10/19/2019
Do songs come to you in the night? In the dark moments of life are you inspired to write music? Perhaps in those times your instrument is a guitar, cymbals, a lyre, poetry, or maybe your voice, but it could easily be whatever other instrument God has blessed you with. If you are an architect perhaps it is a design, or a carpenter... a new and wonderful staircase, or as a chef a magnificent and delicious culinary delight. Whatever your instrument... only God brings song to us from within our suffering.
“"Because of the multitude of oppressions people cry out; they call for help because of the arm of the mighty. But none says, 'Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night,”
Job 35:9-10 ESV
I have loved music all my life, and yet, have never been blessed enough to play an instrument. However, I have received the gift of poetry and words, and through them I hear music and express it in words from within me. In times of great suffering, or even in momentary darkness, I am often awakened in the night to write verse that was brought to me... sometimes in an expression of heartbreak, but quite often as it leads me back into joy.
“By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.”
Psalms 42:8 ESV
Not all the verse He inspires me to write is of Him, but in some way or another... it all leads to Him. How does God inspire your song in the night? Does He give you the design for a grand building in which people are awed? Does He give you a renewed relationship with someone you considered lost? Does He bring a hungry person to your kitchen where you prepare them an inspired meal? Or, maybe, just maybe, He gives you the notes, or words to a song of Him.
“He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.”
Psalms 40:3 ESV
In the last couple of years God has brought me into relationship with first one incredible songwriter, then others; each of them He has blessed with music, and he has allowed me to share the words He has inspired me to write with them. What has occurred since then has been a joining of their gifts with mine in a very special way. This happens in each of our lives; the magnificent staircase that God gave the carpenter can’t stand gloriously on its own... it needs the inspired building He revealed to the architect before it can reach its fullest effect. Try, if you might, to think of a single gift that God has given mankind that stands alone? Our children take two of us to make, our buildings take many, and so it is with everything... even our songs in the night. What would Mozart be without a symphony? We are meant to be in relationship with each other, and with God. This is the fruit of the night that brings us joy once more.
Last Easter I was inspired in the night to write some Easter lyrics, and then to share those words with the songwriters I had come to know... no financial reward for me... just give it, ask them to put my song to the music they heard, and then to encourage these songwriters to share the outpouring of God’s gift they had received. The same words were received by each of them, but what came back was amazing... the depth of creativity, the music God gave each one of them in their nights, was truly awe inspiring... all so wonderfully different. It highlighted the essence, and gift, of relationship. Beautiful, inspired, moving, each song an outpouring of what God had blessed them with.
“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.”
Psalms 19:1-2 ESV
So I ask you today... Do songs come to you in your night? I am certain they do, but when they do, are you obedient? Do you rise and record them? Do you use them for His glory? If God says build, sing, write, play, feed them, clothe them, or any number of things... do you obey Him? These are the songs of our night, and they will lead us joyfully into the day.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the gifts you provide us with, and thank you for inspiring us to use them as we sing, each in our own way, of your glory. Thank you for the love song that was the life of Jesus, and the Psalms He sung to you from the cross. Thank you a Holy Father for our nights, and for coming to us in the midst of them in many languages, many songs, sharing many gifts. Teach us to obey you and to openly give what you have revealed, and inspired us with. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who calls us into relationship, and inspires us... even in our darkest nights. Praised be your name for the gifts you provide, and the blessings that flow from them when we obey you in their use. You are merciful Father, and deliver us from our sorrow in nightly song, and allow us to reach out to others, even as you deliver us. All glory is yours Father through your grace that flows from Christ, and the song of His suffering, and sacrifice! Help us Lord as we sing, play, or bring to fruition the many, and varied, songs you inspire us with in the night.
Rich Forbes
P.S.
My Easter lyrics caused several Participants to ask me for another challenge... a Christmas lyric, and in time it came to me. If you are gifted in music, God gives you song in the night, and you would like to join in with us, here are the lyrics. I do ask that you send me an MP3 copy of what God has blessed you with at the email address below... in the past some have sent a simple recording made on their smart phone... nothing is too little, nor too polished, because God hears every heart. You retain all rights to your music, and it will not be shared without your permission.
The rules of the challenge are very simple... you can move lines or verses around, delete some, alter a few words here and there, and even translate it into other languages. You can also do this alone or in groups, but please keep the lyrics basically intact...
Pray the Child – a Christmas Song
By Rich Forbes
V1
Mary bow your head
O’re the Christ child’s prayers
Silent at your breast
His Spirit resting there.
Suckling from God’s grace,
The nectar of all heaven,
Does He know the cup?
Dread the coming leaven?
CHO
Innocent the babe
Our sweet precious Lord
Warm in your arms
Heaven’s prince adored
Father sings in heaven
Shepherds chant the while
Joseph calls Him Jesus
Holy Mother pray your child
V2
The tiny hand of Christ
Wrapped around your finger
The grandeur of creation
Precious love that lingers
Ahead the will of God
The suffering and the cross
Mankind’s mighty savior
Soon infant’s sweet dreams lost
CHO
Innocent the babe
Our sweet precious Lord
Warm in your arms
Heaven’s prince adored
Father sighs in heaven
Shepherds praise the while
Joseph calls Him Jesus
Holy Mother pray your child
V3
Gone the baby’s dreams
Now he has awakened
To drink the bitter wine
Flesh to be partaken
The silence of all heaven
Awaits the coming jeers
Holy child breaths suffering
The nails, a mother’s tears
CHO
Innocent the babe
Our sweet precious Lord
Rises from the tomb;
Heaven’s prince adored
Father’s joy in heaven
Angels sing the while
Welcome home the Son
Blessed Mother prays her child
So now Mary bow your head
O’er the Christ Child’s prayers
Hold Him peaceful to you breast
And let him find some comfort there...
Let him find some comfort there.
Forbesrc1974@gmail.com