"But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31. Each morning I read these words on a plaque hanging on our wall at home. I am reminded of the beautiful eagles which soar through the skies with apparent ease. Then I am reminded that God provides the strength for us to soar above the many problems of this life. What a beautiful and comforting picture. Composer Father Jan Michael Joncas wrote this week's song after he and a friend, Doug Hall, returned from a meal to learn that Hall's father had died of a heart attack. Joncas doesn't recall if he ever met Hall's father, but he remembers wanting somehow to console his friend. "I knew this was a hard, hard experience in anybody's life, and I just wanted to create something that would be both prayerful and then comforting," In the days preceding Hall's father's wake, Joncas returned to his parents' house and composed the song on his guitar, sketching out a melody line and accompanying chords. The hymn debuted at the wake. He didn't pay much attention to the hymn after that, but he became aware that the song was gaining popularity outside Catholic circles when his publisher forwarded him requests from other denominations to reproduce the song. Then, following the 1995 bombing of the Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Cathy Keating, the governor's wife, requested that "On Eagle's Wings" be played at a memorial for those killed. Much of the inspiration for the writing of this song comes from Psalm 91. Today many of us may be more familiar with the chorus then the words of the verses. But together they provide us with a needed reminder of the Lord's care and protection in our lives. What a beautiful picture of the Lord's care. "This I declare about the Lord: - He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly diseases He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with His wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection." (Psalm 91:2-4) Rest in this truth this week.
1. You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord,
Who abide in His shadow for life,
Say to the Lord, "My Refuge,
My Rock in Whom I trust."
And He will raise you up on eagle's wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.
2. The snare of the fowler will never capture you,
And famine will bring you no fear;
Under His Wings your refuge,
His faithfulness your shield.
And He will raise you up on eagle's wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.
3. You need not fear the terror of the night,
Nor the arrow that flies by day,
Though thousands fall about you,
Near you it shall not come.
And He will raise you up on eagle's wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.
4. For to His angels He's given a command,
To guard you in all of your ways,
Upon their hands they will bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
And He will raise you up on eagle's wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.
5. For to His angels He's given a command
to guard you in all of your ways;
upon their hands they will bear you up,
lest you dash your foot against a stone
And He will raise you up on eagle's wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.
No comments:
Post a Comment