Songs from Isaiah
Week of 4 March 2008
I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem, they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest And give Him no rest, give Him no rest Till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth! You will no longer be called Forsaken, nor your land, Desolate. But you will be called Hezibah, my delight is in her and your land will be married! (Isaiah 62:1-7)Week of 4 March 2008
And the redeemed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with a joyful shout and everlasting joy upon their heads. Joy and gladness will be theirs! Sorrow and sighing shall flee away! (Isaiah 51:11)
How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him, are the feet of him who brings good news. He announces peace, he brings good news, he announces salvation, he says to Zion, Your God reigns!" (Isaiah 52:7-8)
Nation shall not lift up sword against nation. Neither shall they learn war anymore. A cry of peace shall be heard throughout the land of Israel. There will be an end to all suffering.
And they shall beat their swords into plowshares and t heir spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation and they shall not learn war again. (Isaiah 2:4)
Look upon Zion, look upon Zion, your eyes shall see Jerusalem. Look upon Zion, look upon Zion, the city of our feasts. Its stakes shall never be pulled up nor any of its cords be released. (Isaiah 33:20, 24)
Jerusalem, Jerusalem let's all rejoice, Jerusalem, Jerusalem come share your voice together. The walls of David's city are guarding us, guarding us both day and night. (Isaiah 62:6)
Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of Zion! Great is the Holy One of Israel! Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of Zion! Great is He in the midst of thee! And that day shall ye say, praise ye the Lord! Call upon his Name! Declare his doings throughout the world! Lo! This is our God! We have waited for Him! He will come and save us! Rejoice! Be lad in him! (Isaiah 12:6, 4; 30:19)
We have overcome by the name and the blood of the lamb of God. Every wall must fall every knee must bow to the Lord of all. (Isaiah 45:23; Philippians 2:10)
The phrase, "every knee must bow" is from Isaiah and refers to God; but St. Paul, in the Letter to the Philippians, used the phrase for Jesus, obviously to make the point that Jesus was God.
Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity and sin as it were with a cart rope! Woe unto them that call evil good and good evil, that put darkness for light and light for darkness, that put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes and prudent in their own sight. Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine and men of strength to mingle strong drink. Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning that they may follow strong drink; that continue till night till wine inflame them. (Isaiah 5:8, 11, 12, 18)
Howl ye, for the day of the Lord is at hand, Howl O gate, cry O city: thou are dissolved. (Isaiah 13:6, 14:31)
The Day of the Lord is a key concept (idea) in the later book prophets and this is one of the first times it appears. The point was that the day of the Lord was believed by traditional Jews to be the day that God would punish Israel's enemies; but the prophets turned it around to be the day God would punish Israel. Zephaniah is the classic text for the Day of the Lord (but also Joel and Amos). This "Day of the Lord" (that is, Day of Judgment, of God's anger) became the basis of the part of the Christian Mass known as Dies Irae (Day of Anger/Wrath; as in the English word, irate, meaning angry). The Dies Irae, in Gregorian chant, has become so famous that it's used in countless movies to signify death; many classical composers also use the melody in brief quotes to signify death or doom..
SANCTUS
The Sanctus (Holy) comes from Isaiah, chapter 6 and has since become a main part of the Christian Mass, and therefore a main part of music based on the Mass. The Italian opera composer wrote a strong setting, Faure wrote a gentle setting. American composer Leonard Bernstein's setting has been criticized for sounding too much like his Broadway music for West Side Story. London composer, Andrew Lloyd-Webber wrote a setting for his popular Requiem.
The Sanctus (Holy) comes from Isaiah, chapter 6 and has since become a main part of the Christian Mass, and therefore a main part of music based on the Mass. The Italian opera composer wrote a strong setting, Faure wrote a gentle setting. American composer Leonard Bernstein's setting has been criticized for sounding too much like his Broadway music for West Side Story. London composer, Andrew Lloyd-Webber wrote a setting for his popular Requiem.
EDOM
American Colonial composer William Billings set these verses from Third Isaiah. The reference is to God as a Battle God, who punishes proud nations, such as Israel's chief rival, Edom. Billings combines verses from Third and First Isaiah:Who is this, who is this that cometh from Edom, it's my God from Bozrah, who is he and what is his name? His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty, Mighty, Mighty God.
HE SHALL FEED HIS FLOCK
These verses from Isaiah doubtless influenced the image of Jesus as a shepherd holding a lamb in his arms. Handel set these verses and they also became part of an Afro-American spiritual:He shall feed his flock like a shepherd and carry the young lambs in his bosom and carry the young lambs in his bosom.
COMFORT YE
Handel set these verses in his Messiah. They begin Second Isaiah with a promise of comfort during the Exile:Comfort ye, comfort ye, my people.
DANCE WITH ME
A worship song based on Song of Songs. Dance with me O lover of my soul. To the song of all songs. Romance me O lover of my soul to the song of all songs. Behold you have come over the hills unpin the mountains, to me you have run my beloved. You've captured my heart, with you I will go. You are my love, you are my fair one, winter is past and the springtime has comes.
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