ODJ: viva la vida
January 2, 2012
Once the queen of all the earth, she is now a slave (v.1).
READ: Lamentations 1:1-22
With rich orchestral chord progressions and an infectious melody, Coldplay’s Viva la Vida grabbed Song of the Year honours at the 2009 Grammy awards. That title, which means “long live life,” conveys a bitter irony. The character depicted in the lyrics had held immense power but now was dealing with a reversal of fortunes. “I used to rule the world,” the words state, but now I “sweep the streets I used to own.”
Lamentations is a bitter song about Jerusalem’s reversal of fortunes—“the queen of all the earth, she is now a slave” (1:1). Besieged, then slaughtered by the brutal Babylonian armies, the city’s horrifyingly desperate circumstances had even induced mothers to cannibalise their own children (2:20, 4:10). Jerusalem’s devastation was God’s clear judgement for the sins of the people. To the grief-dimmed eyes of the poet, God’s salvation seemed almost impossibly distant. Almost.
Lamentations concludes with a curious, bittersweet blend of hope and grief, doubt and faith. “Lord, You remain the same forever! . . . Restore us, O Lord, and bring us back to You again!” (5:19-21). Yet the book ends with a hauntingly tentative question: “Are You angry with us still?” (v.22).
Thankfully, the dirge of judgement is not the only song in God’s Word. “I will sing a new song to You, O God,” said the psalmist (Psalm 144:9). The New Testament infuses our new song with this triumphant declaration: “Now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). “The power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death” (v.2).
The song we sing today is often discordant. In eternity, however, it will be indescribably rich, pure, exhilarating, and joyous. Viva la vida. —Tim Gustafson
How would you describe your life’s song? How can your song help you be honest before your Creator?
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