An on-stage orchestra is part of the fun in this 2.5-hour musical of Old Testament highlights. Featuring a large chorus and a core group of soloists who play multiple roles, the “Records” are songs that are sung after each story is set up by a brief scene-setting patter, allowing this musical to be enjoyed by audience members regardless of their familiarity with The Bible. On stage horns and drummers interacting with the singers make the music come alive!
Click the song titles below to listen and view lyrics
To give strength and enliven our souls,
God painted the sky, He planted the earth with infinite variety.
His signature is ev’rywhere revealed.
Can you count how many stars are in heav’n?
Can you count the many beautiful shades of green?
No! Can you believe how many songs birds can sing in the spring?
I am overwhelmed by the wonders, the numbers, the variety and beauty I have seen!
I cannot tell you when the world was made…
I cannot tell you creation’s time…
But I can tell you by whom it was made,
And I can tell you why:
It was made by God because He loves us! Mmm!
Because He loves us! Mmm…
All things denote there is a God,
Yes, all the earth and all things thereon. Oh!
Things in the heavens and things below,
All things help me to know there is a God! Oh,
I cannot tell you when the world was made…
I cannot tell you creation’s time…
But I can tell you by whom it was made,
And I can tell you why: It was made by God
Because He loves us! Mmm…
Because He loves us!
And any man who has seen the least of these
Has seen God moving in His majesty and pow’r!
Narrator: Who was Father Abraham? Patriarch of not one religion, but three:
Judaism, Islam, Christianity.
This is the world as we know it, with all the countries’ borderlines.
This is where Abram was born. This is how it looked in Abram’s time.
Into the ancient land of Ur, a mighty famine blew,
So Abram immigrated to a new land – he took his family too.
And while our friend was living there, he received the Lord’s command:
“Get thee from thy father’s house, I will show unto you a new land.”
God took him first to Canaan, then to Egypt of Pharaoh-fame.
Then He led him back to Canaan-land, where Abram received a new name.
God made many promises to Abraham and God’s promises are real.
Narrator: What’s it like to receive a promise from God? How do you think it would make you feel?
How do you think it made Abraham feel?
How did it make you feel?
Abraham: Who am I to receive such promises?
Who am I to have heard the voice of God?
Who am I to have seen the Lord face to face?
Why me? Who am I?
I am no more Abram, but Abraham. Father of nations. Father of nations.
No more Abram, but Abraham. Father of nations. Father, friend of God.
I’ve searched all my life for the One True God.
When He spoke, I obeyed His command.
Now He’s promised me posterity like the sand!
Like stars in the sky: Who am I?
I am no more Abram, but Abraham. Father of nations. Father of nations.
No more Abram, but Abraham. Father of nations. Father, friend of God.
He has blessed me to become a great nation.
I am blessed that my name will be great.
He will bless those who bless me and curse those who curse me.
He has promised in me all of earth’s families shall be blessed!
Beyond this, I am promised all Canaan land!
Beyond this, kings will come from my line!
Beyond this, His promises end not with me,
But extend to my seed everlastingly for all time!
No more Abram, but Abraham. Father of nations. Father of nations.
I am no more Abram, but Abraham! Father of nations. Father, friend of God.
The door to my tent is still open. We receive all who will believe.
They are my children and heir to the promise,
All are counted among my seed who will say, “He is our God!”
Oh, Father Abraham! Oh, Abraham. Father of nations! Father of nations.
Oh, Father Abraham! Oh, Abraham. Father of nations! Father of nations.
Children of Abraham! Children of Abraham!
(Repeat)
Children of Abraham! Oh, Father Abraham! Oh, Abraham. Father, friend of God.
My Abram was promised posterity;
Like the dust of the earth would be the number of his seed.
But because I was barren, I in desperation gave
My handmaid to Abram,
I gave him my Egyptian slave to be his wife…
Hagar
What a life! No one ever asked me! No!
But then I conceived and I was pleased.
Oh, how the tables have turned!
Because my son, my son will be his first child! Oh, yeah!
Firstborn! That just drove Sarai wild!
Sarah
I saw her smirking, so I made her pay!
Hagar
You treated me so bad that I ran away into the wilderness – alone –
And I was car’yin’ his child! Oh!
But then an angel came to me and stayed with me for a while.
And do ya wanna know what he said?
He said my son – he will be multiplied exceedingly!
His seed will dwell among his brother’s seed.
His brother’s? Guess I know somethin’ she don’t know!
Sarah
She came back and though she got under my skin,
He needed and heir and so we took her back in.
Then thirteen years later, I was four-score and ten,
God spoke to Abraham, making promises again!
He said, “Sarai – no – Sarah, shall bear a son indeed!” Oh, yeah!
“And I’ll extend my cov’nant through your Sarah’s seed.
Oh, how the tables have turned!
Because my son, my son has the birthright, that’s right!
First wife’s first son: Birthright! That’s right!
One day I saw the mocking of that woman’s child.
I said, “She must be cast out! She must be exiled!”
“Get to the desert girl, and take that boy along!”
At one time I thought she’d be good for my family, but I was so wrong!
Hagar
Abraham grieved, still he believed in God’s promise that we would survive.
But when the bread and water ran out, I heard my son cry!
My son! God, please don’t let me see him die!
God heard my son: An angel opened my eyes and we survived!
Both
My son! Abraham’s child!
(First born) (First wife’s) First son: He is the one!
My son: God heard my prayers!
My son: My son will get his fair share!
My son: God made a promise to me!
My son will be a great nation! My son is Abraham’s seed!
I will keep you from the danger past my door.
I will not fear what they can do! I only know I must preserve you.
I see our hist’ry, I see a myst’ry, when I look in your eyes.
Oh my baby, as I place you in this basket,
I am asking God to keep you in His care.
I know not what else I can do. I only pray God will deliver you.
My heart is breaking. my arms are aching as I watch you drift away.
Ooo, ooo, to have you close again!
Ooo, ooo, to have you safe in my arms.
I can hold you! I can love you!
I can teach you who you are… I can teach you who you are!
Oh my baby, oh my darling, I’ll deliver you.
I’ll release you to the care of God above.
And just because you will be free, don’t ignore your people’s misery.
A man can do great things if as a child he was loved.
My hopes and dreams go with you!
How I hope to see the man that you become!
God has something for you to do:
You must find what He’s planned for you…
Oh my baby, oh my darling, we must put our trust in God!
I have done it in my dreams, oh, so many times.
But it is not to be… I’m grateful you have let me see it.
So this is the end of my journey…
It’s alright, I am ready to lay me down:
Ev’ry soul I knew is already gone!
I’m lonely. I’m ready.
When I look at the task that’s ahead,
I can see it is the job for a younger man;
A man who’s not been beaten down by all the years,
By the sorrows and heartbreaks of living.
I’ve carried the weight of this people:
Pulled them inch by inch for uncounted miles.
Forty years of pulling! Is it any wonder I’m tired?
I’m sorry for my disobedience. I know I’m not a perfect man.
But I surely tried to do thy will and my heart is full as I look to The Promised Land.
Thank you for this life! I could never have imagined a dream as big
As this life you gave to me: I have seen eternity and I’m ready.
Take me home! Take me into your arms. I am not afraid, for I know you!
Death is just a portal between earth and heaven, between here and there.
I’m ready. I’m ready. I’m ready.
God is with me. I’m not alone.
Despite the darkness, I will move forward.
When my heart fails me, I will go on.
“Be strong and have courage!”
Go on into the land.
“Be strong and have courage!
I know courage comes from obeying God’s commands!
As we prepare to enter the Promised Land,
God has in us, courage stirred!
He has promised me He will not fail us,
And God always keeps His word!
When I’m doubting, I will look heav’n-ward.
God is with me, I’m not alone!
Despite darkness, I will move forward!
When my heart fails me, still I’ll go on!
“Be strong and have courage!”
Go on into the land.
“Be strong and have courage!
For courage comes from obeying God’s commands!
The task ahead is daunting!
Those walls are wide and high!
Our plan is unconventional!
But faith conquers fear; on God we will rely!
“Be strong and have courage!”
Go on into the land.
“Be strong and have courage!
Our courage comes from obeying God’s commands!
Sanctify yourselves. God will do wonders among you!
Not a whisper now! Don’t you dare make a sound!
We will follow the word of God precisely.
Take a last look at Jericho, as we march around!
When we are doubting, we will look heav’n-ward.
God is with us, we’re not alone!
In the darkness, we will press forward.
When hearts fails, we will go on!
“Be strong and have courage!”
Go on into the land.
“Be strong and have courage!
Our courage comes by obeying God’s commands!
For courage comes….
Yes, courage comes…..
Our courage comes by obeying God’s commands!
Only this one last time, dear God: remember me!
I’m sorry I broke my covenant. Sorry for how my life was spent,
Living far beneath my blessings.
Why didn’t I live a little bit straighter? Why couldn’t I keep my hand on the rod?
I never learned to rule myself, instead my passions ruled me!
Why didn’t I learn to keep my own counsel? Why didn’t I give my heart to my God?
Now the great opportunities you gave me are wasted and gone.
O Lord God, remember me. I pray thee, God, strengthen me!
Only this one last time, dear God: Remember me!
I will die with them! I will be avenged!
Only this one last time, dear God: Now strengthen me!
Dear One, I will not ever leave you alone.
I will return with thee to thy people.
Entreat me not to leave thee now.
For where thou goest, there will I go.
Thy people shall be my people now.
For your God is now my God,
And I trust in the shadow of His wing.
For Him I’ll leave my family,
For Him I will give up everything.
Dear One, I love you as if you were my own.
Dear One, I will not ever leave you alone.
I can see into your heart.
I feel the sadness in your soul.
Let me help you as you travel homeward.
Let me care for you as you grow old.
Dear One, I love you as if you were my own.
Dear One, I will not ever leave you alone.
For husbands and fathers and brothers die.
They’re here, then suddenly they’re gone.
As widows, we’re sisters, all women are sisters!
In times of trouble, call upon your sister!
I love you as if you were my own.
Dear One, I will not ever leave you!
I’ll never leave you!
No, never leave you alone.
If she can have children, why can’t I? Why?
Did you hear the words she said? They were not really words,
But daggers thrust into my heart and twisted till I cried!
Oh why, Lord? Why?
She wouldn’t have to say a word for me to feel this bitter pain,
All I have to do is see her with the children! In my anguish I look on….
Why did you give me a mother’s heart, yet leave my cradle bare?
Is it something that I have done? I will do anything!
Oh, God, why haven’t you answered my prayer?
And I cry and cry and cry! Oh, Lord, why not me? Why?
Most days I do well enough, I carry the heartache within.
Then from nowhere a huge wave of loneliness hits me
And I feel my heart breaking all over again!
And I cry and cry and cry! Oh, Lord, why not me? Why?
Dear God, please help me!
If you give me a child, I will give him back to Thee…
Let me love him for a while and teach him what to do,
Then I promise, Father, I will give him back to you.
I have loved him with my soul and taught him to be true.
And as promised, Father, now I give him back to you.
Let no man’s heart fail from this giant! I will go and fight the Philistine!
As a shepherd I killed bear and lion. I am strong and my heart is clean.
And God will help me! Though I am a shepherd boy facing a man of war,
I’m unafraid! My God is my defense. This is a cause worth fighting for! Hey-yay!
King Saul tried to give me his armor and a sword that I had never known.
But I did not need them, I picked up my staff and I gathered my sling and some stones,
Saying, “God will help me! Though I am a shepherd boy facing a man of war!
“I’m unafraid! God is my sure defense! This is a cause worth dyin’ for! Hey-yay!”
Goliath laughed when he saw my size, and cursed me by gods unknown.
“Come here, boy, and meet your death! I’ll see the birds pick your flesh from your bones!”
Then I said to him, “You come to me with a sword and a spear and a shield behind which to hide.
“I come in the name of the Lord of Hosts, the God whom thou hast defied!”
“And I will smite you though I am a shepherd boy. Stones I flung in my youth
“Were just leading me onto this destiny: Showing the world this truth:
“There is a god in Israel! Hey-yay!”
And I will fight you for I am a shepherd boy, ready to face the foe!
See how they run! Everyone! After them! Soon all the world will know:
There is a God in Israel! Hey-yay!
Just caught unaware, I must leave this place now!
I’ll do what Joseph did: I’ll turn now and walk away!
That’s the only way to stay safe from such a temptation.
Yet it’s so unlike me to turn and run! I’m not a weakling! I’m a mighty warrior!
Surely I am man enough to govern my eyes! I will not look! And perhaps she’s not there any more….
Why am I not with my men? What does idleness beget?
I’m a man of honor yet now I contemplate evil…
Is it wrong to look again? A look is not a touch.
How can I have so much, yet still covet another’s?
I should pray! God has given me strength in the past, surely He will grant me some strength now.
Yet I do not feel to pray… Why does God seem so far away, distant? Where is His Spirit now?
No one would ever know…. Any man would do what I’m thinking… Just this one time won’t hurt…
No one would ever know… Any man would do what I’m thinking…. Just this one time won’t hurt…
I feel myself falling downward. It was a sight I didn’t mean to see!
And then the look became a thought, and now the feeling is conquering me!
I must not look at her! I am the king! If I but look again, I’m risking everything!
I will not look! I will not look! I will not look! I will not…
According to Thy tender mercy. Forgive me of my sins.
Wash me! Cleanse me! I acknowledge my wrong.
My sin is ever before me.
Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away form Thy presence and take not Thy Spirit from me.
Restore me to joy, joy in Thy salvation!
Deliver me, O Lord, my God.
What do you ask of me? I will give it!
A contrite spirit and a broken heart; a broken heart!
Evil! Evil! Evil in the kingdom of Israel!
Jezebel married Ahab: Brought idolatry to Israel!
God was angry, let Elijah seal the heavens, brought a famine down on Israel!
Evil! Evil! Evil in the kingdom of Israel!
Evil! Evil! Evil in the kingdom of Israel!
Over three years and nothin’ was growin’. Elijah fed by the birds in the sky.
God said, “Get to the north. I’ve commanded a woman there to feed you so that you don’t die.”
Famine! Famine! There’s a famine in the kingdom of Israel!
Famine! Famine! There’s a famine in the kingdom of Israel!
Elijah met the heathen woman, so hungry she was nearly dead!
He said, “Please fetch me some water and bring me a morsel of bread.”
“I have no bread,” she told him. “Just oil and a handful of flour.”
“If you give me bread before you feed yourself, I will show you God’s marvelous power.”
Woman, woman, will you feed a prophet of Israel?
Woman, woman, will you feed a prophet of Israel?
She made the food and she fed him, before she fed herself or her son.
God blessed her oil and flour then and she had food until the famine was done!
Woman, bless you for believing a prophet of Israel!
Woman, bless you for believing a prophet of Israel!
For believing a prophet of Israel!
For believing a prophet of Israel!
Sometimes we are asked to act not knowing the plan…
But we can never sacrifice more than the Lord stands willing to bless us for.
We receive our witness after the trial of our faith.
The test of faith is not for God to see if I’ll be true.
God already knows ev’rything that I can do…
In a crisis, what I do reveals my faith for all the world to see,
Yet the most important witness of my growing faith is me!
First we wonder, then we seek, and then a hope is born.
We live on hope ’til faith begins to grow.
And we’re tutored in God’s own way: Line upon line; day by day.
‘Til our faith becomes so strong, we can say with surety, “I know!”
I stand on what I know, and what I do not know surrounds me.
A sea of black, a sea of doubt and fear.
Yet God says I must trust in Him, and step into the darkness.
I take a step, and then the way appears!
You may be asked to do what seems impossible…
You may be asked to act not knowing the plan…
But no matter what you’re asked to do,
God stands ready to pour blessings over you.
You’ll receive a witness after the trial of your faith.
Your test of faith is not for God to see if you’ll be true.
God already knows ev’rything that you can do!
In a crisis, what you do reveals your faith for all the world to view,
But the most important witness of your growing faith is you.
Elijah met with wicked King Ahab (who was a wicked as he was before)!
Ahab said, “Are you the man who troubles Israel?”
“I’M not the trouble! YOU are the trouble! And you’re IN trouble, pal!”
All Israel worshipped the idol, Baal, not the living God of Abraham.
So Elijah proposed a contest to prove who was the real god of the land.
So now behold the challenge (and ya gotta love the odds):
Four hundred-fifty priests of Baal, against one prophet of God!
Elijah
How long will you stand between two opinions? If your god’s the true god: Follow him.
But if Israel’s god is stronger than all gods, stand up and follow Him!
You build an alter and I’ll build an alter and under it put no flame.
You kill and ox and put it on top, and I will do the same.
Then you call on Baalim, cry unto Baalim and I’ll call on God:
The God how answers with fire, let him be god!
Priests
Hear us! Hear us! Hear us cry! Hear us! Hear us! Hear us cry!
Elijah
Call on your god! Call down your fire! Is your god sleeping? Maybe he’s tired!
You should dance faster! You should jump higher! Call down your fire now!
Priests
Hear us! Hear us! Hear us cry! Hear us! Hear us! Hear us cry!
Elijah
Call on your god! Call down your fire! Is your god sleeping? Maybe he’s tired!
You should dance faster! You should jump higher! Call down your fire now!
Come near to me ye people, see the power of the Lord! See the alter, see the trench dug all around!
Pour twelve kegs of water over so not any part is dry. Now prepare to see the True God send His power down!
Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known this day: Thou art God!
I am Thy servant. I act on Thy word. Hear me O Lord, my God: Send down Thy power now!
You see God’s power has burned up the sacrifice, burning the wood and the stone,
Burning the dust and burning the water. Today God’s glory is shown.
How long will you stand between two opinions? This is the True God. Follow Him!
Israel’s god is stronger than all gods. Stand up and follow! Stand up and follow! Stand up and follow Him!
If we receive the good, shall not we receive the bad? Blessed be the name of the Lord.
But… my friends, as comforters, are miserable! They say my troubles come from sin.
But suffering does not always come as punishment. No!
Sometimes good men lose, and sometimes cheaters win! Ooo!
Life is not fair to these mortal eyes: There is weariness and bitterness in me!
I cry out of wrong but I am not heard. Where is God and WHY does He try me?
Though He slay me, yet I will trust in Him! Oh! I will hold on to His Word and not let go!
When my body is dead, yet in my flesh I will see Him.
When this test is done I shall come forth as gold! Oh!
Our days are numbered, all life is as wind and in the end, death comes to every man.
This life is great yet filled with sorrow! It’s the great refiner of the souls of men.
So hold on! Oh, hold on! Saying, “Blessed be the name of the Lord!”
Oh, hold on! Oh, hold on! Saying, “Blessed be the name, blessed be the name!
“Blessed be the name of the Lord!”
Assyria conquered nations all around, like they were knocking down dominos.
They did not conquer nicely: These were bloody brutal victories.
Pillage and plunder! Slice and dice the people! Burn alive for added agony!
And to this savage nation of warriors, where men beheaded their every foe,
To this land of heathen barbarians, the prophet Jonah was commanded to go.
What?! Preach repentance in Nineveh…Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!
You’re sending me to tell our strongest enemy, “Repent of you’ll be overthrown.” No!
You’re sending me into the bloody city and you want me to go alone?
Not to Nineveh…Ahhhhhhhh!
It won’t work: They are past redemption!
It won’t work: They are evil times ten!
It won’t work: ‘Cause mercy’s for the penitent!
We need the sword of justice for them!
They’ve been barbarians for so many years, to think they could change is absurd!
We are your people – they are the enemy! They don’t deserve to hear the word!
I will not go to Nineveh-uh-uh-uh-uh!
Narrator
Instead of going to Nineveh, Jonah boarded a ship going to Tarshish. Silly man, to think he could run from God! So the Lord sent a great wind to make a mighty tempest, and when Jonah told his shipmates that HE was the cause of the storm, they followed his orders and threw him into the sea. Instantly the waters were calm! And Jonah? Jonah was swallowed by a great fish. God was giving Jonah….
Jonah: A second chance….
Narrator
Jonah was sorry he had run away, so God caused the fish to vomit Jonah out onto dry land.
Jonah
I was in the deep – outcast, at the bottom of the mountains.
I was in the belly of hell.
But the Lord brought up my life and saved me from corruption.
God’s mercy extends to this disobedient rebel.
I will go to Nineveh.
(…..and when they don’t repent, you can wipe them off the face of the earth!)
Hello, Nineveh! I am Jonah. I come in peace, I come alone.
The God of Israel gives you forty days to repent or you’ll be overthrown.
So you better repent Nineveh! You better repent Nineveh!
See that?! I did my duty.
What’s that? They DID repent?
Oh, rats! Now I suppose you’ll forgive them.
Is that fair? They should be burned in endless punishment!
They should get what they deserve!
They should get what they deserve!
Why should this evil people get a second chance?
Chorus
God loves all his children, whatever land they may be in.
He longs to bring them all home if they but put away their sin.
How do we know they are sincere? We leave that up to God.
How do we know they are sincere?
If you’re in the deep – outcast, at the bottom of the mountain.
If you’ve felt the torment hell has to give,
Let the Lord lift up your life, and save you from corruption.
God’s mercy extends to all who will turn and live.
No one is past hope.
Come feel the love of God.
No one is past hope.
The Prophets! The Prophets! The Prophets!
The Prophets! The Prophets! The Prophets! The Prophets!
The Prophets! The Prophets! The Prophets!
Amos: I told them that God would scatter all Israel through the world.
Chorus: But did the people believe this prophet?
Amos: No!
Hosea: I told them, if they forgot God, then He’d forget them too.
Chorus: But did the people believe this prophet?
Hosea: No!
All: They shoulda listened to the Prophets! The Prophets! The Prophets!
The Prophets! The Prophets! The Prophets!
Listen to the Prophets! The Prophets! The Prophets!
The Prophets! The Prophets! The Prophets!
Isaiah: I told the King that God was gonna let Assyria smack ’em down.
Chorus: But did the people believe this prophet?
Isaiah: No!
Assyria conquered Israel, carried all ten tribes away.
Chorus: But did the people believe this prophet?
Isaiah: No!
All: They shoulda listened to the Prophets! The Prophets! The Prophets!
The Prophets! The Prophets! The Prophets!
Listen to the Prophets! The Prophets! The Prophets!
The Prophets! The Prophets! The Prophets!
Micah: With Israel gone, only Judah remained and I told them they’d get plowed.
Chorus: But did the people believe this prophet?
Micah: No!
Zephaniah: You can’t count on your mighty men, your fences or your gold.
Chorus: But did the people believe this prophet?
Zephaniah: No!
All: They shoulda listened to the Prophets! The Prophets! The Prophets!
The Prophets! The Prophets! The Prophets!
Listen to the Prophets! The Prophets! The Prophets!
The Prophets! The Prophets! The Prophets!
Isaiah: I told them Babylon would take the temple treasures one day….
Chorus: But did the people believe this prophet?
Isaiah: No!
Jerusalem would fall and all the people be carried away.
Chorus: But did the people believe this prophet?
Isaiah: No!
Ev’rything we told this people did indeed come true,
Yet we prophesied some other great and wonderful things too.
We said, “Great Babylon will fall, that dreaded enemy!
And Cyrus, King of Persia, will set this people free.
The exiled Judah will take up the Holy Land again,
For a Savior, son of David, will be born in Bethlehem.”
These are the things that we wrote. These are the things that we read.
Hundreds of years before Jesus was born, these are the things that we said:
Chorus: Bethlehem, little Bethlehem, from you will come a ruler!
Unto us a child is born! Unto us a son is given!
And the government shall be upon His shoulder!
And we’ll call him Wonderful! Counselor! Mighty God!
The Everlasting Father! Prince of Peace!
This is our God: We have waited for him. He will save us! This is the Lord!
We have waited for him: We’ll be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
This is the Lord!
Hosea: From the wilderness, a voice will cry, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord”.
Chorus: From the wilderness, a voice will cry, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord”.
And God’s Spirit will rest upon Him, for he is anointed to preach
Good tidings to the meek and bind up the brokenhearted.
Proclaiming liberty to the captives! Joy for mourning! Beauty for ashes!
This is our God: We have waited for him. He will save us! This is the Lord!
We have waited for him: We’ll be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
This is the Lord!
Zechariah: Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion, shout for joy!
Chorus: See thy King comes on a colt now, to open the eyes of the blind.
Isaiah: He gives His back to the smiters and hides not his face from spitting and shame. He is despised and rejected of men.
Chorus: Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. He was wounded for us and with His stripes we are healed.
This is our God. We have waited for him. He will save us. This is the Lord!
We have waited for him. We’ll be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
We are waiting! Waiting! Waiting! Waiting! Waiting for our God!
Can we work with political power, and yet, not be beguiled?
This was the challenge I faced in the palace as an exiled Jew:
Could I walk with kings, yet to my God be true?
First came the meat they said we had to eat, but I knew it was not right.
Then come the wine which I immediately declined,
And of the food I would not take a bite.
This won’t make me popular, of that fact I am sure!
But my body is a temple, and I will keep my temple pure. Uh-huh, uh-huh!
Stand up! Stand up! Stand up, no matter what others say you should do.
Stand up! Stand up! You gotta stand up for what you know is true.
Next came the dream where the statue was seen. The king wanted to know what it meant.
The secret foretold in iron, silver and gold, was the end of his government.
I knew it would not make me popular, to say his kingdom would take a hit!
But he asked for the truth, so I told him the truth, though he might kill me for sayin’ it!
Speak up! Speak Up! Speak up, no matter what the consequence could be.
Speak up! Though it may seem dangerous, you know the truth will set you free.
Though you try with your might to always do what is right, you can be there’ll be people who hate ‘ya.
They’ll look all around for a way to take you down. They’ll plot and plan and bait ‘ya.
Oh, they knew that I prayed daily. They wrote a law that forbade such a thing!
Any man to offend, toss in the lion’s den! And they had that law signed by the king!
I learned from three friends years ago to live faith, not fear!
I see them in that fire and my choice is clear!
Stand up! Stand up! Live up to all the you’ve been taught is true!
Stand up, no matter what, and you will find your god stands up for you!
You will find your god stands up for you!
Cyrus
All the kingdoms on earth has the Lord God given me.
He has charged me to build Him a house in Jerusalem.
All Jews in my kingdom, I hereby set you free.
Your exile is over, you can go home again!
Home again!
Chorus
The ransomed shall return and come to Zion singing songs of joy.
Sorrow and sighing and mourning flee away.
Cyrus
Bring the golden vessels stolen seventy years ago,
By Nebuchadnezzer and his men.
They do not belong in Babylon, take all five-thousand back
To the temple you will build in your Jerusalem.
Chorus The ransomed shall return and come to Zion singing songs of joy.
Sorrow and sighing and mourning flee away.
Fifty-thousand people marching one thousand miles:
Most have never seen Jerusalem.
Though the land is new to us, our spirits soar!
God is bringing Jacob’s children home again!
With mercy He has gathered up the remnant of Israel.
He has gathered up the outcasts and will bring them to their fold.
Zerubbabel
Samaritans have grown up in our land since we’ve been gone.
They slow us as we build Jerusalem.
But Zechariah and Micah now urge our work along.
Soon the world will see God’s temple standing here again!
Chorus
Fear not, children. I am with thee.
Fear not, children. I am with Israel!
On the site marked by God, made of stone and cedar wood,
Stands our temple of God, just where Solomon’s temple stood!
See the fathers weep! Hear the shout from Jerusalem!
Now the children of Israel can say they are come again:
Home again!
Not a famine of bread, not a famine of water,
But a famine of hearing the word of God.
When Ezra read the Law before the congregation,
It was the start of a new kind of people, a new kind of nation.
In the past the Law was read but only by a few.
But now the word was heard by all, and that was something new.
And when they heard the word of God read out loud again,
All the people stood up, raised their hands and shouted:
“Amen! Amen! Amen!”
It felt so good that people cried for happiness!
They bowed their head and worshipped God above.
This day is a holy day, now feel the joy!
The Lord is your strength! Feel His love!
And when the day was over, there was joy in Jerusalem!
Because the people had understood the word he declared to them.
They came back in the morning. They came back seven days.
And on the eighth day, they promised God they would always live a better way.
And when they heard the word of God read aloud again,
All the people stood up, raised their hands and shouted,
“Amen! Amen! Amen!”
That’s how the scriptures act on man in any age.
So open up The Book or read a scroll.
You will feel your spirit swell as truth is read!
So open up your mind and fill your soul!
So when you hear the word of God read aloud again,
All you people stand up, raise your hands and answer:
“Amen! Amen! Amen!”
Hey, yeah! People! Stand up, raise your hands and answer:
“Amen! Amen! Amen! Amen!”