Praying to Yahweh

by Joe Thorn on April 25, 2005

So far this year God seems to be slowly, progressively breaking my heart over my own sin, the waywardness of God’s people in general, the pain and suffering in the world, the lost condition of the world, creating within me an overwhelming desire to see Jesus redeem it all. This breaking seems to be intensifying, and yet I am finding relief in Jesus and the hope of the expanse of his kingdom. It has been moving me to pray. I bring this up because today, as I was listening to U2′s newest album, a song seemed to capture my heart in the midst of all of this. A song. A prayer really.

Yahweh
Take these shoes
Click clacking down some dead end street
Take these shoes
And make them fit
Take this shirt
Polyester white trash made in nowhere
Take this shirt
And make it clean, clean
Take this soul
Stranded in some skin and bones
Take this soul
And make it sing

Yahweh, Yahweh
Always pain before a child is born
Yahweh, Yahweh
Still I’m waiting for the dawn

Take these hands
Teach them what to carry
Take these hands
Don’t make a fist
Take this mouth
So quick to criticize
Take this mouth
Give it a kiss

Yahweh, Yahweh
Always pain before a child is born
Yahweh, Yahweh
Still I’m waiting for the dawn

Still waiting for the dawn, the sun is coming up
The sun is coming up on the ocean
This love is like a drop in the ocean
This love is like a drop in the ocean

Yahweh, Yahweh
Always pain before a child is born
Yahweh, tell me now
Why the dark before the dawn?

Take this city
A city should be shining on a hill
Take this city
If it be your will
What no man can own, no man can take
Take this heart
Take this heart
Take this heart
And make it break
(from How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb)

About Joe Thorn

I am the Lead Pastor of Redeemer Fellowship in Saint Charles, IL, and author of Note to Self: The Discipline of Preaching to Yourself. Jen is my wife, and Katherine, Elias, Madeline and Kilian are my kids.

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  • Kiki

    Joe,

    I love this song, too. But it’s become even more meaningful because of our many Jewish friends here in Pittsburgh. I want so much for the veil to be lifted from their eyes. They truly love YAHWEH, and yet do not recognize His Son. I often pray that last verse for our city.

  • http://www.xanga.com/wantedtobethebigsurprise Vicki

    There are a few good songs on that CD, like the above, but I really think that the CD was a letdown.

    You ARE giving Taylor the non-stripped version of Gavin DeGraw, correct?

  • http://www.joethorn.com Joe Thorn

    Actually, I felt that way about half of the CD the first time I listened to it. But most of it has really grown on me. Uhhh, I’m not “giving” Taylor my DeGraw CD, but he can borrow it.

  • http://www.xanga.com/wantedtobethebigsurprise Vicki

    I did only give the CD a once-through. I may give it another try.

    I didn’t mean that you were going to GIVE it to Taylor, I meant borrow. I guess Andrew was going to give it to him, but didn’t have it with him, so you were going to?? I don’t know. I just wanted to make sure he has the “real” version, and not the stripped. :-)

  • http://www.spiritualdiablog.blogspot.com Paul M. Martin

    I’ve just had time to glance at your blog tonight, but am bookmarking it. From what I looked at, I really appreciate your take on Christianity. One that seems to view Jesus as having tried to teach us about a way that we are to attempt to undertake ourselves, rather than viewing him as a figure preoccupied with being worshipped because he saved us in the sense of having done all the work for us already.

    Is this the actual outlook of your church? I ask it somewhat incredulously, given my personal experience of Christianity as an institution.

    The other thing your view does is something I regard as critical if Christianity and other scripture-based religions are ever to become forces of unity rather than division on the world stage. By emphasizing Jesus as teacher rather than theological/doctrinal symbol, it makes Christianity much more potentially intelligible to the wider world. I can’t imagine the east ever “getting” Christianity, as the west has begun to understand Buddhism, if we continue to present its heart and soul as a matter of believing things which, frankly, the whole world will never believe unless and until Jesus returns on the clouds.

  • http://www.joethorn.com Joe Thorn

    Paul,

    Thanks for visiting man. I certainly agree Jesus is and should be seen as much more than a theological symbol, and faith is much more than agreeing with a number of abstract truths, though of course it includes that. As I continue to follow Jesus I see him as God in the flesh who obtained salvation for us through his life, death and resurrection, and invites us to walk in/live out that salvation in the world via the comunity of faith. This living out is truly for God’s glory and man’s good, and this means a preaching of the Gospel in words and works of grace.

    Grace is a new church, a small church, that sees itself as a family that seeks Christ. We are a very diverse group of people, but I would say the perspective on the Christian life I write of here is the perspective of the people at Grace. Of course sometimes my tangential thoughts are purely mine. We are confessional and reformed in theology, but are also seeking to be missional.

  • mandie

    I haven’t listened to the CD much, but that was the song that caught my attention. U2 is one of my favorite groups. I appreciate that they haven’t strayed much from their beginnings. I remember when their CD’s were sold in Christian book stores.
    At the start, U2 wanted to kick Adam Clayton, the bassist, out of the band. Why? Because Adam Clayton was an athiest, and they fought a lot. I’m not sure of his beliefs now, but that has always stuck with me.
    Any way.. Thanks for putting the song in that perspective.

  • http://www.spiritualdiablog.blogspot.com Paul M. Martin

    Joe, I just happened to post something on my blog tonight in response to another blog that directly relates to what I think you’re calling the missional aspect of Christianity. I would want to respectfully question that aspect – if I am in fact speaking to what you mean by the term.

    I’d be interested in your reaction to the post if you get the chance.

  • http://sbcoutpost.blogspot.com Marty Duren

    Joe-
    Our band is going to use “Yahweh” in my upcoming series on “Missionary Living in a Mission Field World.” It has to be the most missional song that I have heard in quite some time. Thanks for posting it.

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