Despite all the rage, you’re still just a rat in a cage

While rockin’ the iTunes on my shuffle this morning, the classic U2 song “40” pops up. It was one of the live versions, where the original 2-minute song is transformed into an 11 minute 5 second anthem. U2 came out of the 80’s so everything they do has this epic feel. The song is based on Psalm 40, which was really cool for a band that was not showcased as “Christian”. (Exciting for a kid from Seattle in the late 80’s trying to balance a commitment to good music and God. See paradox.)

“I will sing. Sing a new song” is chanted. Such a good tune by itself, but throw in 40 thousand people singing in unison, it becomes powerful, even “epic” (said with 80’s enthusiasm).
I can’t get this 28-year-old song out of my head.

So I looked up Psalm 40:1- 5.

“I waited patiently for the Lord: he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire: he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord. Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them they would be too many to declare.”

I recognize this song.

So what was the old song? I suppose we each have our own old song.
I came up with my old song – “Bullet with Butterfly Wings”. The classic Smashing Pumpkins that starts off with “the world is a vampire” and crescendos with “despite all the rage I’m still just a rat in a cage”. The song is cool, but it’s not my song anymore. The theme of being trapped in a system where the only honest reaction is self-preservation, defeat and anger is only fun for so long. While this might provide some creative angst, it ends in miserable loneliness.

The new song’s theme is about being released to God’s system of freedom, security, and praise. If this song becomes your song, then the honest reaction to it will be peace, joy, love and generosity. That’s what I want.

The cool thing about this song is that when you start to really believe it, you can’t get it out of your head. And if we all sing it together, we have the potential to do something epic!

Adam