Friday, June 24, 2011

With A Shout

U2 LYRICS

Where do we go from here?…I want to go, to the foot of Mount Zion…Jerusalem

Reading the lyrics of this song, the obvious reference is of the crucifixion scene in the gospels.  There are references to blood being spilt (a phrase I never liked since spilling [to me] seems accidental and the cross was anything but an accident) and to a hill (presumably Golgotha).  But what of this shouting mentioned in the title?

From what I can tell, the shouting is about the city of Jericho and the Old Testaments' account of its being conquered by Israel.

Joshua 6:5 And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him.

While this is a great telling, I prefer the Veggie Tales interpretation (I’ve got slushie in my ear).  I do not recall any sermons tying these (2) events together so (again) I am at a loss of what this song really means.

The psalms talk about shouting for joy and while I can understand this, I do not think I have ever been so joyful I wanted to shout about it.  This could be a cultural thing for the Middle East 3,000 years ago.  In our society (other than at sporting events) this would seem like odd behavior.  While it is not exactly shouting, I have yelled but that is usually at a dog (or at a kid when the first few attempts at getting their attention fails) and certainly not for joy.  It does feel strangely good to release that kind of tension though.  Perhaps I should shout (or yell) more often.  I live out in the country and so only a few neighbors might hear me if I let it rip from the back yard.  I will have to let you know how it goes.

Jon

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