Vocal Therapy

‘Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” — Epu. v. 18-19.

In two of his letters the Apostle Paul recommends the ministry of singing to his fellow-Christians. It is not, perhaps, the sort of counsel we should expect from this robust and intellectual apostle. We scarcely imagine the gift of song as part of our conception of his marvellous equipment. We do not think of him singing as he climbs from the Cilician plains into the cold, biting air of the Taurus mountains. But why not? It is probable that we get very much nearer to a true image of the man if we think of him toiling along his exacting roads in the mood of song. The man who broke into singing at midnight in the prison of Philippi, when a few hours before he had been beaten with Roman thongs, has a very active sort of minstrelsy in his soul, and it would wake into music at the lightest touch of events.

At any rate, he strongly urges the use of Singing as one of the inspiring helps in the spiritual life. In his letter to the Ephesians he recommends it as a substitute for wine! ‘* Be not drunk with wine, but be filled with the Spirit... singing and making melody in your hearts.” He counsels his readers not to seek their stimulus through the body, but through the spirit, not by the quickening of the flesh, but by the exaltation of the soul. If they seek spiritual stimulus they will have less need of material stimulant; the more of song, the less of wine! And who has not known the inspiration of song? Who has not known the stale flatness of some depressing scene lifted away by the ministry of song?

“Sometimes a light surprises
The Christian while he sings.”

Yes, and when the light breaks upon the soul, like some shaft of sunshine breaking through on a cloudy day, the bird is apt to sing all the more, with the result that twilight passes into glorious day.

The Apostle Paul makes a second reference to this precious ministry in his letter to the Colossians, where he teaches that counsel and even admonition can be best conveyed “in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs.” There is something very attractive about this sort of admonition, but one does not often meet it. The apostle seems to suggest that a soul must be touched to sweetest harmonies before it is fitted to administer reproof. All our own discords must be removed before we are competent to create concord in the soul of another. For what can there be that is truly healing

9 ee l and creative in any word which is born in a heart that is “like sweet bells jangled, out of tune and harsh’? But if a soul is full of harmonies, singing with grace unto the Lord, even its admonitions find a ready entrance into the lives of others, and are ministers of health and healing.

Those whom we call experts in the devotional life are almost in perfect agreement as to the helpful ministry of singing in their devotions. What riches of singing there are in the Psalms! ‘I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord;” “I will sing aloud of Thy mercies.” William Law insists that even in private devotion the Psalms should always be sung. ‘‘ For singing is as much the proper use of a psalm as devout supplication is the proper form of prayer; and a psalm only read is very much like a prayer that is only looked over.” There is nothing that so “awakes all that is good and holy within you, calling your spirits to their proper duty, setting you in your best posture towards heaven, and tuning all the powers of your soul to worship and adoration.” And this testimony of ‘William Law is corroborated in the experience of multitudes of saints.

Sir Frederick Mott gave an admirable lecture some time ago to a society which bears the attractive name of “The Vocal Therapy Society.” He told a fascinating story of how music is now being used in the ministry of healing. At the Maudesley Hospital it has passed far beyond the experimental stage, and is in confident and constant practice. It is being used in nervous disorders, and in restoring mental powers to ex-Service men. The distracted consciousness is being led back into unity and peace. Lost memory is being recovered. The holy, healing Spirit of God is brooding over the stricken spirits of men and is restoring their broken estate through the seductive and mollifying ministry of music and song.

Is this a neglected gift in the aspiring life of the soul? It may be that just here many a one will find the magic secret which gives wings to leaden feet and changes weariness into strength. And perhaps it would be best to try the secret when we do not feel like trying it at all. ‘“‘ How can we sing the songs of Zion in a strange land?” Ah, and that is just the place wherein to sing them! They give an amazing gift to the exiled spirit, and they bring the air and fragrance of home to streets and ways on foreign shores.