Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord
“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.'" Luke 3:4-6, NASU
In 1973, the year of my
high school graduation, the movie Godspell hit the theatres. In my
senior year, attending Columbus High School (Catholic) in Waterloo, Iowa, I
went and saw it. Somewhat out of curiosity, but mostly because I liked some of the
songs I was hearing on the radio. Though I didn’t care for every scene or song,
I still think the Lord used it to reach ones who didn’t attend church or
synagogues. At least I hope it did.
So why write about a
secular movie production, or a play on Broadway, which it also was? Because
even in these types of artistic displays, our God is reaching out to get the
attention of those He has created. After all, He even used a talking donkey to
speak His word, because that was what was available.
And yet even today in 2019,
He is still using the words, “prepare ye the
way of the Lord” (listen to the
movie version below). I woke up one morning, and during preparation for the
Sunday morning congregation gathering, during which I would help lead worship
as a vocalist, the song came into my head. And it happened to be the start of
Passover week, and on the Gregorian calendar, Palm Sunday. This was the
historical day Jesus (Yeshua) rode into Jerusalem on a colt (donkey also), as the
people hailed His kingship. Only to later, in that same week, witness His crucifixion.
I also recall the song I
have sung many times as a worship leader, written by Forrest Richard Betts and recorded
by Robin Mark, the wonderful worship leader from Northern Ireland, on his Revival
in Belfast album (1999), entitled simply, “Revival.”
I remember it well, as I
loved to sing the lyrics beginning the song, without instrumentation:
“I hear the voice of
one calling, prepare ye the way of the Lord.
And make His paths straight in the wilderness
And let your light shine in the darkness
And let your rain fall in the desert.”
And make His paths straight in the wilderness
And let your light shine in the darkness
And let your rain fall in the desert.”
The song also had a
special impact on me, being within the year my Dad passed onto heaven, having suffered
through lymphoma cancer, and my Mom telling me some of the lyrics struck her,
particularly, “to the widow walking
through the veil of tears.”
And now Paul Wilbur,
on his latest CD release in March 2019, Roar From Zion, includes an old
favorite of almost everybody, Days of Elijah, which includes, once
again, the words, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord1” (and he also has the
worship team sing it in Hebrew.)
I say all that to say this.
If we haven’t already begun, now is the time to prepare ye the way of the Lord.
As the Lord was
speaking in the 1970s and the 1990s through these two songs, He is yet again
speaking, loud and clear for those who have ears to hear, that now is certainly
the time we as believers need to be preparing for His coming revival, that
which will be manifested with millions of the lost coming into His salvation,
making entry into His kingdom.
Through powerful,
consistent, gathering together in prayer, be it two or three, or full congregations
at one time; through the proclamation of His truth as recorded in His Word, the
Torah, the Bible, in written and spoken realms (especially social media!); in
addition to producing godly movies, singing Spirit-led songs, and taking back
the lost ground that we as believers allowed the enemy to take while we have been on our watch; in
all areas of education, medicine, government, the arts, and every area of life
that touches our spirits, souls, and bodies.
The Lord Jesus Christ,
Yeshua HaMashiach, is calling out to us and wanting to proclaim it through us, “PREPARE
YE THE WAY OF THE LORD!”
We don’t have five or
ten years anymore to sit back and do nothing. Today is the day. Now is the time.
So now think on this.
Shalom
and ahava (peace and love in Hebrew).
Steve Martin
Founder/President
Love For His People,
Inc.
P.S. And the Lord knows,
I hope to have the opportunity to sing “Revival” once again. Loud and clear!
You can listen here to the 1973 movie version: Godspell'sPrepare Ye (the way of the Lord)
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Now Think On This #411
- in the year of our Lord
04.14.19 – “Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord” – Sunday 7:07 pm
Revial Lyrics – Robin Mark
I hear the voice of
one calling, prepare ye the way of the Lord.
And make His paths straight in the wilderness
And let your light shine in the darkness
And let your rain fall in the desert.
And make His paths straight in the wilderness
And let your light shine in the darkness
And let your rain fall in the desert.
As sure as gold is
precious and the honey sweet,
So you love this city and you love these streets.
Every child out playing by their own front door
Every baby laying on the bedroom floor.
So you love this city and you love these streets.
Every child out playing by their own front door
Every baby laying on the bedroom floor.
Every dreamer dreaming
in her dead-end job
Every driver driving through the rush hour mob
I feel it in my spirit, feel it in my bones
You're going to send revival, bring them all back home
Every driver driving through the rush hour mob
I feel it in my spirit, feel it in my bones
You're going to send revival, bring them all back home
I can hear that
thunder in the distance
Like a train on the edge of town
I can feel the brooding of Your Spirit
"Lay your burdens down, Lay your burdens down".
Like a train on the edge of town
I can feel the brooding of Your Spirit
"Lay your burdens down, Lay your burdens down".
From the Preacher
preaching when the well is dry
To the lost soul reaching for a higher high
From the young man working through his hopes and fears
To the widow walking through the veil of tears
To the lost soul reaching for a higher high
From the young man working through his hopes and fears
To the widow walking through the veil of tears
Every man and woman,
every old and young
Every fathers daughter, every mothers son.
I feel it in my spirit, feel it in my bones
You're going to send revival, bring them all back home
Every fathers daughter, every mothers son.
I feel it in my spirit, feel it in my bones
You're going to send revival, bring them all back home
I can hear that
thunder in the distance
Like a train on the edge of town
I can feel the brooding of Your Spirit
"Lay your burdens down, Lay your burdens down".
Like a train on the edge of town
I can feel the brooding of Your Spirit
"Lay your burdens down, Lay your burdens down".
Revive us, Revive us,
Revive us with your fire!
Revive us with your fire!
Songwriters: Forrest
Richard Betts
Revival lyrics ©
Warner/Chappell Music, Inc
