Sunday, 6 March 2022

Lent Reflections #1 - Looking Again

 With my #word365 for this year being "Look Again", it seemed a good title for these Lent Reflections in the run-up to Easter. I decided to use it back in January. 

But if I am honest, I am struggling right now to come up with any profound thoughts! 

Quite apart from the bigger picture; war in Ukraine, the covid pandemic, and the climate crisis -there are also things closer to home which have affected me in the early part of this year. Some friends have died, others are ill - and people I know and love are going through tough times.

In 1947, when my parents were theology students, Dior launched his "New Look" collection. Somebody in the States wrote a song called "Take a New Look at the Old Book", encouraging people to pick up their Bibles again and read them, as people continued to rebuild their lives after WW2. Dad often used to hum it - I can only remember that first line, and cannot find the song anywhere online. 

But it is true, to look again at the Bible can give us fresh insights and new inspiration. A friend asked me last week if I knew a particular Bible passage last week. I reeled it off- in faultless King James' English - all the thee, thou and lovest etc [I learned it, by heart, in Sunday School 60 years ago]. It didn't really communicate much to her! So  I am trying to re-read favourite passages in newer versions to see what new things I can learn as I look again. [It doesn't always help. Not when 'gold' becomes 'nuggets' and Bob is distracted thinking about chicken portions]

Psalm 46 is often read in churches in tough times [God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble...be still and know that I am God, etc etc] But look again at the way it is interpreted in The Message version. OK, I agree that some verses jar on the ears - but other parts really resonate with me right now

God is a safe place to hide,
    ready to help when we need him.
We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom,
    courageous in seastorm and earthquake,
Before the rush and roar of oceans,
    the tremors that shift mountains.
    Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
    God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.
….
Godless nations rant and rave,
kings and kingdoms threaten,
    Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
    God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.
…
Attention, all! See the marvels of God!
    He plants flowers and trees all over the earth,
Bans war from pole to pole,
    breaks all the weapons across his knee.
...
“Step out of the traffic! Take a long,
    loving look at me, your High God,
    above politics, above everything.”
    Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
    God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.




Posted by at
Labels: , , , ,

22 comments:

  1. Randy Tan6 March 2022 at 07:38

    Two links to YouTube videos with the song, "Get the New Look from the Old Book".
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pJ6MTm2SnY
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWcAdE05M6I

    Wondering if this is the song your dad used to sing? I hope you can open the links.

    Karen

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lynn6 March 2022 at 07:58

    I googled this and there's a quote from a lady called Penni Cauldwell saying how she was there when the preacher visited her school and made up the lyrics on the spot. The lyrics are there .. Get the new look etc I assume you saw this too and it's not the version you remember? I enjoyed your post and it's got me thinking! Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ruth6 March 2022 at 07:59

    Hi Angela

    These may be the lyrics you seek.

    Get the new look, from the old Book.
    Get the new look, from the Bible.
    Get the new look, from the old Book.
    Get the new look from God’s Word.
    The inward look, the outward look,
    The upward look, from the old, old Book.
    Get the new look, from the old Book.
    Get the new look from God’s Word.

    Here's a link to the tune. https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Alex+Burns+Get+the+new+look+from+the+old+book&docid=608033821633222742&mid=5D1602FD24B55120B12D5D1602FD24B55120B12D&view=detail&FORM=VIRE

    Best Wishes
    Ruth

    ReplyDelete
  4. Margaret6 March 2022 at 08:13

    Would that song perhaps be “Get the new look from the old book”? I remember my paternal grandfather singing that - not that I could manage the tune now but your post brought it to mind.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Bless6 March 2022 at 08:56

    Thank you for sharing this with us, Angela.

    I did laugh about Bob reading about nuggets and thinking of chicken nuggets! :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Eileen T6 March 2022 at 09:28

    I know "Get a New Look at the Old Book" and there are videos of that song available. Maybe it's the same song that you remember?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Jane IND USA6 March 2022 at 18:27

    Don't know the song you remember, but this brought the newer song "The God-of-Angel-Armies" to mind. Which I like very much. If you haven't heard it, here is a link https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=song+with+%22+God-of-Angel-Armies%22&view=detail&mid=1FC7EFCEA316F6CCB4811FC7EFCEA316F6CCB481&FORM=VIRE0&ru=%2fsearch%3fq%3dsong%2bwith%2b%2522%2bGod-of-Angel-Armies%2522%26form%3dANNTH1%26refig%3d8c58907211ac4425a315679e5ca15019 Sorry it's such a long link, but it is very good. Thanks for all your posts and thought. Jane

    ReplyDelete
  8. Nearly Martha6 March 2022 at 21:34

    There's something about The Message - for me it touches sometimes when other versions can't. Read something in a Bible Study recently about how Peterson wrote it. It came from a Saturday Bible Study where he was concerned that people weren't really drilling down into what the Bible meant for them. Think they started with Phillipians and it went from there.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Angela7 March 2022 at 07:07

      I didn't know that about the genesis of The Message. Thanks. Hope things all OK with you and yours ❤️🙏

      Delete
  9. Kezzie6 March 2022 at 22:06

    That version of Psalm 46 is very apt in that translation. Looking again at things, even ones we think we are familiar is always important. And I am sorry you are having such a hard time- I send you many hugs and you have my number should you want to chat or sound off to someone.xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Angela7 March 2022 at 07:10

      Thank you Kezzie. Things are getting easier - adapting to changing circumstances is never straightforward. It is so good to know there are friends like you out there to call on! Thank you

      Delete
  10. Granny Marigold7 March 2022 at 02:00

    Thank you for doing the Lenten Reflections. I'm visiting from Small Moments and that's where you were mentioned.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Angela7 March 2022 at 07:12

      Hi GM, thank you for dropping by. Do visit again sometime. Small Moments is a beautiful blog, written by a lovely lady.

      Delete
  11. Bushlady7 March 2022 at 04:58

    I grew up with King James Version and in the 70's I acquired a Jerusalem bible which is now rather battered but well loved. I do still prefer KJV for the 23rd Psalm. I've also enjoyed J.B. Phillips translation of the New Testament.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Angela7 March 2022 at 07:14

      My "go-to" version is the New International (not that new, it's about 45 years old now!) I must dust off my JB Phillips New Testament and look again at that, thanks for the reminder.

      Delete

Always glad to hear from you - thanks for stopping by!
I am blocking anonymous comments now, due to excessive spam!

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)