The Letter "S"
It's the 19th letter of the alphabet. The shape of a snake. Used in all sorts of ways. And super important.
When I was growing up in youth group, we would sing the worship song "Shout to the Lord" quite a bit. Such a good song! However, I don't think anyone really knew what the exact words were of a specific line in the chorus...
Was "works" plural? Was "hands" plural? Neither? I mean, any option really makes sense....
Option A) I sing for joy at the works of your hands.
Option B) I sing for joy at the works of your hand.
Option C) I sing for joy at the work of your hands.
Option D) I sing for joy at the work of your hand.
WHAT IS IT?!??!
I remember not ever really knowing and so, to mix things up, I'd sing that line differently every time we sang the song. I mean, that way no matter which version was right, I'd have gotten the lyrics correct at LEAST once!!
And since the letter "s" isn't a silent letter, even if one person in the group sang "worksss" or "handsss" everyone would hear it. It's a line that was meant to be forever confusing to Church of Christ singing, I'm convinced.
Anyway, that song hasn't been on my mind in quite a long time until this Sunday when it was resurrected from the worship archives and we sang it! It brought back some good memories and I enjoyed relishing the old words with a new perspective and open heart.
Then we get to the chorus.
I glance around the room as the line comes up, but no one else seems conflicted or confused... (why not, people?!) Just me, I guess. I finish out the song and make it a point to look up the lyrics later that day.
Well, because I KNOW everyone is super curious, the real words according to Chris Tomlin and Hillsong United (you can't argue with either of them) are "I sing for joy at the work of your hands..."
And you know what? I felt a sense of relief and excitement at finding that out!
Although all options are plausible, I think this true option has the "s" in just the right spot.
The Lord's hands are constantly at work. He created worlds, created life with His hands and it is good. We are to be His hands and feet -- not just one hand doing one thing, but multiple hands with different talents going in separate directions doing unique things for His kingdom. Hands. The hands that stretched out on the cross to endure a world's suffering. The hands that hold, the hands that carry, the hands that separate sin from the east to the west.
The letter "S".
When I was growing up in youth group, we would sing the worship song "Shout to the Lord" quite a bit. Such a good song! However, I don't think anyone really knew what the exact words were of a specific line in the chorus...
"I sing for joy at the work of your hands..."
Was "works" plural? Was "hands" plural? Neither? I mean, any option really makes sense....
Option A) I sing for joy at the works of your hands.
Option B) I sing for joy at the works of your hand.
Option C) I sing for joy at the work of your hands.
Option D) I sing for joy at the work of your hand.
WHAT IS IT?!??!
I remember not ever really knowing and so, to mix things up, I'd sing that line differently every time we sang the song. I mean, that way no matter which version was right, I'd have gotten the lyrics correct at LEAST once!!
And since the letter "s" isn't a silent letter, even if one person in the group sang "worksss" or "handsss" everyone would hear it. It's a line that was meant to be forever confusing to Church of Christ singing, I'm convinced.
Anyway, that song hasn't been on my mind in quite a long time until this Sunday when it was resurrected from the worship archives and we sang it! It brought back some good memories and I enjoyed relishing the old words with a new perspective and open heart.
Then we get to the chorus.
I glance around the room as the line comes up, but no one else seems conflicted or confused... (why not, people?!) Just me, I guess. I finish out the song and make it a point to look up the lyrics later that day.
Well, because I KNOW everyone is super curious, the real words according to Chris Tomlin and Hillsong United (you can't argue with either of them) are "I sing for joy at the work of your hands..."
And you know what? I felt a sense of relief and excitement at finding that out!
Although all options are plausible, I think this true option has the "s" in just the right spot.
The Lord's hands are constantly at work. He created worlds, created life with His hands and it is good. We are to be His hands and feet -- not just one hand doing one thing, but multiple hands with different talents going in separate directions doing unique things for His kingdom. Hands. The hands that stretched out on the cross to endure a world's suffering. The hands that hold, the hands that carry, the hands that separate sin from the east to the west.
The hands that do so much yet for ONE purpose....for His work.
Not His works.
His work.
God has one agenda, one purpose, one plan.
And it's magnificent!
All the individual acts of faithfulness written throughout eternity and seen by the Almighty is a part of one love. We are used in unique ways with special talents and carefully crafted futures for His work. For His masterpiece. We are connected. We are forever bonded to the Moses of the Old Testament, the Paul of the New, the martyrs of the books, the lives of yesterday, and the unborn of tomorrow.
We, His children, are His work.
I can absolutely sing for joy at that.
i love the idea of a global-reaching "work" as opposed to little, independent "works." i've never really thought through this concept...thanks for bringing it to the forefront.
ReplyDeleteand for the record, i always confidently sang the wrong words.