Biblical scholar and Jubileecast editor, Timothy Yap presented his new research paper, "Music in the Saul Narratives," at the 2025 Evangelical Theological Society (ETS) National Conference, one of the world's leading annual gatherings for evangelical biblical scholars, theologians, and ministry leaders.
Founded in 1949, ETS is a professional academic society devoted to the scholarly study of the Scriptures. Its annual national meeting-drawing more than 2,500 scholars from universities, seminaries, and research institutes around the world-serves as a premier platform for presenting cutting-edge research in biblical studies, theology, church history, and interdisciplinary fields. The 2025 conference continued this tradition, convening specialists for four days of academic dialogue, paper sessions, and plenary addresses.
At this year's meeting, Yap delivered his paper to a strong audience of Old Testament scholars and pastors, exploring how music functions as a theologically loaded narrative force within the Saul cycles of 1 Samuel. In "Music in the Saul Narratives," Yap argues that music is not incidental ornamentation but a window into the spiritual, political, and emotional upheaval surrounding Israel's first monarch.
Drawing on Hebrew philology, performance theory, and narrative analysis, Yap shows how scenes such as David's lyre-playing in 1 Samuel 16 and the prophetic musical frenzy in 1 Samuel 19 illuminate the volatile dynamics between Saul, David, and the divine presence. His paper contributes to broader academic discussions on aesthetics in Scripture, prophetic embodiment, and the theology of kingship.
"Within these narratives, music signals far more than mood," Yap explained during his session. "It becomes a vehicle of divine agency, a marker of spiritual torment, and a narrative hinge in the transition from Saul to David."
Conference attendees praised Yap's fresh methodological approach and his integration of textual detail with literary and theological insight.
Timothy Yap continues to develop research on beauty, sacred space, and narrative design in the Hebrew Bible, with several articles forthcoming in peer-reviewed journals. To read his research articles, click HERE.
