Sometimes you need a little help to connect with heaven. You know you’re in need of some divine one-on-one time but your heart isn’t focused . . . maybe it’s distracted . . . maybe it’s distraught . . . maybe it’s just in a bit of disarray. And so, you need a bit of help to “take a deep breath” . . . some assistance to re-establish a bit of equilibrium. In times like that, might not be a bad idea to take a cue from Elisha and say, “Bring me a musician!”

In 2Kings 3 Jehoram, son of Ahab, becomes king and continues in the ways of so many kings of Israel doing “evil in the sight of the LORD” and “clung to the sin of Jeroboam . . . which he made Israel to sin” (3:2). During his reign, the king of Moab rises up against him and so Jehoram pulls together his army to go fight Moab and he calls on Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom to join him against the Moabites. But before going into battle, Jehoshaphat, the godly one, asks, “Is there no prophet of the LORD here, through whom we may inquire of the LORD” (3;11)? And so the three kings go to Elisha to hear the counsel of God.

But Elisha is choked at seeing idol-worshipping Jehoram at his doorstep. You get the sense that he is really bugged by this hypocrite coming to him to hear the voice of the LORD. In fact, Elisha says that if it weren’t for Jehoshaphat being there he would not so much as look at Jehoram . . . much less intercede before God on his behalf (3:14). And then Elisha says the unexpected . . . something that wouldn’t have been on my radar . . .

” . . . But now bring me a musician.” And when the musician played, the hand of the LORD came upon him.    (2Kings 3:15 ESV)

Here are three kings at his doorstep . . . with their armies parked in his front yard ready to go to war. And they are asking Elisha to do his “prophet thing” . . . but Elisha’s “not feeling it.” So what does Elisha do? . . . “I need someone to put on a concert” . . . and then, when the musician plays, the hand of God comes upon Elisha . . . the Spirit connects . . . direct cause and effect relationship. And I have to think, wow!!! How powerful is music??

Seeing Jehoram, Elisha was in no spiritual state to hear from God . . . he was torn up inside . . . vexed by this king who was leading Israel into continual sin . . . he was choked . . . miffed . . . ticked off. But if he were to fulfill his responsibilities as prophet he needed to “get right” . . . and that would be done through music. What a powerful ministry that musician had that day.

What a lesson to me on the potential power of music to shape my soul and spirit’s condition and help me be in a state to hear from the Spirit of God.

And I don’t think its just any music that can do that . . . and so I need to pick carefully what I listen to . . . to listen to music that will soothe my soul . . . will open my heart to hear the promptings of the Spirit. Paul says that there’s a direct connect between the moving of the Spirit and the making of music . . .

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart . . .    (Ephesians 5:18 ESV)

It’s not that the music itself will fill me with the Spirit . . . but the right kind of music can soothe a distressed or vexed soul . . . can prepare a heart . . . can open a person’s receptivity . . . such that the Holy Spirit’s voice can be heard. Would it surprise me that Satan might work to create a whole set of counterfeits which do nothing for the soul . . .which in fact clog up the heart and mind so that the Holy Spirit is quenched . . . I think so. Being aware of this then, I need to be thoughtful about the “musicians” I ask to play.

Be still my soul . . . bring me a musician . . .