There are a few songs in my list that I consider hauntingly beautiful. This song is like a Littmus Lozenge. It’s sweet in that it tells you about Jesus and His love. But it also reminds you that your love for Him often falls short. You feel sad about this.
And there’s a good balance between sweet and bitter in this song. The sweetness comes from the promise that the Lord’s redemption is free and available, and by God’s grace you’ve been forgiven.
But like the Littmus Lozenge, it is balanced by the realization that you’re not going to the world to preach the good news as you should be. There are people out there who must have Jesus, too — your family, your neighbor, your friends.
I’m guessing if it’s all too sweet you didn’t get the message of the song.
If it’s all too bitter then I think you’re getting it all wrong.
(For several days now, my husband and I have been enjoying the vibe and the verse of Lion of Judah’s I Am Jonah. This song is one of the songs we love playing in the background during those long trips. It’s a source of encouragement, rebuke and hope. Plus we love the bass notes.)
I Am Jonah Song Lyrics
You have forgiven
You were willing to call my name
Now You call me to love the same
As one of Your children
Displayed Your love to me recklessly
I see Your passion upon a tree
You won me a kingdom
And I will live in a paradise
I will worship You day and night
You gave the commission
That I should seek to love the lost
Show the love of the King whatever the cost
[Chorus]
I am Jonah, I keep running away
Three nights in darkness, three days in the grave
Without Your grace Lord, that’s where I would stay
But there’s golden shores where washed-up sinners lay
I’m undeserving
A broken mind and a heart of stone
Another Pharaoh upon his throne
I am unworthy
You drown my sin in a sea of blood
Then lift me up with the cords of love
You tell me to love where there’s none
Where it’s dark to preach Son
To speak life ’til it’s done and your kingdom has come
You tell me to go but I run
So give me Your courage
Make me willing to count the cost
To take my place on my knees in the shade of the cross
[Chorus]
I am Jonah, I keep running away
Three nights in darkness, three days in the grave
Without Your grace Lord, that’s where I would stay
But there’s golden shores where washed-up sinners lay
[Bridge]
There’s golden
There’s golden
Where washed up sinners lay
There’s golden
There’s golden
Where washed up sinners lay
[Chorus]
I am Jonah, I keep running away
Three nights in darkness, three days in the grave
Without Your grace Lord, that’s where I would stay
But there’s golden shores where washed-up sinners lay
Where washed up sinners lay…
A Bit of A Background
Jonah according to Bible scholars is a type of Christ, for Jesus Himself likened three days in the grave with the three days spent by Jonah inside the big fish.
I love the story of Jonah. If he were in the New Testament times, he could be friends with Peter.
Jonah writes his story with utter truthfulness. No sugar-coating there. It’s like standing behind a pulpit Sunday morning and talking about your sin and the salvation of the Lord. Or writing a memoir without leaving out the shameful details. He’s not ashamed of his sin, but he exposed them, for he knew the grace of God is greater.
Jonah’s story is not his story. No, not really. And it’s a tiny part of the metanarrative of grace that like a thread connects every event in Scripture.
If you look closely at Jonah’s displeasure at the salvation by the Lord of the Ninevites, you may be reminded of how sometimes, you want your enemies to suffer. But wait, God is not finished with your enemies, and he’s not finished with you! God redeems Jonah’s ideas about God, redemption, and forgiveness. And He even redeems Jonah from himself!
Why do I love this Band?
I am always in the lookout for great Christian bands with integrity. I love bands that sing Jesus as Savior and Lord. And this band is unafraid to sing Jesus. No, they’re not! I love it when they just live their love out for Christ loudly, through music, and their testimony.
I also appreciate the fact that they have posts where they talk to their pastor. In one video, it was mentioned that the pastor acts as a trustee of the band. This band I believe is holding itself accountable and that is just great!
I do hope and pray that their ministry would continue. Don’t change your message, guys. Some bands do on their way to stardom. Please don’t. God bless you.
Click here to head straight to their YouTube Channel.
Click here to watch a live recording of the song.
I’ll be reviewing other songs of Lion of Judah when I’m tired of this. Perhaps Treasure is next. Next.
