Dirt & filth. Beginnings & endings – New song

Old_stock_burned_down_stairs_3_by_shanethemainmanstock

So, my friend Cate is preaching on 1 Corinthians 4 this Sunday at St Peters (where Paul boasts, ‘I am the scum of the earth’). Alongside talking this over with her, I’ve been continuing to ruminate on the Philippians 2 hymn (where Christ empties himself, becoming like a slave) and the idea that we are all made of dirt in the first place (Genesis 2) which Eugene Peterson has helped me to remember in his amazing book, ‘Christ plays in 10,000 places’.

I’ve been wondering if the reason Christ descends amongst us and even below us was to prove Psalm 139 true which states, ‘Where can I go from your Spirit? If I go to the heavens you are there, if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.’

Stepping into human life, Jesus goes to the depths to show us that we cannot be separated from God, a truth that his mate Paul picks up on in Romans 8 (neither heights or depths, neither life nor death…). He shows us that faithful life can exist in our world, not because of our determination or spiritual excellence, but because of the faithfulness of God.

Enjoy. Any feedback is welcome.

Down, down, down goes the Lord of all life
Sinking past the glory
Surrendering the heights
Down, down, down goes the Lord of all life
At the bottom, the end of all things
I hear him cry

Even here I am yours
Even now you are mine

Down, down, down goes the king of all days
Stooping under all
Kneeling like a slave
Down, down, down goes the king of all days
From the dust, the filth of the whole world
I hear him pray

Even here I am yours
Even now you are mine

Follow me down, down, down my love
Follow for life is found at the cross
Follow me down, down, down dear one
For there is no falling from this God of love

Deeper, deeper down goes the beloved one
Into this hovel
That barely sees the sun
Deeper deeper down goes the beloved one
Shedding power, sharing grace
He said for everyone

Even here I am yours
Even now you are mine

Follow me down, down, down my love
Follow for life is found at the cross
Follow me down, down, down dear one
For there is no falling from this God of love

Down, down, down through the histories of men
To the garden of our making
To clean slates again
Down down through the mysteries of men
From the earth of our beginning
He claims our end

Even here I am yours
Even now you are mine

I’ll follow you down, down, down my love
I’ll follow for life is found at the cross
I’ll follow you down, down, down dear one
For there is no falling from this God of love

1 Comment
  • Matt Chapman

    beautiful

    August 9, 2013

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