I waited patiently for the Lord He inclined and heard my cry He lift me up out of the pit Out of the mire and clay I will sing, sing a new song I will sing, sing a new song How long to sing this song? How long to sing this song? How long...how long...how long... How long...to sing this song He set my feet upon a rock And made my footsteps firm Many will see Many will see and hear I will sing, sing a new song I will sing, sing a new song (Sing it!) How long to sing this song? How long to sing this song? How long...how long...how long... How long...to sing this song
While this song is not exactly 'modern', one could argue that it definitely falls into the category of a 'pop' hymn, which is timeless.
When I first heard this song in the 80's, I thought it was about a girl called Gloria, because I didn't know latin, and I didn't have access to modern day tools like google translate.
If you translate the latin, you get something like:
Glory be tothee, O Lord Glory be glad
When the lyrics talk about trying to stand up, but not being able to it reminds me of stories in the Bible of the manifest glory of God 'When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the LORD because of the glory of the LORD filled it. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying 'He is good; his love endures forever.'
The lyrics about trying to speak up, and 'Oh Lord, loosen my lips', remind me of Isaiah's encounter with the LORD. 'Woe is me!' I cried, 'I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips.... and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD almighty.' Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, 'See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.'
Then there is also the reference to the door being open, and 'You're standing there, you let me in'.
This reminds me of Jesus saying 'I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.'
Gloria by U2 is a beautiful song of worship.
Gloria... I try to sing this song I, I try to stand up But I can't find my feet I try, I try to speak up But only in you I'm complete Gloria...in te domine Gloria...exultate Gloria...Gloria Oh Lord, loosen my lips
I try to sing this song I, I try to get in But I can't find the door The door is open You're standing there You let me in
Gloria...in te domine Gloria...exultate Oh Lord, if I had anything Anything at all I'd give it to you I'd give it to you
This foolishness can leave a heart black and blue, oh, oh
Only love, only love can leave such a mark
But only love, only love can heal such a scar
I was born, I was born to sing for you
I didn't have a choice but to lift you up
And sing whatever song you wanted me to
I give you back my voice from the womb
My first cry, it was a joyful noise, oh, oh
Only love, only love can leave such a mark
But only love, only love can heal such a scar
Justified, till we die you and I will magnify, oh, oh
Magnificent, magnificent, oh, oh
Only love, only love can leave such a mark
But only love, only love unites our hearts
Justified, till we die you and I will magnify, oh, oh
Magnificent, magnificent, magnificent
magnificent
adjective
1 impressively beautiful, elaborate, or extravagant; striking : a dramatic landscape of magnificent mountains | the interior layout is magnificent.
2 very good; excellent : she paid tribute to their magnificent efforts.
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! 1 John 3:1
We were born to love and be loved by God our Father, now and forever. This love is magnificent, a magnificent love, from a magnificent God.
It was God’s love for us, that allowed His Son Jesus to be marked with nail holes in his hands and feet. Jesus became a sacrifice for us, with our sins put on him, so that we can be ‘justified till we die’.
It was God’s love for his Son, Jesus, that saw him raised up from the dead, and declared to be the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.
When we reflect on the magnificence of God’s love, we want to sing for joy, and praise Him, and magnify him with our praises.
