Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

My name is Kirsten Holmberg and I titled our reading Musical Medicine.

When five-year-old Bella was hospitalized for cancer in North Dakota, she received music therapy as part of her

treatment. Many people have experienced the powerful, effective music on mood without understanding

exactly why. But researchers have recently documented a clinical benefit. Music is now being prescribed for cancer patients like

Bella and those suffering from Parkinson's disease, dementia, and trauma. King Saul reached

for a musical prescription when he was feeling tormented. His attendants saw his lack of peace and suggested they find someone to

play the liar for him in the hope that it would make him feel better. They sent for Jesse's son,

David, and Saul was pleased with him and asked that he remain in his service. David played for

Saul in his moments of unrest, bringing him relief from his anguish.

We may only just be discovering scientifically what God has known all along about how music can affect us.

As the author and creator of both our bodies and music itself, he provided a prescription for our health

that's readily accessible to all, regardless of the era in which we live or how easy it is to

visit a doctor. Even when there's no way to listen, we can sing to God in the midst of our

joys and struggles, making music of our own.

Join me now, as I read from 1st Samuel chapter 16, verses 14 through 23.

Now the spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented

him. Saul's attendance said to him, see, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. Let our

Lord command his servants here to search for someone who can play the liar. He will play when the

evil spirit from God comes on you,

and you will feel better. So Saul said to his attendance, find someone who plays well and bring him to me.

One of the servants answered, I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play

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