celebration of your being here. I got to spend a lot of time last week studying, reading, thinking about the power of music. You just heard Psalm 47, and what it says above the psalm, before the actual psalm, it says this, “For the director of music.” This psalm was written for the director of music. Some of the psalms were written as far back as 800 years before Christ. Our earliest psalms were probably written around 300 years before Christ. So, let’s split the difference. I’m going to say it’s possible that the psalm we just heard was written about 500 years before Christ. The psalm writer writes about, “Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.” Who wants to shout to God right now and cry of joy? If you want to go ahead. (Congregation shouts.) “God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets.” We’re talking about trumpets 500 years before Christ. “Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth. Sing to God a psalm of praise.”

One of the things I got to look at in addition to the psalm this week is 1st Samuel 16, verse 23. First Samuel 16:23 says this, “And whenever the harmful spirit of God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played with his hand. So, Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him.” Saul was the first king of Israel, and you might remember that much of his reign was painful. He was a man often in torment. In Samuel, Chapter 16 we find King Saul tormented by an evil spirit from the Lord. An evil spirit from the Lord. That’s a whole other sermon. I’m not going to touch that one today. His servant suggests finding someone who can play the lyre skillfully to soothe the troubled king.

What is a lyre? I looked it up. The lyre is a stringed musical instrument that is classified in the lute family of instruments. The lyre has its origins in ancient history. Lyres were used in several ancient cultures surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. Earliest known examples of the lyre have been recovered at archaeological sites that date to 2700 BCE. It’s a string instrument. Saul’s servant suggests finding someone who played the lyre to soothe the troubled king. David, at that time a young shepherd boy from Bethlehem, is recommended for the task. David is known for his musical talent and is also described as handsome and brave. He is brought before King Saul, who immediately takes a liking to him. The power of music. Now, it could have happened this way. The scene is set in the royal court of King Saul, a grand hall adorned with rich tapestries and ornate furniture. King Saul sits on his throne, looking troubled and restless. David enters the room, carrying his lyre, his youthful face filled with a sense of purpose and determination. As David begins to play, the soothing melodies fill the room, calming the troubled spirit that torments the king. Saul’s tense expression softens, and a sense of peace descends upon the court as David’s music works its magic. The young shepherd boy’s presence brings a ray of hope and relief to the troubled king, foreshadowing the significant role he will play in the future of Israel.

When I was a sophomore in college, my roommate, Dave, played the guitar. Sometimes at night – it was the two of us in the same room – sometimes at night, in fact often, when it was time to go to sleep, the lights would be off, and Dave would start playing his guitar in a soft, soothing way. He loved George Harrison, the Beatle. He had all of George Harrison’s songs memorized. He played the guitar, and I would fall asleep. I made the mistake of telling – I was in a men’s dorm – telling other guys on our floor that Dave would do this. Pretty soon there were guys lined up in front of our room at night. “Dave, would you come down to my room and play?” So, I said to Dave, “Dave, I think you should do this, and I think you should charge them five bucks every time you do it.” And he did. The power of music.

Imagine being in King Saul’s position, feeling overwhelmed by your thoughts and emotions. Then someone comes along and plays music that resonates with your soul, easing your worries and bringing a sense of tranquility. I can’t hear “Rocket Man” by Elton John without tearing up because my cousin Bill – I grew up in Ohio, he grew up in Pennsylvania. He was one year older than me. I loved Bill and Bill loved me. We would often get together in the summers and spend two weeks, either me in Pennsylvania or him in Ohio. Bill was graduating from high school. He was all set to go into the Air Force. He lived near the Youghiogheny River in Pennsylvania. Anybody ever been to the Youghiogheny? It’s beautiful. He and his buddies went down to the river. It’s whitewater. They were playing Frisbee. And my beloved cousin Bill drowned. About a year before that, we were riding in the car on Interstate 70 from Monessen, Pennsylvania to Marysville, where I grew up. He had – and for all of you people younger than me, we used to have these things called cassette tape players. You never see them anymore. He brought along his music, and he played “Rocket Man” over and over and over again. He loved it. It drove my mother crazy. “Bill, stop!” I can’t hear that song today without thinking of my cousin Bill. The power of music.

I’m going to finish with this. This was so powerful for me, and it involved music, that happened over 30 years ago. I’m going to say something to you musicians in addition to what I’m saying. You are powerful. God bless you. God bless you in your power. I was on a church mission trip in Albuquerque, New Mexico, serving a church in Chicago at the time. We were on a trip; we had about 30 of us. We went to the Navajo reservation in Arizona, and on the way, we stopped in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was Saturday night. We got up Sunday morning and I said to the group, “We’re going to church. We go to church on Sunday mornings.” We went to the First Presbyterian Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was summer, and there was a guest preacher, so this is no reflection on the staff at that church at the time. They had a guest preacher. There’s really no soft way to say this. I love preaching. There’s really no kind way to say this. The sermon was awful. I felt so sorry for the guy, but it was just – yeah. I was more than a little sad, more than a little disappointed. And that’s when it happened. Right after the sermon came music. It was a children’s choir, and they sang. They sang “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” all four verses. And it was magnificent. Over 30 years ago, and I will never forget it. The power of music. Without music, life would be a mistake. Clap your hands, shout with joy. God bless you musicians. Amen? Amen.