Last week I was reading through Psalm 95-97 and it struck me that towards the end of each of those chapters the Psalmist is praising God for his wrath or judgement upon the people.  Now I understand that for the most part David wrote the Psalms and was being hunted by his family so I’m sure justice was a big deal for him at that moment.  Then I started thinking about the praise and worship songs that are sung in churches today and there is a lack of songs praising God for his justice (judgement, righteous wrath).  I believe that the run of the mill christian may not understand God’s justice so we can’t even say why this is a praise worthy attribute.  With the help of Shai Linne I hope I can help you understand how to praise God for his justice.

Judge of All The Earth

Written by Shai Linne

 

Verse 1

Tune in with concentration as we resume the conversation

The loftiest thoughts conceivable for human contemplation

Trying to search the mysteries of the divine is real deep

And when it comes to the nature of God, at times we still sleep

We must risk people tuning us out as we discuss this

The topic on the table for reflection? God’s Justice

The Scriptures are clear: salvation belongs to God alone

And that righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne

He’s the priceless gift and treasure, all life exists for His pleasure

And He is the standard by which all righteousness should be measured

All human judges fail- no need to share the statistics

But God judges perfectly due to His characteristics

First, He’s omniscient, so He never lacks information

Secondly, His understanding: it has no limitations

Plus He knows the thoughts and all the motives behind them

And no one could ever go hide in a place where the Sovereign LORD cannot find them

When passing a sentence, He has the power of execution

The proper retribution for our private revolutions

And He’s in the position to smash us for our treason

No one’ll be copping please when God dispatches all His legions

To execute the sentence on resolute defendants

Who rejected the truth because they never knew repentance

And those who stood against the Great I Am and His Anointed

When God judges the nations through the Man He has appointed

 

Chorus

The Judge of all the earth shall do right

The Judge of all the earth shall do right

He is good and His ways are just

Worthy of our faith and trust

The Judge of all the earth shall do right

 

Verse 2

As we continue to consider this particular perfection

Let’s take a second to address a few misconceptions

When many think of God they assume His love is a must

That’s true, but it doesn’t negate the fact that God is just

So when we say this, they’ll wanna take us off the play list

But God is never under obligation to be gracious

See, justice and mercy are two separate categories

And God is the one who chooses which way He’ll have His glory

The choices The Holy One certainly can’t be faulted

In punishing the guilty, His righteousness is exalted

He also rewards the righteous, we kind of/ sort of like this

The problem of course is that nobody who’s born is righteous

Because of Adam’s descendants are inherently filthy

That’s problematic for a God who will not clear the guilty

If God is gonna save us and demonstrate what His love is

It must be in a manner that’s consistent with His justice

Jesus Christ, The Righteous One, the perfect solution

Proving that God is just on the basis of substitution

Perfect obedience, consecration without a flaw

Yet, on the cross He suffered the condemnation of the law

So now God is able to be just and the justifier

Of all who turn from their sin and place their trust in Messiah

The resurrected Lord is our infinite treasure truly

He gives us new eyes to see His justice in all its beauty!

Okay, first take a deep breath.  Now here’s how I see praise flowing from this:

First, understanding his judgement helps me see more of what I deserve and what I’ve been saved from by the blood of Jesus Christ.  My response is reverent contrition for my sins followed by the forgiveness found in Jesus. Praise the Lord!  Second, when others have attacked me or wronged me I know that if they repent God will forgive them but if they do not God will be their final judge and will execute a sentence in accordance with the sins.  I can forgive and release judgment because I cannot perfectly judge and God will righteously and justly save or condemn for the sake of his glory.

But why was it great?

The Holy Spirit united us as a body of believers with the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. It goes beyond just singing songs.

Another aspect of God’s active involvement this morning is how a huge chunk of the congregation is so passionate about Jesus that they are willing to give their whole life for Him. Singing With Everything this morning took on a fuller definition. Everything – as in, like, everything.

It’s not a passion for emotion’s sake; it’s passion inseparable from biblical truth. On Friday, Carl Medearis talked about the parables of Jesus and challenged people to consider why they love Jesus. This morning he talked about Luke 4:16-30 and 2 Kings 6. The crowd in the synagogue in Luke 4 is really fickle. “Wow! Such authority. We speak well of you. Wait a minute! Wrath! Wrath!” (My summary, not Carl’s.) You tell a story in Israel about God blessing a Syrian guy and a Lebanese guy and some people will get mad. Not much has changed over the centuries.

And have you thought about what it means to love your enemies? Sure, it’s simple to say, but could we do that as foreign policy? Could you have tea with Hezbollah?

So how is this different than the other Sunday mornings out of the year? Answer: it’s not, really. Yes, we had a ton of people from different parts of the country in our congregation this morning, but I would be willing to bet that not everyone who regularly attends FCOV was born in Chandler, Arizona. We also have a number of religious traditions show up each week, much like this morning.

I think the passion was more noticeable to me this weekend for two reasons:

1. Most people are not in TOAG because it’s just a part of their weekly routine.
2. We’re familiar with each other.

If you’re going to church simply because that’s what you’ve always done, I hope that God is sparking a reviving fire in your heart. I hope that I can come by your side and encourage you towards life.

By being familiar with each other, we can sometimes let interpersonal issues distract us from admiring God’s handiwork in His masterpieces around us. Who are we to give an art critique on what God has created? He makes even my best efforts look like cracked macaroni glued to construction paper. (No offense to the Macaroni School of Art.)

Here’s the beauty of it, though. Our familiarity should give us the freedom to take risks with God, to trust that Jesus knows what He’s talking about when He says that we are all a part of the same vine and that true life comes from abiding in Him. We take risks with God’s people. We don’t have comfort for comfort’s sake. We have life to live for Jesus and His Church.

We’re in it for the long haul with the regular attenders. Much like any relationship worth maintaining over an extended period of time, it takes work. It takes faith, hope, and love.

Encourage each other towards loving enemies. And remember: we’re called to the same hope.

Rejoice in being connected to believers around the world. You are a part of the most powerful kingdom ever to set foot on Earth (or anywhere else) and the kingdom is ruled by the most righteous king ever. Now we know in part; then we will know fully, even as we are fully known.

Rejoice in being connected to believers locally. You need them to fulfill God’s design for His people.

Rejoice in being a part of God’s family here and there.

When I was a child my mom would have us listen to classical music and draw pictures that came to our heads based off the music. Right from the beginning of this album pictures were coming to mind and they always were tied beautifully to the lyric. As the first song, Let There Be, starts there is no distinguishable time or rhythm which gives this feel of nothing solid. We are experiencing pre-creation. Then the song begins to take form, I can see the Spirit of God hovering over the waters, the lyric “let there be” keeps repeating until the HUGE crescendo where she finally sings “Light.” The music made me feel as if I had been in darkness and I was beginning to see something happening, then there came light.

Move to the next song, and the next phase of creation. Brother Moon starts out musically with dancing flutes and I saw flowers and plants sprouting out of the ground and creatures beginning to move, creation was happening. I love the lyrics of this song, especially when they take terms like “Mother Earth your giving us life” and show God at the center of it by adding “with God’s open had you always provide for us.” God made everything and is in everything, this song does a great job of driving that truth home.

Crags and Clay is a beautiful reflective song of praise to God who made everything and us and finds it beautiful.

From the first notes of The Fall I felt this sad, painful lament. Then the lyrics drive home the fall and it’s effect on creation.

When Death Dies is probably my favorite song on the album. A wonderful response to The Fall, when I first heard the beginning I thought it sounded like Simon & Garfunkel then moves to a driving rock tune. Again musically it takes me to the same place as the lyrics. When death dies, all things live.

Church Bells and Wake up Sleeper are two songs that really complement each other. First a call to children to dance and respond to the death of death, old men get up and dance. Church Bells seems to be a call to those ready to enter the Kingdom, Wake Up Sleeper is a warning to, specifically the religious teachers, but those who are unaware salvation has come. Again there is a lightness in the music of Church Bells and an edge to the music in Wake Up Sleeper, great pairing of music and lyric.

Ezekiel is as passionate cry from the Father petitioning us to come back to him. He gave, his heart his love and we sold our bodies and gave up everything he gave us. I feel the heartache in the music.

Vous Etes Mon Coure (You are My Heart) the Father looks everywhere for us, highest mountain to wooded valley. I felt at peace listing to this one and I think I should knowing that the Father is out there looking to save those he loves.

No, This is Not the End. A celebration of the fact that death here is not the end but the beginning. We will see clearer, breathe bigger and shine brighter, AMEN!!

You Are the Beauty is filled with imagery of things redeemed, all things made for good.

Although it is wonderful to look to the day we are with the Father and Son in paradise, we are here on earth right now and Every Breath is a charge to live wholly sold out to God, every breath for His Glory. Here I am Lord, send me.

As I was thinking about this post I began to wonder if this is what they intended that listeners get out of this album or if I’m just plain crazy. I’m going to try and contact Michael Gungor and ask him, we’ll see

My favorite song is Never Once, I like it because it teaches you that God will never leave you alone, and the chorus is big.

Now for my review:

Once again Matt Redman has given us an album that will greatly serve the local church.  As I began to listened through this album there was only one song I thought, “I probably won’t do that one.”  To be totally honest I think every song on this album could be useful to the local church.

The album opens up with We are the Free.  All I needed to hear was the first 30 seconds to know I was really going to enjoy this album.  We are the Free has a similar feel to Dancing Generation, Undignified, and For Your Glory.  It is an energetic song of declaration, declaring our identity in Christ.  The next song, Here for You, is a great call to worship.  It not only directs our attention to the reason we gather but it also invites God to the gathering.

Holy is a truth filled song with a great marriage of music and lyrics.

10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) reminds us that we have many, many reasons to bless the Lord.  The melody line is very memorable.

Fires God is the one that keeps the flame alive in our hearts, he is the one that always draws us back to himself.

Never Once similar to You Never Let Go this is a wonderful song of God’s faithfulness that speaks to just about anyone making it a great congregational song.  The pre-chorus says, “scars and struggles on the way” reminding us that our christian walk may not always be roses but God promises to never leave us alone.

Where Would We Be is a great reminder of our total utter dependance on God.  We would be lost and nothing is not for the Father’s love.

We Could Change the World  If we lived like God is and does what he says and lived like we are who he says we are, we could change the world.

Magnificent Sings of God’s uniqueness, there is no God like Him.

O This God Because of God’s faithfulness and greatness we will give him praise and shine his glory.

Endless Hallelujah is an amazing picture of worship in Heaven.  I have two favorite lines, When I stand before his throne dressed in glory not my own, and I will see you as you are love you with unsinning heart.  What a thought and a perfect ending to an amazing album.

Over all this album is a great mix of guitar driven songs versus piano driven.  Musically it is one of the strongest albums released this year.  Once again great job Matt Redman.

Here’s a video of Matt Redman talking about the new album.

This is the same guy that wrote How He Loves and one of the things I love about his songs are that they use non-churchy words to explain theological concepts. He does a great job of explaining his creative process and inspiration here, so check that out first.

On Sunday, we’re going to be singing Death in His Grave. As a worship team, we don’t want anything we do to get in the way of people worshiping. When learning a new song, it’s sometimes tough to sing along if it’s the first time seeing the words. With Death in His Grave, the words are so poetic we don’t want to miss the truth that those lyrics hold. The song is called Death in His Grave, but if we miss the fact that it’s Jesus putting death to death, we miss the whole song.

I’m going to post the lyrics with links to Bible passages that relate to what McMillan is talking about (some are different than his explanation, but we think they’re still relevant).  Hopefully we can get the lyrics out to enough people so we can look at some/all of the references and get a really cool picture of who Jesus is.

These references are a result of the Body in action. Jeremy, my mother-in-law, and I sat in the conference room at church and worked together on this.

Death in His Grave by John Mark McMillan

Though the Earth cried out for blood
satisfied her hunger was
Her billows calmed on raging seas
for the souls of men she craved
Sun and moon from balcony
turned their head in disbelief
Their precious Love would taste the sting
disfigured and disdained

On Friday a thief
on Sunday a King
Laid down in grief
but awoke with the keys
To hell on that day
the first born of the slain
The Man Jesus Christ
Laid death in his grave

So three days in darkness slept
the Morning Sun of righteousness
But rose to shame the throes of death
and overturn his rule
Now daughters and the sons of men
would pay not their dues again
The debt of blood they owed was rent
when the day rolled anew

He has cheated
Hell and seated
us above the fall
In desperate places
He paid our wages
One time once and for all

Hopefully that helps. Here’s him singing it, if you want to listen while reading: