The Lord has had me thinking a lot about the way sound affects the natural world but, as I’ve pondered on it, this post has ended up languishing in “drafts” for several weeks! So here it is, finally! I hope it makes sense!
Sounds are all around us, all the time, some quiet, some loud. Music can affect our mood. Certain sounds stir strong memories and feelings. Waves washing up a sandy beach, the roar of autumn winds through the trees and the crispy crunch of dried leaves under foot, all bring back happy childhood memories for me. I’m sure that for those in war-torn areas, the sound of a siren or maybe a low flying aircraft would elicit feelings of fear. A baby’s cry can make the tiredest mother suddenly alert! Sounds affect our hormones and our bodies, as well as our thoughts.
Even people who are profoundly deaf can feel vibration and rhythm. The well-known Scottish percussionist, Evelyn Glennie, has been profoundly deaf since childhood, but it has not stopped her having a career as a professional musician. She often performs with bare feet, to help her feel the vibrations better.
I expect many of you have seen the videos of intriguing physics experiments using a metal plate with sand or salt on, which is subject to the vibrations caused by varying frequencies of sound. Every change in frequency produces a new, unique pattern.
Sound is energy. It produces physical changes!
In Genesis chapter one, verses one and two, God (Elohim – which is plural, as the Godhead is plural, three in one) created..! The Spirit of God hovered (some translations say brooded) over the waters. The bible does not say God spoke at this point, but it does say the earth was without form, and void – empty.
Genesis 1:1-2 NKJV
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. [2] The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
Then God spoke… and, like an artist who had been contemplating and considering, he began painting onto the blank canvas of the Earth, his words forming order and life, like the vibrations going through the plate to make new and unique patterns.
Genesis chapter 1 continues…
[3] Then God said [spoke,declared, commanded] “Let there be light”; and there was light.
[6] Then God said, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.”
[9] Then God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so.
[11] Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth”; and it was so.
[14] Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years;
[20] Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.”
[24] Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind”; and it was so.
[26] Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
God spoke, and it came to pass, formed by the sound of his voice and the words of his mouth. Vibration itself cannot be seen until it affects something visible.
Hebrews 11:3 NIV
By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
To be honest, I found that short phrase to be quite profound! It was a bit of a “wow” moment!
Sound travels in waves and can have the same effect as gentle waves lapping at the sand or a giant tsunami roaring towards the shoreline. I’m guessing that creation involved more of the tsunami kind!
Ezekiel says, in chapter 37, that he was taken up in the Spirit and shown the valley of dry bones. God then tells Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones. He is to tell them to HEAR the word of the Lord! When Ezekiel is obedient and speaks to the bones, he sees them assemble and gain sinews and flesh.
He is then commanded to prophesy breath, and the reassembled bodies become living, breathing beings, forming a great army!
Although God gave the command and performed the miracle, he was showing Ezekiel that, in speaking out to the dry bones, he was prophesying life. He was working in partnership with God to release the miracle.
Every time we speak or sing God’s Word, we are effecting change in the heavenlies, which in turn affects the natural world. This is why scripturally sound worship songs are so important. It is also vital to use the scriptures to pray. Memorising various verses and passages is really helpful.
Isaiah 55:11 NKJV
So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
John 10:10 NKJV
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
In Strong’s concordance, the word abundantly is 4053. Here is a summary:
STRONGS NT 4053: περισσός
Exceeding some number or measure or rank or need;
1. over and above, more than is necessary, superadded, exceeding abundantly, supremely, to have abundance…
2. superior, extraordinary, surpassing, uncommon, more eminent, more remarkable, with greater honour, more (abundant) honour…
I know many people take this to mean abundance of health, provision, and good things in life in general – and I’m not necessarily against that in principle. But I do think the “health and wealth gospel” as it’s called, of huge amounts of money going to certain megachurch pastors through the “sow a seed of x amount into my ministry so God will bless you…” line, is just plain wrong! It’s deception. You can’t bribe God! And clearly, there ARE suffering believers in the world!
HOWEVER, what if the overflow of that super abundant life that we all have, through Christ, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, is the life that we give out to others through our words… ?!
Words have power. They can wound and they can heal!
Ephesians 4:26-27 NIV
“In your anger do not sin” : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, [27] and do not give the devil a foothold.
Ephesians 4:29 NIV
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
The Lord is telling us to be wise… He knows we are human and sometimes feel angry, but we are not to let that open a door to the enemy! He is reminding us that we should use our words wisely.
Unwholesome talk doesn’t just mean telling dirty jokes! I know from personal experience, that looking too long at the world, the news, the wars, the injustices going on these days… It pulls us down, makes us shout our mouths off about all the things that annoy us, and takes our eyes off Jesus, quickly making us forget WHO we are and WHAT we already have, in Christ!
Proverbs 15:1,4 NIV
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
[4] The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.
God wants us to speak life, healing, blessing and encouragement! Remember! Love your neighbour as yourself! We are ambassadors for Christ and, for some people, the only time they will be exposed to the love of Jesus, is through us!
The Finished Work 