Every generation has produced believers whose gift is to share the truths of God in poetry set to music. Are their words, or even the words of this humble blogger, as powerful as God’s word? Of course not! But they are powerful because of God’s word.
I took a German course in high school and one of the projects was to translate the lyrics of a song from English to German. I can still sing the first verse and chorus of “You Are My Sunshine” in German (virtually the only German I remember). The problem was, by translating the meaning of each word correctly, I lost the poetry of rhythm and rhyme. I believe that as powerful as the message of the Psalms is in English, they must have had even more power and impact in the original language of the songwriter.
If you frequent my blog you know that I love to quote the lyrics of sacred songs that have made my heart sing. (It’s a “joyful noise” when I sing them.) Classic hymns of the 1700s like “Amazing Grace” and “Rock of Ages”; those of the 1800s like “It Is Well with My Soul” and “Sweet Hour of Prayer”; those of the 1900s like “The Old Rugged Cross”, “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” and “Because He Lives” have all blessed my soul with reminders of God’s love and grace. Gospel songs (more than I can list) and contemporary Worship music also provide me with inspiration and draw me closer to God as I sing or listen to them.
God continues to inspire poets in this century who write songs lifting the hearts of those who sing or listen to them. Very few of us will be around to enjoy all of the songs of the 2000s, but there will be no end of singing and dancing in our future home.
I want to leave you with a sample from two of my favorite worship songs.
“You make me brave. You make me brave. You call me out beyond the shore into the waves. You make me brave. You make me brave. No fear can hinder now the promises you made. As your love, in wave after wave crashes over me, crashes over me. For you are for us, you are not against us. Champion of heaven, you have made a way for all to enter in.”
“It is amazing grace. It is unfailing love; that you should take my place; that you should bear my cross. You laid down your life that I may be set free. Jesus, I sing for all that you’ve done for me.”