April 16: Christ's Burial Hymn
♫ Music:
Day 46 - Saturday, April 16
HOLY SATURDAY
Title: CHRIST’S BURIAL HYMN
Scripture: Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.
Poetry:
The Shepherd
by William Blake
How sweet is the shepherd's sweet lot!
From the morn to the evening he strays;
He shall follow his sheep all the day,
And his tongue shall be filled with praise.
For he hears the lambs' innocent call,
And he hears the ewes' tender reply;
He is watchful while they are in peace,
For they know when their shepherd is nigh.
MINIMALLY LIMINAL
Between the “It is finished” and the “He is not here,” we wait.
Between the atonement of sin and the victory over sin, we wait.
Between the cruelty of the cross and the confidence of the empty tomb, we wait.
The gravity of Good Friday and the celebration of Easter Sunday are foundations of our faith, but we must not neglect the in-between, the already-not-yet of Holy Saturday. The liminal spaces in our lives reveal who we are, what we’re made of, and what we cling to.
It is difficult to appreciate the liminal spaces in our lives; we prefer resolution over ambiguity, routine over confusion, completion over process. As a campus pastor at Biola for the last decade, I’ve been privileged to counsel many college students, and if I were to summarize a core theme in our pastoral care sessions, it would be liminality. Students wrestle with the reality of leaving what they once knew was true while stumbling into the person who God is calling them to be.
And aren’t we all familiar with this in-between space by now? We’re all living through a global pandemic that has disrupted our routines and is reimagining our futures. International wars and racial injustice have overturned a semblance of peace. Refugees and immigrants are leaving their homes, only to find their new ones unfamiliar or unwelcoming.
What do we do in this liminality that has become all-too-normal now?
We wait.
But we don’t wait alone or simply wallow in the waiting. We wait with the Good Shepherd in order to follow him. Between the valley of the shadow of death and an overflowing cup, we lie down in green pastures because He is with us. Between all the evil in the world and dwelling in the house of the Lord, we walk beside quiet waters because His rod and staff are comforting. Liminal spaces are more than places to pass through, but opportunities to be more fully present with God as he leads us in paths of righteousness.
So today, on Holy Saturday, take a few minutes in prayer as you reflect on Psalm 23. Pray as you listen to Elevation and Maverick City’s meditation on this familiar passage. Pray as you gaze at the artwork by Christopher Powers, and notice the two hands, which he says represents the goodness and mercy of the Lord. Notice that the hands are not impersonal, but that the goodness and mercy He provides flows from, and is indeed, Himself.
And ultimately, remember that we wait today not because we’re hoping for the best; instead; we wait in confidence because the Good Shepherd has our best in mind.
Prayer
Lord,
You are my Good Shepherd so I will lack nothing. Especially when things are difficult, you ask me to lie down and walk beside still waters, and you restore my soul by reminding me that you are my heart’s desire.
Continue to guide me on the right path especially when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. I will not fear because you comfort me; you are my confidence. I am reminded of your generosity in my life, and rest in your goodness and mercy.
Amen
Mike Ahn
Director of Worship and Formation
Host of The Biola Hour Podcast
Biola University
For more information about the artwork, music, and poetry selected for this day, we have provided resources under the “About” tab located next to the “Devotional” tab.
About the Artwork:
Psalm 23:6
Christopher Powers
2016
Digital Illustration
In this image entitled Psalm 23:6, the two hands of Christ represent the goodness and mercy of the Lord that pursues his people throughout life. The artist Christopher Powers used Christ’s hands because he wanted to show that it is not an impersonal “goodness” that God gives his people, but a goodness that flows from, and indeed is, himself. The darkness around the hands represents every manner of hardship and suffering that life might bring to God’s people. Powers tries to show that through the death and resurrection of Jesus, the trials his people face are not condemning, but purifying (1 Peter 1:6–7) and are ultimately for their joy and his glory (Romans 8:28–30), and that—at least in part—is what it means for the goodness and mercy of God to pursue after us all of our days.
About the Artist:
Christopher Powers oversees a small ministry of exegetical art called Full of Eyes where he works full-time creating free visual resources for the global church. Powers holds a M.A. in biblical and pastoral studies from Bethlehem College and Seminary in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His desire is to unite theological accuracy with artistic expression to help people see, savor, and sing the beauty of God in the crucified and risen Jesus Christ. For Powers, visual media is an uniquely effective tool the Lord has given us for communication, especially in the twenty-first century’s image-laden culture. His goal in creating is to use various visual media as a way to pierce the heart and mind with spiritually informed imagery of Christ and ultimately the gospel.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1793490244/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i0
https://www.fullofeyes.com/project/psalm-236/
About the Music:
“Shall Not Want” from the album Old Church Basement
Lyrics:
Will You be my light, when I cannot see?
And when I can't take another step
Lord, would You carry me?
And when I've lost my fight, will You be my strength?
Will You set me a table in the presence of my enemies?
I shall not want, I shall not want
Oh, my soul's got a shepherd in the valley and I shall not want
I shall not want, I shall not want
'Cause my cup's running over, running over and I shall not want
And I will lift my eyes to where my help comes from
And I won't be afraid of the shadow
'Cause I've seen the sun
No, I will not stop, when the way gets hard
'Cause the green only grows in the valley
And that's where You are (say)
I shall not want (no, no), I shall not want (hey)
Oh, my soul's got a shepherd in the valley and I shall not want
I shall not want, I shall not want
('Cause my cup's running over)
'Cause my cup's running over, running over and I shall not want
I've got everything that I need
Your goodness and Your mercy
I've got everything that I need
Your goodness and Your mercy
I've got everything that I need
Your goodness and Your mercy
I've got goodness and I've got mercy
Hallelu, glory hallelujah (hey)
I've got goodness (somebody say) and I've got mercy
(Hallelu) halleu, (glory) glory hallelujah
(Say again, I got goodness)
I've got goodness and I've got mercy
(Hallelu) hallelu, glory hallelujah
(Say, The Good Shepherd)
The Good Shepherd leads me to the waters
Hallelu, glory hallelujah
And He anoints me (hallelujah), anoints me with His oil
(Hallelu) hallelu, glory hallelujah
(Now my cup is) now my cup is
(Cup is running over) my cup is running over
(Hallelu) hallelu, glory hallelujah
I won't fear no (fear), fear no evil
(Hallelu) hallelu, glory hallelujah
(I will dwell) I will dwell in His house forever
(Hallelu) hallelu, glory hallelujah
hallelujah, hallelujah
(Hallelu) hallelu, glory hallelujah (I got a song to sing, say)
Hallelujah (I got a song to sing), hallelujah
(Hallelu) hallelu, glory hallelujah
And when this life is over, I'm gonna live again
Gonna trade this cross for a crown
No, this is not the end
And when You call my name, I will take my rest
There's a mansion in glory and You're gonna meet me there
I shall not want, I shall not want
He will wipe every tear from my eyes
I shall not want
I shall not want, He's on my side, I shall not want
I'll be home in His presence forever
I shall not want
For the Lord is my shepherd in a valley
For the Lord is my shepherd when I'm lacking
For the Lord is my shepherd and I shall not want
I've got everything that I need
Your goodness and Your mercy is following me
Got everything that I need
Your goodness and Your mercy is following me
Got everything that I need (yeah, yeah)
Your goodness and Your mercy is following me
Got everything that I need
Your goodness and Your mercy is following me
Got everything that I need
Your goodness and Your mercy is following me
I've got goodness and I've got mercy (say y'all)
Hallelu, glory hallelujah
(If don't have anything else, you got your goodness)
I've got goodness and I've got mercy
(Hallelu) hallelu, glory hallelujah
(I thought I lost everything)
But I've got goodness and I've got mercy
(Hallelu) hallelu, glory hallelujah
I've got goodness and I've got mercy
(Hallelu) hallelu, glory hallelujah
About the Performers:
Elevation Worship, Maverick City Music with featured singer Chandler Moore
Elevation Worship is the worship ministry of Elevation Church, a multisite church based in Charlotte, North Carolina, led by Pastor Steven Furtick. Elevation Worship has produced twelve albums on which were included songs such as “Graves Into Gardens,” “The Blessing,” “O Come to The Altar,” and “Do It Again.” This ministry is passionate about producing songs for the local church that connect others to God. Their main priority is to create an atmosphere of worship so people can encounter Jesus in a real and personal way. Elevation Worship’s newest album, Old Church Basement, a live album collaboration with Maverick City Music, was released in 2021.
https://elevationchurch.org/
https://elevationworship.com/about/
Maverick City Music is an American contemporary worship music collective and record label founded by Tony Brown and Jonathan Jay. Maverick City Music was launched in 2018, after hosting seventeen songwriting camps which brought together over one hundred Christian artists and songwriters, resulting in the creation of over one hundred songs. Brown and Jay intended to create space for diversity by including often marginalized creatives who identified as CCM singers and songwriters, and bringing their voices to the fore. The collective made its debut in 2019 with the release of two extended plays, Maverick City, Vol. 1 and Maverick City, Vol. 2. In 2020, Maverick City Music released two live albums: Maverick City Vol. 3 Part 1 and Maverick City, Vol. 3 Pt. 2, with the former featuring the singles "Man of Your Word" and "Promises." The collective later released their first collaborative EP with Upperroom, You Hold It All Together (2020), followed by the holiday-themed EP Maverick City Christmas (2020). In 2021, Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music released a collaborative album, Old Church Basement, which won GMA Dove Awards for New Artist of the Year and Worship Album of the Year.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maverick_City_Music
https://www.maverickcitymusic.com/about
Chandler David Moore (b. 1995) is an American Christian singer, songwriter, and worship leader. Moore is a member of the Maverick City Music collective and has a leading role in the production department of All Nations Worship Assembly in Atlanta, Georgia. Moore made his solo debut in 2014 with the release of "Never Run Out" and "Our Hope.” In 2020, Moore released his debut album, Feelings, which debuted at No. 4 on Billboard's Top Gospel Albums chart. Moore was also featured on notable singles such as All Nation Music's debut single, "Bless Your Name," Maverick City Music's "Man of Your Word" alongside KJ Scriven, and Dante Bowe's "Voice of God" alongside Steffany Gretzinger. In 2021, Moore collaborated with Essential Worship on their version of Hillsong Worship's hit single "King of Kings.” Moore was also featured on Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music's hit songs "Jireh" and "Wait on You.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandler_Moore
About the Composers:
Songwriters: Christopher Joel Brown, Steven Furtick, Chandler David Moore, and Naomi Raine
Christopher Joel Brown is the lead songwriter for Elevation Worship, the praise band for Charlotte, North Carolina-based megachurch Elevation Church. “O Come to the Altar,” which rose as high as No. 2 on Billboard’s “Hot Christian Songs” list, is perhaps Brown’s most well-known song. He credits the South Carolina School for the Arts at Anderson University as the place where his passion for ministry merged with his calling as an artist. “By age 17, I felt ministry and music merge. I felt God was calling me into some type of ministry,” Brown said. Lee McDerment, another AU alumnus who served as Brown’s mentor at NewSpring Church, said Brown is a perfect example of what a worship leader should be. “He is able in his songwriting and as a worship leader to be a conduit for the voice of Almighty God to people who are listening,” McDerment said. “You don’t find many worship leaders who can do that who also possess Chris’ purity of heart.”
https://andersonuniversity.edu/academics/school-of-the-arts/music/chris-brown
Steven Furtick Jr. (b. 1980) is an American Baptist evangelical Christian pastor, and a songwriter for Elevation Worship. He is the founder and senior pastor of Elevation Church, based in Charlotte, North Carolina. At the age of sixteen, after reading the book Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala, the pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle, he felt called to pastor a church. Furtick received a B.A. in communications from North Greenville University and a Master of Divinity from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Furtick speaks at events and conferences all over the world.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Furtick
Armed with her melodious voice, guitar, and pen, Naomi Raine is on a mission to spread the love of God through song. Singing since the age of four, and songwriting since the age of seven, Naomi has always found it easiest to communicate the intricacies of life through lyrics and melodies. Her strong desire to see the body of Christ united and operating in power fuels her relentless drive to make music that penetrates the heart and inspires a thirst to worship God in Spirit and in truth. This is evident in her previous releases, Heart Songs Vol.1: My Heart (2015) and Heart Songs Vol. 2: Adoration (2017). Her viral single “Pour Me Out” became the anthem for a generation who desire to live a surrendered life to Jesus. She’s a wife, mother, and artist, but her favorite title is child of God.
https://www.naomirainemusic.com/
About the Poet:
William Blake (1757–1827) was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognized during his lifetime, Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic age. Blake was a nonconformist who was associated with some of the leading radical thinkers and writers of his day, such as Thomas Paine and Mary Wollstonecraft. In defiance of eighteenth-century neoclassical conventions, he appreciated imagination over reason in the creation of both his poetry and images; and asserted that ideal forms should be constructed not from observations of nature, but from inner visions. Although Blake was considered possibly mad by contemporaries for his idiosyncratic views, he is held in high regard by later critics for his expressiveness and creativity, and for the philosophical and mystical undercurrents within his work.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Blake
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/william-blake
About the Devotion Author:
Mike Ahn
Assistant Dean of Chapels & Worship
Host of The Biola Hour
Biola University
Mike oversees chapel programs, worship teams, Torrey Conference, The Biola Hour podcast, and serves on the pastoral care team. He is a graduate of Haverford College (B.A., History, '01) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div, Spiritual Formation, ’09; PhD, Educational Studies, ’22). If he could, he would have two In-N-Out cheeseburgers with chopped chilis, animal style fries, and a Pamplemousse LaCroix for every meal.