Influence of Music on Human Personality

In this part of the sermon: Martin clarifies the Hebrew meaning of 'minstrel' as one who strums or sings, distinguishing it from modern connotations. He explains that 'the hand of the Lord' coming upon…

Martin quotes a line from Gilbert and Sullivan's 'The Mikado' to illustrate the common, but inaccurate, modern connotation of the word 'minstrel' compared to its biblical meaning.

we read that Elisha gives a command, not a wandering troubadour, or a singer in which he comes and shekels to make a living, but we think of a minstrel in terms of perhaps one of the songs I believe in the Mikado, one of the Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, a wandering minstrel man I am of stitches I think,

13:30 - 14:14 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin clarifies the Hebrew meaning of 'minstrel' as one who strums or sings, distinguishing it from modern connotations. He explains that 'the hand of the Lord' coming upon…

The example of Elijah running 20 miles before Ahab, empowered by 'the hand of the Lord,' illustrates that this phrase signifies supernatural enablement, not a physical touch, for Elisha.

It is said in that text that the hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and he girded up his loins and ran before Ahab to the entrance of the run of some 20 miles. And there's no indication that Elijah was a marathon runner who ran 5 or 10 miles a day, 6 days a week, to be in shape against such a day. In the context, the Lord means,

17:46 - 18:14 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin briefly notes that the beneficial effects of music are recognized in Scripture and history, citing ancient Greek philosophers who used music to soothe passions and heal…

An anecdote about ancient Greek philosophers playing the flute to clear their minds illustrates the historical recognition of music's beneficial effects on mental states.

Its beneficial effects are illustrated in history. I came across some very interesting things in my background reading. Some quotes of some of the old Greek philosophers. You know what their prescription was for a philosopher when his head was getting too heavy, with too much thinking about philosophy?

36:02 - 36:19 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin briefly notes that the beneficial effects of music are recognized in Scripture and history, citing ancient Greek philosophers who used music to soothe passions and heal…

A historical anecdote from Cornelius Ryan's 'The Longest Day' about Highland troops being inspired by bagpipes at Normandy illustrates music's power to stir and influence people in intense situations.

It was to take down a flute and play it, and sing songs. Furthermore, the Greeks said that music was of great benefit to soothe the passions, to heal mental diseases, to check amongst the people. The tremendous best scene in history. I recently read Cornelius Ryan's account of Normandy, The Longest Day.

36:19 - 36:52 Read in full sermon

Driving home: I consider a rock concert a success when it has turned into total madness. End quote.

A direct quote from Mick Jagger, stating he considers a rock concert a success 'when it has turned into total madness,' illustrates the intended lawless frenzy of rock concerts.

And in an interview with Nick Jagger who as many of you know was next in line in the development of rock music and the rock culture after the Beatles, he was asked this, when is a rock concert a success? And you know what his answer was? I consider a rock concert a success when it has turned into total madness. End quote.

41:33 - 42:11 Read in full sermon

Driving home: I consider a rock concert a success when it has turned into total madness. End quote.

The example of municipalities needing significantly more police protection for rock concerts compared to high school operettas illustrates the inherent 'lawless frenzy' associated with rock events.

Why is it that these that are brought in for a rock concert are a kind of musical form in a concert? Why? Why do you have to deal with those facts? If you choose a municipality that has to provide police protection when there is a rock concert in town.

44:01 - 44:41 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Focusing on rock music, Martin asks three questions: What is the general climate of a rock concert (lawless frenzy)? What are the general behavior patterns of rock performers and…

The deaths of Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix are cited as examples of rock performers whose lifestyles were oriented towards the destruction of the mind through drugs.

They're not even embarrassed about it. When they wrote up recently in Time magazine the king of so-called country rock they even went right down to telling how much he imbibes of drugs as a daily habit. And I'm not reading something into history when I tell you how Janis Joplin died. The facts are there in Jimi Hendrix the facts are there.

46:09 - 46:44 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Focusing on rock music, Martin asks three questions: What is the general climate of a rock concert (lawless frenzy)? What are the general behavior patterns of rock performers and…

The appearance of rock album jackets, often depicting performers who look like they belong in a 'madhouse,' is used as an example of the external appearance reflecting the disorientation and rebellion of the rock culture.

I know there are exceptions but generally speaking all you need to do is stand in front of the rock section in any record shop and look at the jackets and you'd think you were looking at people who had had their pictures taken in a madhouse and their appearance is a reflection of their music and their music and their music and their music and their music and their music and their music and their music and their music and their music and their music

47:28 - 48:10 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Focusing on rock music, Martin asks three questions: What is the general climate of a rock concert (lawless frenzy)? What are the general behavior patterns of rock performers and…

An example of old romantic song lyrics ('She passed by and I saw her, and having seen her, I can think of no one else until I die') is used to contrast the 'noble' and 'committal for life' elements of past popular music with the promiscuity of rock lyrics.

Well, most of the lyrics had to do with a naive, romantic view of male-female relationship. But at least there was an element of common grace that there was something noble about male-female relationship. At least they reflected some remnants of common grace. In which a man said, albeit in a very unrealistic, romantic way, She passed by and I saw her, and having seen her, I can think of no one else until I die.

50:35 - 51:10 Read in full sermon

The point: As a Christian, deliberately listen to no music in the listening of which you could not expect the hand of the Lord to come upon you.

Martin shares his personal practice of listening to classical music on his day off to refresh his mind and spirit, illustrating how music can be a means through which 'the hand of the Lord' brings refreshing.

It's one of the means I use to refresh my mind and spirit on Monday. You wonder what I do on my so-called day off. Well I have to make my bills out. Like everyone else.

63:04 - 63:13 Read in full sermon