Steve at Undeception has wittingly woven two of my recent posts together into one of his – in a response to being tagged with the “Weird Worship” meme, he includes the verses from this Kevin Prosch song, “His Banner Over Me” (not to be confused with the endlessly repetitive “His Banner Over Me is Love” that I sang ad nauseam as a kid):

He brought me to His banqueting table
He brought me to His banqueting table
And His banner over me is love

We can feel the love, of God in this place.
We believe Your goodness, we receive your grace.
We delight ourselves in at Your table, oh God.
You do all things well, just look at our lives.

I am my beloved’s and He is mine
I am my beloved’s and He is mine
And His banner over me is love

His banner over you, His banner over me,
His banner over us, is love, love, love, love.

The text is taken from Song of Songs, which I’ve recently explored in Calvin Seerveld’s translation. Specifically the verses in focus are 2:4 and 2:16, though mostly the former for the purposes of this post (for more than you ever wanted to know about 2:16, also 6:3, see John Hobbins’ post on Victoria Beckham’s tattoo):

He has brought me to his banquet hall,
And his banner over me is love. (Song 2:4, NASB)

Steve notes that:

Well, I was always struck with how obscure the concept of a “banner over me” was – I mean, what the heck does that mean? I heard some explanations [...], but they all seemed suspicious. Then I found out that what we have with “banner” is increasingly recognized as a mistranslation of an obscure Hebrew root. Thomas Constable notes that, based on an Akkadian root and comparative ANE literature, scholars are being convinced that the word “banner” really shouldn’t appear here at all; rather, the phrase should read something more along the lines of “His wish regarding me was lovemaking” or “His intentions were to make love.”

Happily, some modern translations do take an approach more in line with the latter viewpoint:

He has taken me into the wine-garden
and given me loving glances. (REB)

He brought me to the banquet hall,
and he looked on me with love. (HCSB)

The NASB and HCSB note that “the house of wine” is the literal translation of “the banquet hall” (2:4a), hence “wine-garden” in the REB or the now ominous “cellar” in the NJB. Seerveld translates this line as:

He would lead me out to a [hidden] arbour, and cover me there with his love.

The use of “arbor” points back to verse 2:3, where the Shulammite compares her lover to an apple tree. Seerveld writes more about this specific verse in his section, “Certain difficult phrases translated”:

Miming his kisses that explored the inside of her mouth [2:3], the Shulammite confesses happily of their dallying alone [2:3, "in his shadow"] on beds of country flowers [1:16]: we needed no blankets, no flags declaring for whom we were; his body and carresses covered me [2:6], rapturously… (Seerveld, p.95)

Weird worship indeed. But what exquisite love poetry!

I’ve had the chance to play this one a few times now at our “new” church – it has a dramatic setting, with a solo voice as the proclaimer setting the stage, building into the song verses, then a power praise chorus with full-throated brass. I thought it might be appropriate to post as a “song of the day” (SoD) given the recent focus on Spirit revival lately.

(Solo voice)
I hear the voice of one calling,
I hear the voice of one calling,
prepare ye, prepare ye the way of the Lord.

I hear the voice of one calling,
I hear the voice of one calling,
prepare ye, prepare ye the way of the Lord.

And make His paths straight, make His paths straight in the wilderness
And let your light shine, let your light shine in the darkness
And let your rain fall, let your rain fall in the desert.

I hear the voice of one calling,
I hear the voice of one calling,
prepare ye, prepare ye the way of the Lord.

(All)
Sure as gold is precious and the honey sweet,
so You love this city and you love these streets.
Ev’ry child out playing by its own front door,
ev’ry baby laying on the bedroom floor.

Ev’ry dreamer dreaming in their dead-end job,
ev’ry driver driving through the rush-hour mob.
I feel it in my spirit, feel it in my bones,
You’re gonna send revival, bring ‘em all back home.

(Chorus)
I can hear that thunder in the distance,
like a train on the edge of the town,
I can feel the brooding of Your Spirit,
lay your burdens down, lay your burdens down.

From the preacher preaching when the well is dry,
to the lost soul reaching for a higher high.
From the young man working through his hopes and fears
to the widow walking through the vale of tears.

Ev’ry man and woman ev’ry old and young,
ev’ry father’s daughter, ev’ry mother’s son.
I feel it in my spirit, feel it in my bones,
You’re gonna send revival, bring ‘em all back home.

Chorus)
I can hear that thunder in the distance,
like a train on the edge of the town,
I can feel the brooding of Your Spirit,
lay your burdens down, lay your burdens down.

Revive us, revive us, revive us with Your fire.
Revive us, revive us, revive us with Your fire.

PART THREE

45. Air

I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand
at the latter day upon the earth.
And though worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God. (Job 19:25-26)
For now is Christ risen from the dead, the first fruits of them that sleep. (I Corinthians 15:20)

46. Chorus

Since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. (I Corinthians 15:21-22)

47. Accompagnato

Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. (I Corinthians 15:51-52)

48. Air

The trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality.
The trumpet. . . (I Corinthians 15:52-53)

49. Recitative

Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” (I Corinthians 15:54)

50. Duet

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. (I Corinthians 15:55-56)

51. Chorus

But thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (I Corinthians 15:57)

52. Air

If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)
Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth, who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is at the right hand of God, who makes intercession for us. (Romans 8:33-34)

53. Chorus

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, and hath redeemed us to God by His blood, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom,
and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
Blessing and honour, glory and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever.
Amen. (Revelation 5:12-14)

Messiah: A Sacred Oratorio

PART TWO

22. Chorus

Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)

23. Air

He was despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. (Isaiah 53:3)
He gave His back to the smiters, and His cheeks to them that plucked off His hair: He hid not His face from shame and spitting.
He was despised. . . (Isaiah 53:6)

24. Chorus

Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows!
He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him. (Isaiah 53:4-5)

25. Chorus

And with His stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)

26. Chorus

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way. And the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)

27. Accompagnato

All they that see Him laugh Him to scorn; they shoot out their lips, and shake their heads, saying: (Psalm 22: 7)

28. Chorus

“He trusted in God that He would deliver Him; let Him deliver Him, if He delight in Him.” (Psalm 22:8)

29. Accompagnato

Thy rebuke hath broken His heart: He is full of heaviness. He looked for some to have pity on Him, but there was no man, neither found He any to comfort him. (Psalm 69:20)

30. Arioso

Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto His sorrow. (Lamentations 1: 12)

31. Accompagnato

He was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgressions of Thy people was He stricken. (Isaiah 53:8)

32. Air

But Thou didst not leave His soul in hell; nor didst Thou suffer Thy Holy One to see corruption. (Psalm 16:10)

33. Chorus

Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in.
Who is this King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in.
Who is this King of Glory? The Lord of Hosts, He is the King of Glory. (Psalm 24:7-10)

34. Recitative

Unto which of the angels said He at any time: “Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee?” (Hebrews 1:5)

35. Chorus

Let all the angels of God worship Him. (Hebrews 1:6)

36. Air

Thou art gone up on high; Thou hast led captivity captive, and received gifts for men; yea, even from Thine enemies, that the Lord God might dwell among them. (Psalm 68:18)

37. Chorus

The Lord gave the word; great was the company of the preachers. (Psalm 68:11)

38. Air (or « duet and Chorus »)

How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things. (Isaiah 52:7; Romans 10:15)

39. Chorus (or air for tenor)

Their sound is gone out into all lands,
and their words unto the ends of the world. (Romans 10:18; Psalm 19:4)

40. Air (or « Air and Recitative »)

Why do the nations so furiously rage together, and why do the people imagine a vain thing?
The kings of the earth rise up, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord, and against His anointed. (Psalm 2:1-2)

41. Chorus

Let us break their bonds asunder, and cast away their yokes from us. (Psalm 2: 3)

42. Recitative

He that dwelleth in Heav’n shall laugh them to scorn; The Lord shall have them in derision. (Psalm 2:4)

43. Air

Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. (Psalm 2:9)

44. Chorus

Hallelujah: for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. (Revelation 19:6)
The kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord,
and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 11:15)
King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. (Revelation 19:16)
Hallelujah!

PART ONE

1. Sinfonia (Overture)

2. Accompagnato

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned.
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness; prepare ye the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. (Isaiah 40:1-3)

3. Air

Ev’ry valley shall be exalted, and ev’ry mountain and hill made low; the crooked straight and the rough places plain. (Isaiah 40:4)

4. Chorus

And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. (Isaiah 40:5)

5. Accompagnato

Thus saith the Lord, the Lord of hosts: Yet once a little while and I will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.
And I will shake all nations; and the desire of all nations shall come. (Haggai 2:6-7)
The Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the messenger of the Covenant, whom you delight in; behold, He shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. (Malachi 3:1)

6. Air

But who may abide the day of His coming, and who shall stand when He appeareth? For He is like a refiner’s fire. (Malachi 3:2)

7. Chorus

And He shall purify the sons of Levi, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. (Malachi 3:3)

8. Recitative

Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Emmanuel, God with us. (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23)

9. Air and Chorus

O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion, get thee up into the high mountain. O thou that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, behold your god! (Isaiah 40:9)
Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. (Isaiah 60:1)
Chorus
O thou that tellest. . . etc.

10. Accompagnato

For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people; but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee.
And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. (Isaiah 60:2-3)

11. Air

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light;
and they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. (Isaiah 9: 2)

12. Chorus

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

13. Pifa (“Pastoral Symphony”)

14a. Recitative

There were shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night. (Luke 2:8)

14b. Accompagnato

And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. (Luke 2:9)

15. Recitative

And the angel said unto them: “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11)

16. Accompagnato

And suddenly there was with the angel, a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying: (Luke 2:13)

17. Chorus

“Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth, good will towards men.” (Luke 2:14)

18. Air

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, thy King cometh unto thee; He is the righteous Saviour, and He shall speak peace unto the heathen.
Rejoice greatly. . . (Zecharaiah 9:9-10)

19. Recitative

Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing. (Isaiah 35: 5-6)

20. Air (or Duet)

He shall feed His flock like a shepherd; and He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those that are with young. (Isaiah 40: 11)
Come unto Him, all ye that labour, come unto Him that are heavy laden, and He will give you rest.
Take his yoke upon you, and learn of Him, for He is meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (Matthew 11: 28-29)

21. Chorus

His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. (Matthew 11: 30)

Father, forever faithful
in keeping your covenant of love
You have never forsaken Your people
or betrayed our trust
You are faithful and true
and just to say I love You is not enough

If I say I love You
I will do what You say
I will obey You and surrender all
If I say I’m Your friend
I will keep Your commands
I will obey You and surrender all

Jesus, there is no other so lovely
You satisfy my soul
You are constantly keeping Your promise
I will never be alone
By Your goodness and grace
May I live in a way that really shows

If I say I love You
I will do what You say
I will obey You and surrender all
If I say I’m Your friend
I will keep Your commands
I will obey You and surrender all

Take my life, let it be
Set apart, pure and holy

Yesterday’s song of the day led me to explore more of the music of Billy and Cindy Foote. Good stuff! This is their latest single, available on iTunes. I thought the theme of response was particularly refreshing in the face of the constant “I love you” refrains of “Jesus is my boyfriend” (JIMB) songs.

You are not a god
Created by human hands
You are not a god
Dependent on any mortal man
You are not a god
In need of anything we can give
By Your plan, that’s just the way it is

You are God alone
From before time began
You were on Your throne
You are God alone
And right now
In the good times and bad
You are on Your throne
You are God alone

You’re the only God
Whose power none can contend
You’re the only God
Whose name and praise will never end
You’re the only God
Who’s worthy of everything we can give
You are God
And that’s just the way it is

You are God alone
From before time began
You were on Your throne
You are God alone
And right now
In the good times and bad
You are on Your throne
You are God alone

Unchangeable
Unshakable
Unstoppable
Thats what You are

In light of some of the recent discussions regarding whether contemporary worship song lyrics are focused on God or on us, these lyrics struck me during our Sunday worship time.

First the prayer, then the song:

The Valley of Vision
Edited by Arthur G. Bennett
© 1975 The Banner of Truth Trust

Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly,
Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision,
where I live in the depths but see Thee in the heights;
hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Thy glory.

Let me learn by paradox
that the way down is the way up,
that to be low is to be high,
that the broken heart is the healed heart,
that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,
that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,
that to have nothing is to possess all,
that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,
that to give is to receive,
that the valley is the place of vision.

Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells,
and the deeper the wells the brighter Thy stars shine;

Let me find Thy light in my darkness,
thy life in my death,
thy joy in my sorrow,
thy grace in my sin,
thy riches in my poverty,
thy glory in my valley.

Valley of Vision
Words and music by Bob Kauflin
© 2006 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI).

When You lead me to the valley of vision
I can see You in the heights
And though my humbling wouldn’t be my decision
It’s here Your glory shines so bright
So let me learn that the cross precedes the crown
To be low is to be high
That the valley’s where You make me more like Christ

Let me find Your grace in the valley
Let me find Your life in my death
Let me find Your joy in my sorrow
Your wealth in my need
That You’re near with every breath
In the valley

In the daytime there are stars in the heavens
But they only shine at night
And the deeper that I go into darkness
The more I see their radiant light
So let me learn that my losses are my gain
To be broken is to heal
That the valley’s where Your power is revealed

Words by Erma Davison from the song, “Touch Not The Glory,” (C) 1993 Ron and Patricia Owens.

Have you been called to serve where others tried and failed,
And with God’s help and strength your efforts have prevailed?
Touch not the glory!

Have you some special gift, some riches you can share,
Or are you called of God to intercessory prayer?
Touch not the glory!

Has God appointed you to some great noble cause,
Or put you where you hear the sound of man’s applause?
Touch not the glory!

A watching world still waits to see what can be done
Through one who touches not that which is God’s alone.
Touch not the glory, touch not the glory, touch not the glory
For it belongs to God!

“[Thomas] Ken wrote this hymn at a time when the es­tab­lished church be­lieved on­ly Script­ure should be sung as hymns-with an em­pha­sis on the Psalms. Some con­sid­ered it sin­ful and blas­phe­mous to write new lyr­ics for church mu­sic, akin to ad­ding to the Script­ures. In that at­mo­sphere, Ken wrote this and sev­er­al other hymns for the boys at Win­chest­er Col­lege, with strict in­struct­ions that they use them on­ly in their rooms, for pri­vate de­vo­tions. Iron­ic­al­ly, the last stan­za has come into wide­spread use as the Dox­ol­o­gy, per­haps the most fr­equent­ly used piece of mu­sic in pub­lic wor­ship. At Ken’s request, the hymn was sung at his fun­er­al, fit­tingly held at sun­rise.”

Special kudos to anyone who can put together all the original scripture references used in the hymn text…

Awake, My Soul, and with the Sun
Lyrics by Thomas Ken (1674); Music by Joseph Mainzer (1845)

Awake, my soul, and with the sun
Thy daily stage of duty run;
Shake off dull sloth, and joyful rise,
To pay thy morning sacrifice.

Thy precious time misspent, redeem,
Each present day thy last esteem,
Improve thy talent with due care;
For the great day thyself prepare.

By influence of the Light divine
Let thy own light to others shine.
Reflect all Heaven’s propitious ways
In ardent love, and cheerful praise.

In conversation be sincere;
Keep conscience as the noontide clear;
Think how all seeing God thy ways
And all thy secret thoughts surveys.

Wake, and lift up thyself, my heart,
And with the angels bear thy part,
Who all night long unwearied sing
High praise to the eternal King.

All praise to Thee, who safe has kept
And hast refreshed me while I slept
Grant, Lord, when I from death shall wake
I may of endless light partake.

Heav’n is, dear Lord, where’er Thou art,
O never then from me depart;
For to my soul ’tis hell to be
But for one moment void of Thee.

Lord, I my vows to Thee renew;
Disperse my sins as morning dew.
Guard my first springs of thought and will,
And with Thyself my spirit fill.

Direct, control, suggest, this day,
All I design, or do, or say,
That all my powers, with all their might,
In Thy sole glory may unite.

I would not wake nor rise again
And Heaven itself I would disdain,
Wert Thou not there to be enjoyed,
And I in hymns to be employed.

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.