Sunday, February 08, 2009

Deadly worship lyrics

Imagine if you walked in church Sunday AM and saw lyrics and heard people singing the following...

The fighter jet and its pilot God has hurled into the sea. The prime minister's tanks and his army God has cast into the sea; And his top administrators are drowned in the ocean. The deeps cover them; They went down into the depths like a stone. Terror and dread fall upon them; By the greatness of Your arm they are motionless as stone;


I don't know about you, but I'd probably look at my wife and say, "We're outta here," with my eyes while clutching my kids — hoping none of the ushers TASER us on the way out.

The words are more important than anything else in a worship song. What do the lyrics say about God yesterday, today, and in the future? Do they accurately describe God? Will the lyrics resonate with those who use the lyrics as a vehicle of worship.

Now check out the lyrics that the Israelites sang in worship to God as they remembered what God did for them as they fled Egypt.


The horse and its rider He has hurled into the sea. Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has cast into the sea; And the choicest of his officers are drowned in the Red Sea. The deeps cover them; They went down into the depths like a stone. Terror and dread fall upon them; By the greatness of Your arm they are motionless as stone; Exodus 15 (excerpts)

How 'bout them worship lyrics? They helped the Israelites remember what God did as they passed this song on from generation to generation. And here you are reading the lyrics. It must have been important to remember what God has done in the past. It's still important today — because we forget so easily how God worked in our lives just this past year.

Lord, help me wisely choose songs that speak of who You really are, what You have done, and what You mean to us. Help me not forget what You have done for me.

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