Songs Week of 17 April 2007
LAMENTATIONS
The book of Lamentations is a main part of Passion week (the week before Easter). (For this reason, though ranked with the Writings in Jewish Bibles, the book is grouped as one of Five Major Prophets in Christian Bibles.)(1a) De lamentatione Jeremiae prophetae.
The Lamentations of the prophet Jeremiah.
(1b) Jerusalem convertere ad Dominum Deum tuum.
Jerusalem, turn to the Lord your God.
(1c) Same as (1b)
BEHOLD AND SEE
Handel set one verse from the Lamentations (1:12) in his oratorio, The Messiah, since Lamentations is traditionally read by Christians as an allegory of Jesus' suffering:Behold and see if there be any sorrow like unto His sorrow.
GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS
"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." LAMENTATIONS 3:22Great is Thy faithfulness O Thou my Father. There is no shadow of turning with Thee. Thou changest not Thy compassions, they fail not. As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be. Great is They faithfulness, great is Thy faithfulness, morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed, Thy hand hath provided, great is Thy faithfulness Lord unto me.
THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL
Afro-American Sermon
I say good news, the chariot's coming, so glad the chariot's coming, getting ready cause the chariot's coming. There's a better day a-coming fare thee well, fare thee well (2).
The Valley of Dry Bones
Based on Ezekiel 37: "And he said unto me, 'Son of man, can these bones live?' And I answered, 'O Lord God, thou knowest.' Again he said unto me, 'Prophesy upon these bones. . . .' So I prophesied, as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a noise. And, behold, a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone." (Ezekiel 37:3-7).Afro-American Sermon
I want you to consider the book of Ezekiel, the tenth chapter and um the ninth and the ten verses of that chapter. And when I looked behold four wheels,
ah, by the cherubims, one wheel by one cherub and another wheel by another cherub and the appearance of the wheels was as the color of a beryl stone and as for their appearances the four had one likeness as if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel. I'm going to talk about wheels in the middle of wheels. I want you to hurry up and get with me because I remember when I was growing up as a young preacher, people used to say to the Preacher come up now, I'm up here waiting on you. Now I want to say to you don't you come up the road to wait for me
because I may turn off before I get to where you are. Wheels in the middle of wheels. Let me by way of introduction say to you that contemporary with this writing Babylonia was in world ascendancy. She had become the leading existing power in that part of the world. Egypt had failed, and Assyria had gone down. Babylonia was on the ascendancy. Nebuchadnezzar, ah, threw fear in the hearts of world leaders contemporary with himself. Now there was fear in the hearts, in the hearts of the Israelites that Babylon eventually would besiege the nation and they felt that the threat of doom hung over the holy city Jerusalem. God had always had in a crisis some prophet or some preacher to engender hope in the hearts of hopeless people. He always has [always] some preacher or some prophet [yes] who walks along the lofty walls of vision while the people grope down in the darkness calling out to him, "Watchman, what of the night?" And the prophet or the preacher doesn't answer. The morning comes and so does the night. At this time there was a threat of military overthrow for the people of Israel. At this time the people were fearful and they were even more fearful because they thought that not only would Jerusalem be destroyed but the temple would be destroyed and the vision points out that Yahweh or God would withdraw not only from, ah, Jerusalem but also from the temple and the people have had great traditions, great backgrounds. It is difficult for them to turn those fractious days loose without wrecking themselves, emotionally, spiritually and otherwise. So Ezekiel appeared on the scene to speak to Israel from Yahweh. And he tells them the story of a prophet's vision. He said he looked into the firmament, which was another way of saying I looked into the future, I looked into the firmament, I looked into history that had not taken place. I looked into the firmament. ah, as those of you reckon who read the Bible with some diligence, realize how graphic and how symbolic the book of Ezekiel is. Many are the imagery or images ah are are graphic but to the people of Israel at least they were constructive. [Yes.] And because when he said he looked into the firmament (are you praying with me?), ah, I said, and I repeat that he was talking about looking into history. And he was looking upon the temple [yes], he was looking in a way that was transcendent to the temple [yeah] and he sat as he looked he saw the outlines of a throne that was made like a chariot. And then the vague outline [yeah] of somebody sitting on that chariot throne. That was in the future, that was above Israel. It was above Babylon as well as the rest of history. For I don't care anything about the Hitlers, and the Mussolinis, it doesn't mean anything to me about the despots and about the men of power. Well Hitler is not here and Mussolini is dead. I will say the great rulers that we've been talking about are all gone. But God is still in the middle of the sky, sitting above history, above power, still on his chariot throne. But the symbolism of the throne looking like a chariot with the vague outlines of Yahweh sitting on it, suggests that Yahweh was ready to fight. You're not going to ah get on a chariot for any reason other than fighting. This is the thing that astonished the prophet as well as the nation. That the prophet was in the temple at the time that is as far as the vision was concerned, at the time of the vision and because he saw not only God above him but God was on the move and the glory of God was blinding as he moved out of the temple toward the east gate. I wish I had somebody to pray with tonight. And ah he tells the story not only of the chariot throne but he saw around the throne cherubs and cherubims, ah, words that are used interchangeably ah with angels. Cherub is singular and cherubim is plural so there was movement between one aggregation of cherubs on the other hand and another aggregation of cherubims on the other hand. Then he heard a voice there in the temple calling out to a man in white. What is meant by this? A scribe or a priest. And the voice said, "Come in. Reach your hand in the midst of the church. Get some live coals from around the altar. Then I want you to go on a mission for me out into the city throwing and scattering these live coals. I don't believe you hear what I'm saying. And has been preached for the scribes to scatter these coals, these parcels of fire symbolizing God's words. For usually fire as you read it in the Bible is associated with God. It was in connection with God that Moses saw God in the burning bush. It was fire that ah was used with the sacrifices. It was fire that God answered Elijah on Mount Carmel. Now God is a fire flame. You don't believe what I'm saying, yes he is, let me tell you, Jesus Christ. It is said that when the priest or the scribe went out to scatter the fiery words of God into a hopeless city, well that priest or scribe did his job. Now what was Ezekiel talking about? What he was saying was, well, God, you know showed me angels and beside the angels were wheels, oh Lord, and those wheels were full of fire, yeah, they had eyes on their hands, they had eyes in their heads, they had eyes on their wings, and then the wheels had eyes around them, Oh Lord, would you tell them what you're talking about Ezekiel. I'm telling you that you are part of God's plan. You know God is the first wheel, oh Lord! Babylon is a wheel that was bigger than Israel. Yes. But in his vision, the prophet was saying don't lose hope. You may be a small wheel, but you are a wheel. Although you may feel that you are doomed. Oh, Lord, They just mean that you are in God's plans and in God's purposes, oh Lord. And God's plans, they're not blind, they're full of eyes. God is on a mission anyways. He has angels standing by, his plan. Oh, Lord. And then those angels are full of eyes. They're looking to the north. Those eyes are looking to the east, into the south, and then to the west. Pray God. And then remember the wheels were rolling, sit down here, I've never seen a vision like this, I've been sick all day. God's plan are ever on the move. I don't believe you hear me. Oh, don't worry tonight, don't get afraid, don't lose your faith, don't lose your hope, don't lose that burning fire down in your heart. God's plan are on the move. And no power, well you may be frustrated . . . but you cannot stop God's plan, always, always God is gonna make a way.
GOOD NEWSbecause I may turn off before I get to where you are. Wheels in the middle of wheels. Let me by way of introduction say to you that contemporary with this writing Babylonia was in world ascendancy. She had become the leading existing power in that part of the world. Egypt had failed, and Assyria had gone down. Babylonia was on the ascendancy. Nebuchadnezzar, ah, threw fear in the hearts of world leaders contemporary with himself. Now there was fear in the hearts, in the hearts of the Israelites that Babylon eventually would besiege the nation and they felt that the threat of doom hung over the holy city Jerusalem. God had always had in a crisis some prophet or some preacher to engender hope in the hearts of hopeless people. He always has [always] some preacher or some prophet [yes] who walks along the lofty walls of vision while the people grope down in the darkness calling out to him, "Watchman, what of the night?" And the prophet or the preacher doesn't answer. The morning comes and so does the night. At this time there was a threat of military overthrow for the people of Israel. At this time the people were fearful and they were even more fearful because they thought that not only would Jerusalem be destroyed but the temple would be destroyed and the vision points out that Yahweh or God would withdraw not only from, ah, Jerusalem but also from the temple and the people have had great traditions, great backgrounds. It is difficult for them to turn those fractious days loose without wrecking themselves, emotionally, spiritually and otherwise. So Ezekiel appeared on the scene to speak to Israel from Yahweh. And he tells them the story of a prophet's vision. He said he looked into the firmament, which was another way of saying I looked into the future, I looked into the firmament, I looked into history that had not taken place. I looked into the firmament. ah, as those of you reckon who read the Bible with some diligence, realize how graphic and how symbolic the book of Ezekiel is. Many are the imagery or images ah are are graphic but to the people of Israel at least they were constructive. [Yes.] And because when he said he looked into the firmament (are you praying with me?), ah, I said, and I repeat that he was talking about looking into history. And he was looking upon the temple [yes], he was looking in a way that was transcendent to the temple [yeah] and he sat as he looked he saw the outlines of a throne that was made like a chariot. And then the vague outline [yeah] of somebody sitting on that chariot throne. That was in the future, that was above Israel. It was above Babylon as well as the rest of history. For I don't care anything about the Hitlers, and the Mussolinis, it doesn't mean anything to me about the despots and about the men of power. Well Hitler is not here and Mussolini is dead. I will say the great rulers that we've been talking about are all gone. But God is still in the middle of the sky, sitting above history, above power, still on his chariot throne. But the symbolism of the throne looking like a chariot with the vague outlines of Yahweh sitting on it, suggests that Yahweh was ready to fight. You're not going to ah get on a chariot for any reason other than fighting. This is the thing that astonished the prophet as well as the nation. That the prophet was in the temple at the time that is as far as the vision was concerned, at the time of the vision and because he saw not only God above him but God was on the move and the glory of God was blinding as he moved out of the temple toward the east gate. I wish I had somebody to pray with tonight. And ah he tells the story not only of the chariot throne but he saw around the throne cherubs and cherubims, ah, words that are used interchangeably ah with angels. Cherub is singular and cherubim is plural so there was movement between one aggregation of cherubs on the other hand and another aggregation of cherubims on the other hand. Then he heard a voice there in the temple calling out to a man in white. What is meant by this? A scribe or a priest. And the voice said, "Come in. Reach your hand in the midst of the church. Get some live coals from around the altar. Then I want you to go on a mission for me out into the city throwing and scattering these live coals. I don't believe you hear what I'm saying. And has been preached for the scribes to scatter these coals, these parcels of fire symbolizing God's words. For usually fire as you read it in the Bible is associated with God. It was in connection with God that Moses saw God in the burning bush. It was fire that ah was used with the sacrifices. It was fire that God answered Elijah on Mount Carmel. Now God is a fire flame. You don't believe what I'm saying, yes he is, let me tell you, Jesus Christ. It is said that when the priest or the scribe went out to scatter the fiery words of God into a hopeless city, well that priest or scribe did his job. Now what was Ezekiel talking about? What he was saying was, well, God, you know showed me angels and beside the angels were wheels, oh Lord, and those wheels were full of fire, yeah, they had eyes on their hands, they had eyes in their heads, they had eyes on their wings, and then the wheels had eyes around them, Oh Lord, would you tell them what you're talking about Ezekiel. I'm telling you that you are part of God's plan. You know God is the first wheel, oh Lord! Babylon is a wheel that was bigger than Israel. Yes. But in his vision, the prophet was saying don't lose hope. You may be a small wheel, but you are a wheel. Although you may feel that you are doomed. Oh, Lord, They just mean that you are in God's plans and in God's purposes, oh Lord. And God's plans, they're not blind, they're full of eyes. God is on a mission anyways. He has angels standing by, his plan. Oh, Lord. And then those angels are full of eyes. They're looking to the north. Those eyes are looking to the east, into the south, and then to the west. Pray God. And then remember the wheels were rolling, sit down here, I've never seen a vision like this, I've been sick all day. God's plan are ever on the move. I don't believe you hear me. Oh, don't worry tonight, don't get afraid, don't lose your faith, don't lose your hope, don't lose that burning fire down in your heart. God's plan are on the move. And no power, well you may be frustrated . . . but you cannot stop God's plan, always, always God is gonna make a way.
I say good news, the chariot's coming, so glad the chariot's coming, getting ready cause the chariot's coming. There's a better day a-coming fare thee well, fare thee well (2).
The Valley of Dry Bones
DRY BONES
Ezekiel cried them dry bones (3), "Now hear the word of the Lord." Ezekiel connected them dry bones (3), now hear the word of the lord. Well the toe bones connected to your foot bone, your foot bone's connected to your heel bone connected to the ankle (knee, thigh, hip, back, shoulder, neck, head) now hear the word of the Lord. Them bones gonna walk around (3) now hear the word of the Lord. Just connect them bones, them dry bones, now hear the word of the Lord (3). Well your head bone's connected from your neck bone (neck, shoulder, back, hip, thigh, knee, leg, ankle, heel, foot, toe bone), now hear the word of the Lord. Them bones, them dry bones (3), now hear the word of the Lord. (Repeat). Now hear the word of the Lord.Breathe On Us Again
This hymn was sung at the Christian Revival in Washington, D.C. in October, 1997. The Revival was named, "Stand in the Gap," after Ezekiel 22:30: "I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap [hole] for the land's sake, so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none." The title refers to another Ezekiel text, the "Valley of Dry Bones": "I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live" (37:5). This refers to Genesis: "and the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul" (2:7). Ezekiel's revival of the dry bones is open to two readings: a "Zionist" reading (the return of the Jews to Jerusalem) or a Christian reading of Resurrection:
O Lord, hear. O Lord forgive us. We have lost the hour of you. Have mercy, have mercy. O Lord, cleanse our hearts, which are divided. Stir the faith that we once knew. We're thirsty, we're thirsty. O Lord, restore the Church that bears your name. O Spirit, send a revival to this nation. Breathe on us again. Breathe on us again. O Lord, restore the Church that bears your name. O Spirit, send a revival to this nation. Breathe on us again. Breathe on us again.Ezekiel 34
(Listening Text)
This chapter influenced ideas in the New Testament, and Jesus refers to it (John 10). He also refers to it in his famous remark about sheep disguised as wolves: "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves" (Matthew 7:15). The Ezekiel text has echoes of the famous Psalm 23 ("The Lord Is My Shepherd")."And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock. The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd. . . ."
Listen to the Lambs
Based on Ezekiel 34 (itself based on Jeremiah 23:1), with its messianic image of a Good Shepherd, later used by Jesus: "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. . . . I am the good shepherd: I know my sheep and my sheep know me" (John: 10:11-14). Listen to the lambs, all a-crying (3) all a-crying. (3) He shall feed his flock like a shepherd and carry the young lambs in his bosom and carry the young lambs in his bosom.
HEAR DE LAM'S A CRYIN'
Afro-American dialect for "Hear the lambs a-crying." From Ezekiel 34 and the last chapter of the Gospel of John (21). Jesus wisely asks Peter three times if Peter loves him, because Peter denied Jesus three times. And Jesus links Peter's love of him to actual works ("feed my lambs"), as if Jesus knew that love and works would soon be split. Soon many loved Jesus but had no sense of social justice; they forgot to feed the lambs: "Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, 'Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?" (JAMES 3:15-16)
Hear the lambs a-crying (3), Oh shepherd feed my sheep. My Savior spoke these words so sweet, Oh shepherd feed my sheep, saying Peter if you love me feed my sheep, oh shepherd feed my sheep. My Lord I love you thou must know (oh shepherd feed my sheep) oh give me grace to love Thee more (oh shepherd feed my sheep). Hear the lambs a-crying (3), Oh shepherd feed my sheep.Afro-American dialect for "Hear the lambs a-crying." From Ezekiel 34 and the last chapter of the Gospel of John (21). Jesus wisely asks Peter three times if Peter loves him, because Peter denied Jesus three times. And Jesus links Peter's love of him to actual works ("feed my lambs"), as if Jesus knew that love and works would soon be split. Soon many loved Jesus but had no sense of social justice; they forgot to feed the lambs: "Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, 'Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?" (JAMES 3:15-16)
GOING TO RIDE UP IN DE CHARIOT
Gonna ride up in the chariot sooner in the morning and I hope I join the band. Oh Lord have mercy on me and I hope I join the band. Going to chatter with the angels sooner in the morning and I hope I join the band. Oh Lord have mercy on me (3) and I'll join the band. EZEKIEL SAW THE WHEEL
Though the book of Ezekiel is considered odd by some readers, its images are some of the most famous from the Bible, especially in Gospel songs. It has also had influence on the book of Revelation. In popular culture, Ezekiel's Heavenly Chariot has been the source of UFO (Flying Saucer) speculation. Gospel songs interpret the wheel in the middle of the wheel as God's grace and man's faith, as this song shows:Well I tell you! Ezekiel saw the wheel way up in the middle of the air. (4) And the big wheel runs by faith and the little wheel runs by the grace of God: a wheel in a wheel way up in the middle of the air.
Swing Down, Sweet Chariot
Elvis' music and style were influenced by Gospel quartets, which he loved, as this song shows:Why don't you swing down sweet chariot, stop and let me ride. Swing down chariot, stop and let me ride. Rock me Lord, rock me Lord, calm and easy. Well I've got a home on the other side. (2) Well, well, well, well, well, well. . . . Ezekiel went down in the middle of a field. He saw an angel working on a chariot wheel. Wasn't so particular 'bout the chariot wheel. Just wanted to see how a chariot feel. Why don't you swing down sweet chariot, stop and let me ride. Swing down chariot, stop and let me ride. Rock me Lord, rock me Lord, calm and easy. Well I've got a home on the other side. Well, well, well. . . . Ezekiel went down and he got on board. Chariot went a-bumping on down the road. Zeke [Ezekiel] wasn't so particular 'bout the bumping of the road. Just wanted to lay down his heavy load. Why don't you swing down sweet chariot, stop and let me ride. Swing down chariot, stop and let me ride. Rock me Lord, rock me Lord, calm and easy. Well I've got a home on the other side. Well I got a father in the Promised Land. Ain't no more stopping till I shake his hand. Rock me Lord, rock me Lord, calm and easy. I've got a home on the other side. Why don't you swing down sweet chariot, stop and let me ride. Swing down chariot, stop and let me ride. Rock me Lord, rock me Lord, calm and easy. Well I've got a home on the other side.
SHOWERS OF BLESSINGS
"I will bless them and the places surrounding my hill. I will send down showers in season: there will be showers of blessing." Ezekiel 34:26.There shall be showers of blessing: This is the promise of love; There shall be seasons refreshing, Sent from the Savior above. Showers of blessing, Showers of blessing we need: Mercy drops round us are falling, But for the showers we plead. There shall be showers of blessing, Precious reviving again; Over the hills and the valleys, Sound of abundance of rain.
EVEN ME
Based on Ezekiel 34:26.Lord, I hear of showers of blessing, Thou art scattering (you're scattering them) full and free. Showers the thirsty land/soul refreshing; Lord let some drops now fall (oh Lord let them fall) on me; Even me, even me, Let some drops now fall on me.
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