Joyful Joyful

Today at church the pastor was talking about songs with powerful lyrics - well, just one. But I thought - what a great sermon series! I've already "blogged" on a few, and I'm ready to add another to my list.

First of all - a type of aside - I do like David Crowder's not so latest song, "Foreverandeveretc..." I don't always like David Crowder songs - mostly it's his voice. But he's finally picked a song that suits him perfectly - it's a little goofy. But besides being goofy, I like the lyrics, "I'm finding everything I'll ever need. I'm finally giving up being everything. I'm falling for you for eternity. Right here at your feet where I want to be." I think we could all remind ourselves of that every now and then. We've got all we'll ever need.

But the powerful song I'm thinking of was sung at Easter a few weeks ago, "Ode to Joy." By Beethoven. I asked a friend once if he thought Beethoven would like our style - he said definately no. Still, I like to think we've jazzed it up a bit, personalized what was already a great song/hymn.

It's the lyrics, ultimately, that are powerful, though.

"Joyful, joyful we adore Thee God of glory, Lord of love. Hearts unfold like flowers before thee opening to the sun above. Melt the clouds of sin and sadness drive the dark of doubt away. Giver of immortal gladness fill us with the light of day."

I like the phrase "clouds of sin and sadness." First of all, it puts both together - right next to each other. Simple as it sounds, sin causes sadness, and both pull a cloud down over our lives. And, of course, God can melt those clouds - slowly but surely breaking through each one. What a little prayer to breathe! And it totally explains the joy of the first line!

Then there's the "drive the dark of doubt away." When I heard this, I first thought about self-doubt. Still on the sin and sadness page, I thought, "First God melts the clouds, then he drives away the dark. Leaving us with a sunny day..." But there's different kinds of doubts - like the doubt of God himself! Or how he is working in your life. God can drive those doubts away, too. Although, sometimes it's harder to see how, or what exactly he's doing for them.

I just love the mental picture, I suppose, of all this de-cloudifying and lightening in general of our souls.

"All thy works with joy surround thee. Earth and heaven reflect thy rays. Stars and angels sing around thee. Center of unbroken praise. Field and forest. Vale and mountain. Flowering meadow, flashing sea. Chanting bird and flowing fountain call us to rejoice in thee."

"Thou art giving and forgiving ever blessing ever blessed. Wellspring of the joy of living. Ocean depth of happy rest. Thou our Father, Christ our Brother, all who live in love are Thine. Teach us how to love each other. Lift us to the joy divine."

What another beautiful verse on the properties of God. Giving, fogiving, blessed...and the wellspring of the joy of living? That which causes our joy (not happiness), but joy - is so deep and flowing free. Like fresh, cool, water. (I suppose this was written in the spring or summer...)

So, maybe it's not so deep, but it spoke to me. At a time I was struggling myself with sin and sadness, this song painted a picture of joy and light. And peace - not explicitly mentioned, but the idea is in it. It essentially reminded me what being a Christian causes...joyful joyful...