I play drums for my church’s worship band. Today our set list featured songs from the 1990s and 2000s.

While learning new songs, I play my Amazon playlist on repeat while driving to and from work. Then, on my days off, I practice on my drums. If it proves a more difficult song to learn (thank you Brandon Lake), I practice ad nauseam until it feels second nature.

This week’s playlist proved easy to learn. One of the great things about the older songs is that, unlike some of the newer artists who blend multiple genres into a single song, the older songs tend to use a more predictable pattern much like the secular music I grew up playing. No need for practicing on repeat.

No need to, but sometimes I enjoy it so much that I want to play it over and over and over again.

Although not a huge fan of this era of Christian music, Days of Elijah by Robin Mark was as fun to play as my favorite standby, the song I always play anytime I see an available drum set with no one around to witness: Keep the Faith by Bon Jovi.

As I listened to the lyrics, it occurred to me that proper Christian music probably sounds like a foreign language to anyone unfamiliar with scripture.

Mark Hall, lead singer for my favorite Christian band, Casting Crowns, once said (and I paraphrase) that his songs start from a place of struggle, but always end up in a place of hope. And they ALWAYS redirect the listener back to Jesus. He said that some Christian songs could easily sound like secular love songs. The listener could just as easily sing it to a love interest as to God. He wants to be sure his songs point listeners to the love of Jesus.

There is nothing wrong with either style. I have often said how secular songs have pointed me to the love of God. Bon Jovi’s Thank You for Loving Me became my prayer of thanksgiving to God when I was going through cancer and had no words.

However, the point is that a genuine Christian song will inevitably and without inuendo point to Jesus, often siting themes from scripture, themes which would make little sense to someone unfamiliar with the reference.

Days of Elijah is nothing but scriptural references:

First of all, who is Elijah?

Elijah was an Old Testament prophet of Israel during the reign of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. Anyone who thinks the Bible is boring should read the story of these three. Sex, murder, deceit – it could rival anything Hollywood ever produced.

Anyway, Elijah is best known as the prophet who was taken up to heaven in a fiery chariot. He is also the one spoken about in the New Testament, specifically when some thought John the Baptist was Elijah. Jewish belief taught that Elijah would return first, signaling the coming of the Messiah.

When Jesus asks his disciples who people think he is, they say, “John the Baptist; and others say Elijah; and others, one of the prophets” (Mark 8:28). In the following chapter of Mark, after the transfiguration, the disciples and Jesus discuss the coming of Elijah:

“Why is it that the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” And He said to them, “Elijah does come first and he restores all things. And yet how is it written of the Son of Man that He will suffer many things and be treated with contempt? But I say to you that Elijah has indeed come, and they did to him whatever they wanted, just as it is written of him” (Mark 9:11-13).

The story of Elijah begins in the Old Testament – 1 Kings 17:1.

The song also mentions:

• Moses – tradition gives Moses credit for authoring the first five books of the Old Testament. He is best known as the Prince of Egypt who led the Israelites out of Egypt and toward the promised land. The story of Moses begins in Exodus.
• Ezekial – another Old Testament prophet during the time of the Babylonian exile. He is best known for the vision God gave him about the Valley of Dry Bones. Ezekiel has an entire book in the Old Testament -Book of Ezekiel.
• David – king of Israel. He is best known for being the young shepherd who killed the giant, Goliath, with stones and a sling shot. The story of David begins in 1 Samuel 16.
• Jehovah – is the Hebrew name for God. It is the transliteration of the proper name for God, Yahweh (YHWH), which was not permitted to be spoken.
• Spirit of the Lord – also known as the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament, it is a reference to the wisdom and guidance of God, given to and through the prophets and teachers. In the New Testament, it is the manifestation of the empowering presence of God offered to all as our helpmate after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Spirit of the Lord is breathed upon each person who acknowledges Jesus as Lord and Savior and gives their lives to Him. The Holy Spirit, then, fills us with the presence and wisdom of God once reserved for his holy elect.

The song mentions very specific moments in Biblical history (my interpretation may differ from the song writer’s original intent):

Verse 1
These are the days of Elijah,
Declaring the word of the Lord:
And these are the days of Your servant Moses,
Righteousness being restored.
And though these are days of great trial,
Of famine and darkness and sword,
Still, we are the voice in the desert crying
‘Prepare ye the way of the Lord!’

Verse 1 could easily encapsulate the majority of the Bible. Each time the Israelites strayed, they faced great hardships, famine, and the sword. Not one book in the entire Bible – both Old and New Testament – are void of this. However, the New Testament offers much more hope because of the coming of the Messiah.

The final two lines of the first verse reference what John the Baptist said to the Pharisees at the Jordan River when answering the question of who he was if not the Messiah and not the prophet. John the Baptist was referencing the prophet Isaiah from the Old Testament.

Chorus
Behold He comes, riding on the clouds
Shining like the sun, at the trumpet call!
Lift your voice, it’s the year of jubilee
And out of Zion’s hill salvation comes!

The chorus seems to suggest Elijah fulfilling Jewish tradition which said that Elijah must come first to usher in the way for the Messiah.

In it, I also hear references to the Book of Revelation which speaks of the second coming of Jesus when he will restore all things.

The trumpet call also brings to mind Joshua and the walls of Jericho. God commanded the Israelites to walk around the impenetrable City of Jericho seven times. On the final day, they were instructed to shout loudly and blow their trumpets. They did as God commanded, and on the seventh day, the walls of Jericho crumbled.

Leviticus 25 describes God’s commandment to observe the Year of Jubilee. During this sacred year, every 50th year, all debts were cleared, all Israelite slaves were freed, and ancestorial lands were returned to their original owners.

The reference to the year of Jubilee signals Jesus Christ freeing us from the penalty of sin and restoring us into right relationship with God.

Both Jews and Christians – both the Old and New Testaments – place great significance to the Mount of Zion. This is the original site of the City of David. It signifies God’s power and presence. It represents the New Jerusalem – the symbolic city described in the Book of Revelation where God’s people will live with him.

Zion’s Hill represents the culmination of all – Jesus, the fulfillment of the promise – the salvation of the world – life everlasting.

Verse 2
These are the days of Ezekiel,
The dry bones becoming as flesh.
And these are the days of Your servant David,
Rebuilding a temple of praise.
These are the days of the harvest,
The fields are as white in Your world!
And we are the laborers in Your vineyard,
Declaring the word of the Lord!

Wherein verse 1 offers a visualization of the reason why a savior is needed – the suffering of humanity – verse 2 offers a vision of the coming hope found in Jesus Christ.

Dry bones becoming as flesh – As mentioned above, the prophet Ezekiel saw a vision of dry bones coming to life. At this time in history, the Israelites had been taken captive by the Babylonians. They had become a spiritually dead people stripped of their national identity. God used this vision to restore hope to the people. It represents God’s promise to restore the nation of Israel and to bring about spiritual revival. The fulfillment of God’s promise began approximately 70 years later when King Cyrus allowed exiles to return.

Rebuilding the Temple of Praise – David’s dream was to build a permanent dwelling for God. However, David was a man of war. God blessed him for his heart but told him that he would not be the one to build the temple. His son, Solomon, was the one chosen for that great task. David still prepared the way for Solomon by setting aside money and material for the building of the temple. It took Solomon seven years to build the temple, but it was several decades between the time God told David no and the completion of the temple construction.

Days of the Harvest – In John 4:35, Jesus tells his disciples “Behold, I tell you, raise your eyes and observe the fields, that they are white for harvest.” This is part of the story of the Samaritan woman at the well. Jews and Samaritans were bitter enemies. Jesus used this moment to begin breaking down barriers, demonstrating to his disciples that he is available for all – his love, mercy, and grace extend to all – not just those like us. All are invited.

Labors in the Vineyard – The reference to a vineyard is much the same. In Matthew 20, Jesus tells the parable of the workers in the vineyard. In this parable, he again stresses the generosity of God – how he treats everyone who comes to him fairly and equally.

Jesus tells another parable about a vineyard in the next chapter of Matthew. In the parable of the landowner, Jesus addresses the Pharisees when he says “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruit. And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and on whomever it falls, it will crush him” (Matthew 21:43-44). In this parable, God is the owner of the vineyard. Jesus is the son of the owner. The religious leaders were the workers who killed the prophets before him and who would soon kill Jesus. The kingdom of heaven will be taken away from them and given to people who will produce fruit – do the will of the Lord.

Bridge
There is no God like Jehovah.

This line repeats many times. No explanation needed!

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I have been reading the Bible since I was a girl. I fell in love with the history behind scripture when I began attending seminary. Although I do have to rely on Google to help me find the scripture references, these stories are a part of my DNA.

It was not until recently when a young member of our church who is new to Christianity admitted to struggling to understand us that I began paying attention in a new way. I realize that a lot of our common sayings such as “washed in the blood” or “the body of Christ” sound quite confusing for those who do not speak our language. The parables of Jesus mean little without some understanding of the original audience. Understanding Paul’s meaning and how it could possibly relate to us today is unfathomable if we do not understand the times in which Paul wrote or the people and situations he was addressing. History and context matter – a lot.

We need an interpreter – the church (body of believers – to help us understand. We need to practice – personal prayer, scripture reading, study – to help us become fluent.

Hearing from our young member made me read, study, and teach differently. It forced me to be more careful with my words. It has also challenged the way I listen to music. I have begun to hear things from an outsider’s point of view.

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If I did not know scripture, I do not think I could enjoy Christian music. Words and lyrics matter too much to me. That’s why I cannot enjoy Tejano music even though I enjoyed dancing to it when I was younger. You will never find me listening to it on my car radio. Maybe I would enjoy it if I knew the language.

Dissecting this song was fun for me! If you enjoyed it and would like for me to do it again with another song, let me know. If you have a specific song you would like to dig into, let me know that, too! 🙂