Verse 1:
Clear the stage and set the sounds and lights ablaze if that's the measure you must take to crush the idols.
This first line from the verse is the premise the the entire song. It'll make more sense as you progress through the song, but what it's basically saying is that we need a refocusing. We need to clear the stage in our life, we need to set ablaze or burn fiercely (according to the dictionary all the stuff that covers our lives; the sounds and lights. "if that's the measure you must take to crush the idols."
Jerk the pews and all the decoration too, until the congregation's few, then have revival."
This can be taken both literally and figuratively. You know that in a typically church setting, not everyone is there to worship God. Some people are there because the music is good and/or the pastor is a vibrant speaker. But when you take the pews out, all the great tapestry and drapery and make it a room, who's going to be left? That's the true congregation. Thats the congregation that's ready to have a revival a restoring. And your body is the same way. Strip down yourself (ok not literally so you wouldn't be so nasty, but figuratively. Take the time and be honest and real with yourself and God. It's that moment, in your weakness, you are made the strongest,
Tell your friends that this is where the party ends; until your broken from your sins you can't be social."
This is one of the hardest parts and I don't know if Jimmy means this literally. There is nothing wrong with parties when done on an occasional basis. But when it comes down to it, when you realize that you have a problem you have to fix it. Sometimes you have to put other things on halt. Put it on halt, fix your issue with your priority.
Seek the Lord and wait for what he has in store, and know that great is your reward so just be hopeful.
This is fittingly the last part of the first verse. When you put your friends on pause. When you recognize your priority, when you seek the Lord you're reward will be great. I promise you that! So even though you are ina bad spot in your life you gotta have hope. If you don't have hope, you are dead basically.
Verse 2:
Take a break from all the plans that you have made, and sit at home alone and wait for God to whisper.
How many people know that God doesn't always shout. I've learned that you can hear God's voice the most when you take rest in him. When you just listen. Stop talking and listen. Sometimes whispers can sounds the loudest. Picture this: have you ever been in a really quiet room where a couple is whispering and its the loudest thing ever! But when everyone in the same room is talking at the same time, you can barely hear the person you are talking to! Just be patient...
Beg him please to open up his mouth and speak; and pray foreal upon your knees until they blister.
Sometimes we have to do what Jacob did. (Genesis 32:22-32) Sometimes we have to be intentional with ourselves and tell God, listen I am NOT going to let you go until you bless my soul. We have to literally wrestle with our innerselves. Yes, prayer works, but sometimes you just need to be persistent, like the persistent widow parable that Jesus told. Don't give up on God, cuz I can assure you, he won't give up on you.
Shine the light on every corner of your life until the pride, the lust, and lies are in the open.
This goes back to the point that you just need to be honest with yourself. No, you don't need to tell the whole world your business, but we need to be real. When need to understand our fallings. We need to understand that we put other things before our God. If we can't be open about God, how can we expect to have a healthy relationship with him?? Think about it.
Then read the Word and put to test the things your've heard, until your heart and soul are stirred and rocked and broken.
Another great way to end the verse! After you've become intentional about spending time in prayer with God, you have to read his Word. Faith comes from hearing, but from hearing (and reading) the Word of the Lord. (Romans 10:17) And not only read, study. Anything you see me write here, anything you hear your pastor say should continuously be put to the test. Now this testing process isn't easy. Your faith may be rocked, it may be broken, but take it from me, it will grow like crazy because of it! I'm a testimony of that.
Chorus
Cause you can sing all you want to; Yes you can, sing all you want to...You can sing all you want to, and still get it wrong; worship is more than a song.
Such a legit and convicting chorus. It's a very rigid and dense chorus when you look at it. You can sing the songs of Zion. You can extol the Lord all you want with your mouth like a trumpet. But real worship, true worship isn't just singing. It's praising with you heart, mind, body, and soul. It's not about sounding good, it's not about looking good (cuz Lord knows I'm not an attractive worshipper). It's about God. It's about having a moment with your savior. My..My...My.
Bridge:
We must not worship something that's not even worth it.
Plain and simple. Jimmy Needham is getting to the point of this song. Refocusing on God. The only...I repeat only thing that's worthy of our praise is God.
Clear the stage, make some space for the one who deserves it.
Hook:
Anything I put before my God, is an idol.
Here it comes. The most memorable part of the song. Everything drops out instrumentally except the piano. Absolutely anything. Material Gains, Work, Parties, Relationships. Anything that take all your time, anything that you put before God. I'm sorry to say, it's an idol.
Anything I want with all my heart, is an idol.
Here's a nasty one. You ever have that thing that you absolutely had to haave. Whether it was the girl/boy of your dreams (for me it's Meghan Markle) or that car you lusted for (Benz for me again). Well if it gets to the point where you legitimately want with all your heart.....idol.
Anything I can't stop thinking of is an idol.
I don't think people understand that one. When you are soo consumed with one thing that you get lost in it, it has become an idol in your life. I think workaholics are very guilty of this. No matter what time of day, the only thing they can think about is work. Work.Work.Work. Hardly any family time or social time. That's a problem. I found a cool line from author Craig Groeschel that said: "If your iPad is you iDol, it's time to put it down." Nuff Said!
Anything that I give all my love is an idol.
I've always had a problem with love songs that the man (inpartiuclar) is telling his lady, "I'm always going to put you first in my life." That right there is rank idolatry You cannot, shallnot give all your love to any human. Humans will let you down. I promise. The only thing you can give trust your heart fully in. That you can give all your love to is Jesus. He lived in the world without sinning. Wow.
Final Thoughts
This song is so convicting because of how simple the instrumentation is while the lyrics are absolutely amazing. I apologize for the length of this blog and I can tell you that I probably won't have a blog this long again for a lonnnng time. I do hope this helps you. I don't know where you are in your spiritual journey but just stay encouraged Everyone can learn something from this song and when you feel convicted when your heart and soul is broken, just run..run to the cross...run to God the Father who has his arms wideeee open.
Here's the song again. This is the official video of it though. Much more impactful. Clear the Stage ya'll. Paint it white. Refocus your focus.
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