Bethel Church came out with a song a few years ago called “Love came down”. It was written by Brian and Jenn Johnson, Jeremy Riddle, and Iam Mcintosh.
We are singing it this week at church and not only am I excited to lead it, but I have also enjoyed digging into it’s theology. All of a sudden something jumped out at me.
At first glance/sing you can look at this through the lens of Lament. It is a song that lyrically expresses the idea that when you are downhearted or in the valley that God is right by your side. It is an amazing thought. It is a thought that is comforting in times of trouble much like Psalm 23.
Psalm 23:4
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
As I dug deeper into the song something struck me in the chorus.
“I remind myself of all that You’ve done
And the life I have because Your Son
Love came down and rescued me”
Let me break that down to the essentials
“I remind myself…Love came down and rescued me”
This section is speaking about the cross. While it is referencing psalm 23 that God will never leave us and is with us in the valley of life it is also speaking a more AMAZING truth.
God was IN that valley before you got there.
Deuteronomy 31:8
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
The Lord goes before us. Not in the way we always view that verse, like he is walking and we follow behind. Instead it is saying He has already been there! He bore the weight of sin and all of our pain before we even went through it.
This is a mind-blowing perspective to be aware of while singing this.
We are claiming:
Nothing surprises God
Jesus bore all our pain before we even experienced it
Not only is God with us in our valleys and mountains he was waiting there before we got there
The Cross changes our perspective on our current situation in life.
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