And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.
1 Samuel 16:23
Ronald Price was diagnosed with a Parkinsonian degenerative disease. He was studying to play the French horn for a professional career. The disease progressed to the point where his left hand fingers were limp. Doctors, after a week of tests, told him to give up his horn playing.
But he decided to learn another instrument, and chose the harp. Within hours of playing he detected improvement in his motor skills. He could strum with his left hand, and pluck with the fingers of his right. This is told in a wonderful article by Mary Laney in the Lifestyles section of the Chicago Tribune. She further relates that Mr. Price was awarded the chairmanship of the music division of a university.
Some of his troubled students were arsonist, some violent and suicidal. Through his remedial teaching, these and many other symptoms disappeared. Eventually, his students played before a gathering of The American Psychological Association and received thunderous applause.
One of these young harpists, hearing the applause, cried for the first time. Two explanations are given. One is psychological, and another is physical. Since the harp rests upon the shoulder, it is thought its vibrations stimulate the thymus gland. Either way, the Bible was ahead on this by three thousand years.
Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player upon a harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand , and thou shalt be well.
1 Samuel 16:16
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