“You, O Lord, rule forever;
Your throne is from generation to generation.
Why do You forget us forever?
Why do You forsake us so long?
Restore us to You, O Lord, that we may be restored;
Renew our days as of old,
Unless You have utterly rejected us
And are exceedingly angry with us.”
“The kingdom, the kingdom! O’ LORD, restore to us the kingdom!”
The cries of Israel, God’s own elect
Poured forth from mouths which lament their neglect
The permanent king would soon come, this the Jews knew
The Serpent Crusher shown to them in Pentateuch
The promise to Eve moved through each generation
As the Lord God built His holy, elect nation
Yet, the people did falter, their feet did slip
Their kings fell prey to the Devil’s own conflict
They fell from grace, always diving right in
Like nations surrounding, simmered in sin
But the promise persisted in Israel’s offspring:
On holy Mount Zion will reign God’s holy King
“‘Behold, the days are coming,’ declares the Lord,
‘When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch;
And He will reign as king and act wisely
And do justice and righteousness in the land.
In His days Judah will be saved,
And Israel will dwell securely;
And this is His name by which He will be called:
‘The Lord our righteousness.’”
“Away with Him! Away with Him! Release to us Barabbas!”
The cries of Israel, God’s own elect
Poured forth from the mouths of knowing neglect
The High Priest and Council of Israel knew
That Jesus of Naz’reth was true Heaven’s dew
But the promise of God was slain by man’s sin
Yet God’s holy nation gained more than Sheep’s skin
Though the Pharisees scoffed and clung to their clothes
The Father of Lights redeems who He chose
To those who received Him, who cherish His name
The promise of freedom and all Heaven’s gain
This Kingdom still waits for Israel to see:
Jews and the Gentiles would together be free
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
‘Make ready the way of the Lord,
Make His paths straight.
‘Every ravine will be filled,
And every mountain and hill will be brought low;
The crooked will become straight,
And the rough roads smooth;
And all flesh will see the salvation of God.’”
“I could wish myself accursed, separated from God for the sake of my brethren!”
The cries of Apostle, God’s own elect
Poured forth from a mouth which knew of neglect
This messenger of God who Christ truly knew
Desired his brethren to receive who they slew
Sowed jealousy to Gentiles to inspire his kin
The man from Benjamin’s line loved his dear brethren
He went to them first every place that he went
Until they denied that the Christ had been sent
So, loving them differently he befriended the Greeks
Unfolding prophecy that another people God seeks
Not only from one tribe, one tongue or one language:
But people who showed the Mediator as Bridge
“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me,
to render to every man according to what he has done.
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last,
the beginning and the end.
Blessed are those who wash their robes,
so that they may have the right to the tree of life,
and may enter by the gates into the city.”
“If their rejection reconciles the world to God, acceptance is life from the dead!”
The cry of the scripture, to God’s own elect
Poured forth from the Spirit, chastising neglect
Spirit of Messiah to whom all things are known
Revealed Christ through the Word to wild olive trees grown
Though wild, the same plant, was now grafted in
To Israel’s promise, salvation from sin
There’s purpose for Jacob (God’s word attests)
They will wear sackcloth and beat their own breasts
When the One whom they pierced again reveals His name
To Israel who’s yearning for Adonai’s fame
If you believe, you’ll know the Resurrection of life:
The begotten of God, Son of Man, Jesus the Christ
