Songs of the Scripture - Pt. 7

 

The old men have left the city gate, the young men their music. The joy of our hearts has ceased; our dancing has been turned to mourning. (Lamentations 5:14-15 ESV).

 

In the early morning hours of February 3, 1959, three performers — Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson joined their pilot Roger Peterson for what was supposed to be a flight to their next tour stop. But the passengers and their pilot never made it to their destination. Instead, the four were involved in a deadly crash that took the lives of all aboard. We best know this day as “The Day the Music Died.”

 

There may be some younger readers who do not recognize the names of these three pioneers of the age of rock and roll; however, they were highly successful and sought after. It was a tragedy that still affects some people today. While I certainly listened to their music then, as well as now, I cannot say that it was pivotal moment in my musical appreciation journey. There have been such moments in my life when it seemed as if nothing would ever again be right. If you’ve any length of time you will have felt this way as well. It is that moment of intense difficulty when we feel beaten down and afraid to hope. Perhaps we know that a better day is coming, and yet we are filled with despair. The music has died.

 

Our reading today is taken from the book of Lamentations. It is a compilation of funeral songs for Jerusalem and its people after the city was destroyed by Babylon. Here the prophet Jeremiah confesses God’s sovereignty and justice, but he also can’t shake off the feeling of rejection. He cries out, “Why do you forsake us so long?” If that is how you feel today, please know that Jesus understands. He was mocked by his enemies as he hung dying on the cross. He was forsaken by his closest friends. He even cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34). But God raised him from the grave and “gave him the name that is above ­every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).

 

Because Jeremiah looked ahead to God’s promise of deliverance, he could sing with words of faith that have given believers hope through the ages: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (vv. 22-23). Keep singing. The music does need to die, even for a moment. Jesus has seen to that!