Can The Devil Influence The Spirit Through Music?

* Depiction of Lucifer with integrated music instruments
© by Sydnie Krebs/Liberty SC 2013

From time to time in my Bible studies, I like to talk about the scientific or seemingly fantastical in the Bible.

I want to preface this study with two statements:

1) The following is common interpretation of the topic. It's not necessarily what I believe or what you should be influenced to believe. 

2) We must be VERY careful when we assign miracles and/or fantasy from Biblical interpretations unless they are specifically as clear as story of The Exodus and the parting of The Red Sea.

One topic of interest to me lately has been whether music influences the spirit. While researching the topic, I saw that some interpret certain passages in the Bible as indicating that this is so. Some interpretations even go as far as saying Lucifer has extreme power using music and that even his body was originally made of musical instruments.

For the purpose of this study, I will first discuss the role and power of angels.

Together, we will assume three things:

1)  Lucifer, aka The Devil or Satan, is a fallen angel who was the head of the ministry of music in Heaven.

Of course, now, he no longer is….. but there are several scriptural references throughout the Bible that denote his previous authority over music when he was in heaven.

Isaiah 14:11 …

“Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, the noise of thy violions: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.”

2)  He was the most beautiful of ALL angels.

Ezekial 28:12b

"You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty."

3) God is pleased by music. And, he can be displeased by it as well.

God likes music that is offered in response to the Gospel.

Colossians 3:16-17

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Psalm 98:5

“Sing praises to the Lord with the harp with the sound of melody.”

Amos 5:21, 23

Amos told the Israelites that God actually hated their musical worship.

“I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies... Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen". 

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Was (or is) Lucifer essentially a walking talking musical instrument?

Ezekiel 28:13-16

"Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy timbrels and of thy pipes was prepared in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering CHERUB, from the midst of the stones of fire."

These were the same words that were spoken of Lucifer in

Isaiah 14:11-14

"All your pomp has been brought down to the grave, along with the noise of your harps; maggots are spread out beneath you and worms cover you. How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee."

This verse is speaking of his fall from heaven and about the glory and gifts he had that fell with him. "The noise of thy violions" indicates the stringed instruments he had charge over.

Mentioned throughout the Bible (Ezekiel, Job, Isaiah, even Psalms) is Lucifer's past life as the minister of music in heaven.

Also, angels are depicted as singing praises …

Part of the story of Christ's birth includes this mention …

Luke 2:13-14

"Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." "

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There are two types of angels … Seraphim and Cherubim.

Seraphim

Seraphim are classified as angels of the first order.

The Seraphim (singular “Seraph”), mentioned in Isaiah 6:1-7 , serve as the caretakers of God’s throne and continuously sing his praises.

It is said that they surround the throne of God, singing music.

It is also said that such a bright light emanates from them that nothing, not even other divine beings, can look upon them. Four seraphim surround God’s throne, where they burn eternally from love and zeal for God.

Exodus 33:20

When Moses asks to see God and God obliges, he asks Moses to hide in the crevice of the mountain …

But," He said, "you cannot see My face, for no one may see Me and live."

The Seraphim have six wings; two covering their face, two covering their feet, and two that they fly with.

Unlike other Seraphim who had six wings, Lucifer was featured to have twelve wings.

Cherubim

Cherubim are classified as angels of the second order.

In depictions, Cherubim are often winged babies. Art, Catholicism, Pop Culture, and Roman and Greek mythology have melded over time to depict Cupid, a winged baby and a god of sorts, that instigates or influences love connections and desire.

The Cherubim (singular “Cherub”) are beyond the throne of God. It is believed that, although they are removed from man’s plane of reality, the divine light that they filter down from Heaven still touches the lives of living things.

Some interpret the cherubs as having four faces: one of a man, one of an ox, another of a lion, and yet another that of an eagle.

Yet these same order of angels must also be able to take a human form as they were most likely the angels of God that visited Lot in the story of Sodom and Gomorrah …

Genesis 19:1-3

"The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When he saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground. “My lords,” he said, “please turn aside to your servant’s house. You can wash your feet and spend the night and then go on your way early in the morning.”

“No,” they answered, “we will spend the night in the square.” 

But he insisted so strongly that they did go with him and entered his house. He prepared a meal for them, baking bread without yeast, and they ate.

In Ezekiel Chapter 10, the ox’s face is called a cherub’s face. Although, it is unclear if Ezekiel's discussion of certain incidents and phenomenon are prophecies, dreams, or actual vision.

Cherubim have eight conjoined wings covered with eyes, and they have ox’s feet.

Cherubim are considered the elect beings for the purpose of protection.

Some believe them to be an order or class of angels; others hold them to be a class of heavenly beings higher than angels.

Cherubim are said to have perfect knowledge of God, surpassed only by the love of the Seraphim.

The Cherubim are specifically mentioned in Genesis 3:24 ; Ezekiel 10:17-20 ; and 1 Kings 6:23-28.

Having perfect knowledge of God means that they must have perfect knowledge of his creation. I would posit that this must mean that angels, including the fallen, know how to influence man ~ in many ways … music being one of the ways.

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Lucifer may have contained something akin to musical instruments – the tambourine, the flute, and the harp within the confines of his body.

Lucifer, by being the most authoritative and superior angel, was also probably the angel of music.

The point of this study is to see, purely from a theological view, if in fact Satan has a connection with and a direct influence on music, which I believe he undoubtedly does.

We must remember that some, not all music, can come from evil sources no matter how lovely, beautiful or pleasing it may sound to the ears.

II Corinthians 11:14

The devil can masquerade as an angel of light.

"And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light."

So, why would the devil also not be able to masquerade great sounding music as something good, when in fact it's bad. The music could have a great beat or melody, meaningful lyrics, or just be popular among your peers.

Music, I believe, has a two purposes.

To glorify God or not, it’s as simple as that.

Music was initially created to glorify God. Then came Satan’s rebellion. What he has done with music from that point on indicates that he uses music, in some cases, to influence God's chosen.

I've deleted a good bit of music that I have carried around with me for years ~ the music filled with inappropriate language or that glorifies sinful behavior. I still have some music that I'm sure a pastor in a church would find questionable.

Scientific studies prove the fact that music influences our psyche and the outcome of our behavior is contingent upon the type of music we choose to listen to.

In some studies, playing Handel, Pachelbel, or other mild classical music shows that it improves focus and memory while studying.

Some studies also indicate that listening to classical music while pregnant may influence positive brain development in a fetus either by direct stimulation of the fetus or by relaxing the mother and stimulating positive brain activity and therefore health of the host mother.

Be careful what you view on the internet on this topic. Some videos carry conspiracy theories too far. Repeating these conspiracies may weaken your ministry and credibility to disciple others.

Not all music, secular or sectarian, is inherently evil. Not all music that claims to be religious is pleasing to God nor does it promote God's will for us.

Just as Satan has an influence on music, so does God; and maybe even moreso. Christ has been specifically named in more songs, music, stories, poetry, prose, screenplays, literature, or art than any other subject in the history of mankind.

Jesus Christ has been the influencing source behind such famous and talented musical artists as: Handel, Bach, Pachelbel, John and Charles Wesley and many others.

As with anything in life, it is up to our own discretion and spiritual discernment to decide what is and is not appropriate. It is also up to us as parents to set standards and to monitor what our kids are listening to. What goes in the body is what comes out through the way in which we live our lives.

Mark 7:20-21

“What comes out of a man is what makes him `unclean.’ For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery.