On March 10, Jack was preaching on oaths (Mt 5:33-37), so I simply pulled out my file of oath hymns and took the rest of the day off.
Oh wait, that’s right–there are no oath hymns!
Very few, in any case. I decided that a better approach for the music that day would be to focus on God’s reliability in the form of promises, covenant and steadfast love. These are the trustworthy oaths against which we can measure our own. This led me to one of my favorite Hank Beebe anthems, called “For the Mountains Shall Depart.” It’s based on Is 54: 6-7, 10. Verses 6-10 read:
For the Lord has called you like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit, like the wife of a man’s youth when she is cast off, says your God. For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with great compassion I will gather you. In overflowing wrath for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you, says the Lord, your Redeemer. This is like the days of Noah to me: Just as I swore that the waters of Noah would never again go over the earth, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you and will not rebuke you. For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you.
Beebe supports this text with a tender jazz ballad that is wonderfully comforting. Take a listen to Laura singing it at 8:30am and Erin at 11am.