BH MUSIC | biblechristiansofgod

MUSIC, A TIMELESS PRECIOUS GIFT

Music has been a timeless gift that has artfully channeled our inner spirit. It continues to trifle our emotions, thus influencing our behavior, connectivity with others. From nature’s first sound of music, to the composition of melodic a capellasongs and the evolution of musical instruments, music has transcended throughout the ages of time. Music has inspired and yet the art of gloom with the saddest blues make you retire hope, gladness and joy. Music tell the tales of economic woes; music depicts the stories of many lost souls. Music paints pictures; it develops a variety of moods-satiating the hungriest appetites. Music guides-it takes you to a place of relaxation; freedom. The independence to escape from harsh realities, the given right to indulge and rest in rhythm. And so, the songs of the cotton fields and the songs of the Underground Railroad were sweet music. Were these songs sang to pass time in the cotton fields? Or were they songs with hidden messages promising a hope towards freedom?

Songs as an Expression

Songs were used in everyday life by black slaves. Singing was a tradition brought from Africa by the first slaves; sometimes their songs are called spirituals. There are an estimated over 5,000 spirituals, usually composed spontaneously by different slaves. They were expressions of the great pains and sorrows but they also had hope within them unlike blues which were only about the troubles.Singing served many purposes such as providing repetitive rhythm for repetitive manual work, inspiration and motivation. Singing was also use to express their values and solidarity with each other and during celebrations.

Songs and the Bible

Many slaves adopted Christianity when they were brought to America. Songs used Biblical references and analogies of Biblical people, places and stories, comparing them to their own history of slavery. They were able to relate stories such as Daniel and the Lion Din; Israelites and bondage in Egypt; Shadrach, Meshach, and Abenego (Three Hebrew boys) forced in a fiery furnace to slavery.These stories gave them hope that one day they would be saved and set free like Daniel, the Israelites, and the three Hebrew boys.Slaves sang spirituals to not only talk about their sorrows but to give them hope that one day things will be better.Listed below are several famous spiritual songs; examine the lyrics of these songs to discover the biblical messages:

Oh go down, Moses,

Way down into Egypt’s land,

Tell old Pharoah,

Let my people go.

Oh Pharaoh said he would go cross,

Let my people go,

And don’t get lost in the wilderness,

Let my people go.

You may hinder me here, but you can’t up there,

Let my people go,

He sits in the Heaven and answers prayer,

Let my people go!

Biblical Message: This song informed the slaves that it was unsafe to escape; danger was near. Just think of the many lives that were saved with this song as a warning.

Hail, oh hail, ye happy spirits,

Death no more shall make you fear,

Grief nor sorrow, pain nor anguish,

Shall no more distress you there.

Around Him are then thousand angels,

Always ready to obey command;

They are always hovering round you,

Till you reach the heavenly land.

Jesus, Jesus will go with you,

He will lead, you to his throne;

He who died, has gone before you,

Through the wine-press all alone.

He whose thunders shake creation,

He who bids the planets roll;

He who rides upon the tempest,

And whose scepter sways the whole.

Biblical message: This song was sung during Underground Railroad when Harriet Tubman returned from taking a detour to get food for the day. This song let the slaves know it was safe to approach her. It was a song of hope and inspiration; the slaves didn’t have to grieve or suffer pain or anguish. Just as the angels encamp around the saints keeping them safe, those same angels were there for them. The song references Harriet Tubman as Jesus, the one that will lead the slaves to his throne (freedom).

Chorus: Wade in the Water, wade in the water children,

Wade in the Water, God’s gonna trouble the water.

Who are those children all dressed in Red?