Sunday, April 24, 2011

Easter Songs

We sang an awesome song this Easter. It was a confession of our sin and a deep plea for the work of Jesus. The tune was odd. I think it was a minor key. Somehow syncopated, but never so regular as to get it the first try. Weird. The lyrics were vivid and striking.

Forsaking his face for the sculpted things
We have shaped with our evil hands

and in the same lines on another verse…
We distilled our drink from the fangs of snakes
That glide in the fallow dust

With a reply about our worthless, silent golden cows…and where are they now?
His swift and jealous arm has thrown them down.

Love the swift and jealous arm of the Lord. There is no other hope. We can not stand by own own deeds. They kill us. But his ‘thirsty sword is quenched’. For it fell on Jesus. Swift and terrible is the justice of God. Christ died.

But he did not stay dead. He is alive again. Real life. He has tasted the wrath I surely deserve. He has dispatched my sin. Hallelujah!

Below are the lyrics and a way to listen to the song from Sojourn Music.

"Jealous Arm" by Jamie Barnes

Is this the way we repay our God?
Who among us has he not made?
Forsaking his face for the sculpted things
We have shaped with our evil hands
And where are they now?
Our worthless golden cows?
His swift and jealous arm has thrown them down.

Lift up your eyes little ones
Rejoice, chosen sons
For his thirsty sword is quenched
Dispatching all our sin
With his redeeming love, with his redeeming love.

Is this the way we repay our God?
Who among us can he not save?
We distilled our drink from the fangs of snakes
That glide in the fallow dust
And where are they now?
Our silent, golden cows
His anger melted them down
And we drank then till we drowned
Only Christ’s pure blood can flush the poison out.

Listen here

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