“Now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require from you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and all your soul, and to keep the LORD’S commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?” (Deuteronomy 10:12-13)
What God requires of us is fear, obedience, and love. Without fear we mock the power of the Father, Who kills and makes alive; without obedience, we mock the power of the Spirit, Who is putting to death the deeds of the body; without love, we mock the sacrifice of the Son, Who is Love crucified. And if our music is ever going to teach and admonish us to fear, love, and serve our God aright, as it is supposed to do (Col. 3:16), then it must begin to encompass more than sentimental, feel-good mush. The themes of God’s grace and mercy should sit side by side with those of His righteous anger and judgment; jubilant expressions of our rejoicing must go hand in hand with a heavy sorrow over sin. These are the themes of the Bible. Let us then make them the themes of our song. We pray that our efforts will glorify God as we sing of the full splendor of His majesty and spur one another on to fear, obedience, and love. –Everlasting Word Band
1. O Lord of Vengeance (Psalm 94)
Music: Andrew Dionne
Text: Arranged by Andrew Dionne
O Lord of vengeance! O Lord, shine forth!
Rise up, o Just One! Silence all the proud!
How long the wicked, sinful man exult?
Pouring out their vain words, evildoers boast?
Chorus
The Lord has become my stronghold,
My God and my Rock of refuge.
They crush Your people, and afflict Your sons.
They kill the widow, and the sojourner.
Fatherless they slaughter, saying, 'He can't see.'
Understand, O people, when will you be wise?
Chorus
Blessed is the strong man, whom You discipline.
To Him, You give sweet rest, wicked men forsake.
Who will fight the wicked? Who will strike the foul?
Without God's outstretched arm, silence would be mine.
Chorus
Can the wicked ruler be your allied friend?
Statutes of injustice govern all the land.
They all band together, loving death not life.
Innocent aborted, sentenced to silence.
Chorus
Wipe them out, Lord Jesus, for their wickedness!
Wipe them out, Lord Jesus, for their wickedness!
Chorus
2. Song of the Lamb
Music: Jason Wiltse
Text: Revelation 15:3-4; Arranged by Jason Wiltse
Amazing are Your deeds, O Lord God Amighty, O Lord God Amighty!
Just and true are Your ways, O King of the nations, O King of the nations!
Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your Name? For You alone are Holy;
All nations will come and Worship You,
For Your Righteous acts have been revealed.
3. Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted
Music: Arranged by EWB
Text: Thomas Kelly (1804)
Stricken, smitten, and afflicted,
See Him dying on the tree!
’Tis the Christ by man rejected;
Yes, my soul, ’tis He, ’tis He!
’Tis the long expected prophet,
David’s Son, yet David’s Lord;
Proofs I see sufficient of it:
’Tis a true and faithful Word.Tell me, ye who hear Him groaning,
Was there ever grief like His?
Friends through fear His cause disowning,
Foes insulting his distress:
Many hands were raised to wound Him,
None would interpose to save;
But the deepest stroke that pierced Him
Was the stroke that Justice gave.Ye who think of sin but lightly,
Nor suppose the evil great,
Here may view its nature rightly,
Here its guilt may estimate.
Mark the Sacrifice appointed!
See Who bears the awful load!
’Tis the Word, the Lord’s Anointed,
Son of Man, and Son of God.Here we have a firm foundation,
Here the refuge of the lost.
Christ the Rock of our salvation,
Christ the Name of which we boast.
Lamb of God for sinners wounded!
Sacrifice to cancel guilt!
None shall ever be confounded
Who on Him their hope have built.
4. Why Do The Heathen Nations Vainly Rage? (Psalm 2)
Music: Genevan Psalter, harm. by Goudimel (1564); Arranged by EWB
Text: Arranged by Douglas Wilson (2000)
5. We Will Dance
Music & Text: David Ruis (1992)
Used with Permission.
6. Lamentations 3
Music: Hunter Turner
Text: Arranged by Hunter Turner
7. Cloud of Witnesses
Music: Andrew Dionne
Text: Andrew & Sarah Dionne
As the rain filled up the earth the righteous man Noah prayed...
As the seas opened a way the humble man Moses sang...
As the flames fell from the sky Elijah praised our great God...
Chorus
They sang...
Hallelujah! He is risen!
Hallelujah! He is risen!
Hallelujah! He is risen! Amen!
As the jaw ripped through the flesh strong Samson called to the Lord...
Lion's breath close to his face wise Daniel found his reward...
Flush with shame, sick with his sin lord David turned to his Lord...
Chorus
Not afraid, knowing her Lord, obedient Sarah praised...
Giving back without complaint her precious child, Hanna prayed...
With a sword piercing her heart young Mary magnified God...
Chorus
Rooster cry echoing still, toward the tomb Peter ran...
Broken, crush'd under the stone but yet in faith Stephen gazed...
Stunned and blind Paul met the Lord upon the road, and he changed...
Chorus
As the pain took their last breath the martyrs cried out a psalm...
Smoke of hell rises to heav'n reminding all of Christ's cross...
When we gaze on His bright face while free from sin we will sing...
We sing...
Chorus
8. How Firm A Foundation
Music: Arranged by Nate Bayly
Text: From A Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors, by John Rippon (1787)
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
You, who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.
