It’s a little slice of Revelation 7:9.  And it was even more awesome in person.

I’m tired of American civil religion
Where God is a word in the inauguration
A phrase in the pledge, and a charm on our coins

Our lips honor him, but our hearts are far from him
We curry his favor, and vainly we join
Our freedom, our God and our spite
We’ll do what we want because it’s our right

And that’s the American Dream
Where things just aren’t what they seem
Life enslaved by a pursuit of happiness
Liberty dies in a pursuit of happiness
This is the tyranny of hell
My country, ’tis of thee

I’m tired of the way this is blurring my vision
Convenience being the theme of our nation
We’re sunshine patriots for the kingdom of God

From temples in Texas comes the lucrative witness
The syncretist lessons that bind in a fraud
Our Deity, money, and health
Where God is a tool to bring us more wealth

And that’s the American Dream
Where things just aren’t what they seem
Life enslaved by a pursuit of happiness
Liberty dies in a pursuit of happiness
This is the tyranny of hell
My country, ’tis of thee

Chief among our exports
Chief among our sins
Chief among idolatries
Are idols made from him

How narrow the gates that lead to our manifest destiny
For no one within this land was conceived in liberty
And no one within the world is conceived in liberty
No, no one within the world is conceived in liberty

And we are the tired, we are the poor
We are the huddled masses
We are the tired, we are the poor
We are the huddled masses
Yearning to breathe free
The wretched refuse of the teeming shore
Homeless, tempest-tossed, we come to you
Homeless, tempest-tossed, we come to you

Were I to run, were I to hide away
Dwell in deepest oceans, or fly to break of day
Still you are there, seeing in darkest lands
Lead by your Spirit and hold me in your hand
And hold me in your hand

When I was formed, you had prepared for me
Days you had written before I came to be
Fearfully made, knit by a skillful hand
How vast your wisdom—your thoughts like grains of sand
Your thoughts like grains of sand

Lord, when I see enemies scorn your name
How I hate the wicked—but, Lord, am I the same?
Search all my heart, see where I go astray
Try me and lead me in your eternal way
In your eternal way

Sun, rise
Rise and wane

And the earth remains
As generations are born and die in vain
Rivers return from where they flowed
The winds blow around, around again

In a weary world of nothing new
And unremembered gain
“What is crooked cannot straightened be”
Is the Cursed refrain

End of a world
Evil days
Sun, moon, and every star go out
Heavens hid behind the shroud
The skies have worn away
There at the end

Of a world
Years of pain
Through windows fading, dimly see
Clouds assemble solemnly
Where youth had spent their rain
There at the end

So the silver cord
Is severed by the hand that weaved it whole
Broken by Him
Who breaks the golden bowl
And shattered lies
The pitcher by the weary well run dry
Vain are the words
The mourners wail and cry

End of a world
Fleeting breath
And dust returns to earth and grave
Spirit goes to God who gave
All life dispelled in death
There at the end

If you want an idea of the tune, it’s based on the one here, beginning at 0:27.

World of wind, kingdoms fall!
Yahweh, You are King of all.
Blazing fire melts the land—
Shining glass from sinking sand.

Fire will test, glass reflect.
Yahweh, show Your true elect.
Share the wounds, wear the scorn:
Cruel metal, twisted thorn.

Wounds of war, metal shard—
Yahweh, ever be our guard.
So You scorch, kill our charms;
So You leave me in Your arms.

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!

That second line is amazing! “Even though it be a cross that raiseth me….” What a terrifying thing to say! I don’t think I have the courage to say, “I want to be nearer to you, Lord…even if it means being crucified.” Of course, we as Christians have been “crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20) and are called to die every day to the world and our own sinful desires.

Jesus remained on the cross as an example to us all. He did not give up in the face of unspeakable pain, but remained there to bear our sins. So for our example, we look to Jesus, “who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). If Jesus was willing to suffer for the glory of God, how much more are we called to do so as His creatures.

The song “Embrace the Cross” reminds us that, like Jesus, we see hope in our suffering:

An empty tomb
Concludes Golgotha’s sorrow
Endure then till tomorrow
Your cross of suffering
Embrace the cross
Embrace the cross
The cross of Jesus

There’s a rhyme and there’s a reason
For every time and every season under heaven.
There’s a will, there’s a way
That’ll fill every day the Lord has given.

Providence, teach me how to trust You more.
Sovereign Lord, teach me to believe You more.
As darkness veils Your lovely face,
Let me trust Your saving grace,
And let me believe…

There’s a rhyme and there’s a reason
For every time and every season under heaven.
There’s a will, there’s a way
That’ll fill every day the Lord has given.

Providence, teach me how to trust You more.
Sovereign Lord, teach me to believe You more.
As darkness veils Your lovely face,
Let me trust Your saving grace,
And let me believe…

In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds; He will not fail,
But I cannot believe!
Lord, have mercy on me!

There’s a rhyme and there’s a reason
For every time and every season under heaven.
There’s a will, there’s a way
That’ll fill every day the Lord has given.

The Beauty of Jesus

The beauty of Jesus no tongue can express
Nor mind can invest in a song.
No radiant dawn nor the flame in the west
Would capture a splendor this strong.
How vivid the daybreak He brings to the earth—
His hope from the blood of the night!
And morning will gather the sons of rebirth
To glory in Majesty’s light.

The wealth of the stars in the chasm of space
Would sing of His glorious might,
Each heavenly herald in harmony trace
A chorus of flame in the night.
Though host beyond number should thunder His praise
With angels assisting the throng,
He’d silence the universe by what He’d raise—
An anthem of Majesty’s song.

May river and ocean His glory proclaim
And deep call to deep with a roar:
The word of the Lord and the pow’r of His name
Shall one day His kingdom restore!
O you who are broken and weary of strife,
Arise, in our Savior rejoice!
Come, kneel on the shore of the river of life,
And drink of His comforting voice.