Introduction
Here’s a short introduction to the idea behind Planted. As you know, BASIC is embarking on a devotional bible reading plan together, starting 1 Feb. It’s a 5 day a week plan, and hopes to cover the Bible in just over two years. We hope that reading the Bible together, in a community, will help us keep each other accountable – and that we may grow in intimacy towards God and towards each other, together. (Ask your BASIC leaders for more information!)
Listen to Planted here (full lyrics and chords here as well, thank you Mitch!): https://mitchellfu.bandcamp.com/track/planted
The Idea Behind Planted
I don’t know about you, but sometimes, as I begin to read the Bible, I realise that I don’t feel like reading the Bible. The pull of the world, of my laziness, tiredness, busyness, or the lies of the devil always stands against Christians, as we strive to hear God’s voice.
One lesson we may learn from the Psalmist is this: Speak to yourself! We see this in Psalm 42, for instance, where the Psalmist says, ‘O my soul…’ (Psalm 42:11).
So the idea behind the song is really this: When we don’t feel like reading God’s word, let us speak to ourselves, to stir up our own hearts, and convince ourselves that it is good to listen to God’s Word and that it is wonderful to hear His voice.
The thought behind the song is therefore: in moments where, in our daily devotions, we don’t feel like listening to God’s Word, would you use the song (listen to it, sing it), and use the lyrics to convince yourself of what you already know is true: that listening to His Word is really wonderful?
I’m happy to say abit more about the lyrics of the song, so you may understand how to use it.
Verse 1
Come, my restless heart, prepare yourself
Kneel in His presence.
Cast all of your worries all away
And listen to His voice.
The first verse is a call to our hearts to listen, to come to Him. The call to ‘come’ is a common call in Scripture. In Isaiah 1:18, God calls us to come! In Matthew 11:28, Jesus says, “Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” And then, there’s the wonderful promise of John 6:37, that him (anyone) who come to Me (Jesus), I will in no wise cast out. So, beginning with come, we are calling ourselves to do what God has called us to do: to come unto Him.
And verse one speaks to those who have hearts that are restless, that are anxious or worried. Are these not the very people who should come to listen to His Word? But how often are these the very things that hinder us?
And the call to come is accompanied with an instruction to our hearts: to prepare ourselves. It is a common ritual or activity in the Christian life, to prepare ourselves to come to Jesus. In Sundays, sometimes people come early, and sit and pray before service. Or, service leaders sometimes encourage us to take some time, to calm our hearts, and get ready to be in His presence. And the most appropriate posture we can take? To kneel in His presence.
Verse 2
Come, my broken heart, confess your sins
Before His holiness.
Trust that He provides day and night
Rest in His perfect love.
The second verse begins again with a similar call: to come.
But the concern of this heart is a little different. This heart is not plagued by worries or restlessness; no, its perhaps something stronger. The kind of thing that makes one scared to enter His presence. Often, when we are filled with a real sense of our sin, we may feel guilty and shameful, and so fear Him. The Holiness of God would seem scary to us. And we fear to approach Him and read His Word because we are too fearful or ashamed to do so.
And to this heart, we provide a different call: we call our hearts to ‘confess your sins’ and trust – trust that He provides for us at all times. And the ultimate provision is found in Jesus Christ, who sacrificed Himself for our sins. And so the sinner should come, even before His holiness, because of His perfect love. And he is promised rest. Exactly what the fearful and ashamed heart needs: rest, because we can trust in the finished work of Jesus.
Verse 3
Lord, I come to You, just as I am
With all my guilt and shame.
Change my stubborn heart to a heart of faith
That hungers for Your Word
The third verse is no longer directed to our hearts. It is, instead, now directed towards our God. We come, just as we are, with all our guilt and shame (recall the hymn, ‘Just as I am’). And we pray that He would change our stubborn hearts to a heart of faith.
Pre-Chorus
Speak, Lord, I’m listening
Speak, Lord, I long to hear Your voice
Alone with You in this secret place,
Waiting for You now.
The Pre-Chorus expresses our desire to listen to Him, to hear His voice.
The idea behind the third line ‘Alone with You in this secret place’ is taken from Matthew 6:6, “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret.”
Chorus 1
For Your voice calms my raging heart.
And Your truth shines in the darkest night.
Give me eyes to see, and ears to hear,
I open up my heart to You
Lord, plant me in Your Word.
The idea behind the chorus is to plead with God to speak to us. We remind Him that His voice calms our raging hearts; and we remind Him that His truth shines in the darkest night. Its not that God needs reminders; but He loves it when His children speaks His word back to Him.
Give me eyes to see and ears to hear – this comes right out of Psalm 119 (e.g., Psalm 119:18).
And finally, the prayer: to be planted in His Word (think Psalm 1:3).
Chorus 2:
For Your blood washed me white as snow
And Your hands pierced on that cross, You’re all alone
Give me eyes to see, and ears to hear,
I open up my heart to You
Lord, plant me in Your Love.
Finally, why do we really want to listen to His Word? Because, because, because He loves us. His Word is His love letter to us – and who does not want to read a love letter from their beloved? And how do we know that He loves us? For His blood washed us white as snow – and His hands were pierced for us.
So: Lord, plant me in Your Love.