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I love to worship by singing the old Lutheran hymns gathered
from German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, and other ethnic traditions.
When I read the Scriptural texts, they often bring to mind hymns inspired
by their messages. All of the songs we sang at my church on Reformation
Sunday last week reminded me of the lessons for today. The Psalm no
doubt inspired Martin Luther’s “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” Samuel
Stone was probably influenced by the passage in 1 Cor. to write “The
Church’s One Foundation.” And the Gospel lesson may have been the basis
for Nikolai Grundvig’s hymn “Built on a Rock the Church Does Stand, even
while temples are falling.”
But as I sat reflecting on these lessons, I could see another song in the
Gospel text that ties in the messages of the old favorites. I submit
it here in hopes that some of you might find a tune for it. I can hear
a modern sort of gospel song that could be sung by a choir with percussion
instruments.
1.
O, Jesus went up to Jerusalem
When the time of Passover was near
He found sheep, doves, and oxen,
And some money-changers there.
So he made a whip out of cords
And drove them out of there
When he went up to Jerusalem
And the Passover time was near.
Chorus:
Brothers and sisters: You are God’s temple
In the mighty fortress of our God!
Upon this rock we shall not tremble
For the sure foundation is our Lord!
2.
O, the coins of money-changers spilled
When the tables he did clear
And to those who sold the doves he said
Now, take these out of here.
My father’s house is not a market
And you can’t do business there.
It says so in the Scriptures.
So take these out of here.
Chorus:
Brothers and sisters: You are God’s temple
In the mighty fortress of our God!
Upon this rock we shall not tremble
For the sure foundation is our Lord!
3.
What kind of sign can you show us,
They asked him with a sneer,
What do you think that you can do
Now make your point, be clear.
Jesus said, if you destroy this temple
I’ll raise it up, in three days, do you hear
The disciples heard and they remembered,
And they believed, and had no fear.
Chorus:
Brothers and sisters: You are God’s temple
In the mighty fortress of our God!
Upon this rock we shall not tremble
For the sure foundation is our Lord!
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