(part two of my previous post….)
“I wonder as I wander out under the stars…”
We’ve had some frigid weather since Christmas. We had snow, followed by ice, followed by more snow, and it covered the ground here in Kentucky longer than normal because it was so cold. I love how quiet the world seems when it’s covered in a blanket of snow. There were several clear nights when, as I took the dogs outside to do their business, I wished it weren’t quite so chilly just so I could stay out longer and enjoy the quiet. The stars were shining brightly and the moon sent a soft glow over the surface of the snow. The icy trees would catch the light of the moon and twinkle like diamonds. The only noise was my feet crunching along as I walked. I’ve always loved the wistful and haunting melody of the song “I Wonder As I Wander,” and in the silence under the stars, my heart remembered the words and felt the invitation of its unresolved strains and the quiet, crisp night to wonder about the love of Christ.
“I wonder as I wander out under the stars, how Jesus the Savior did come for to die…”
I wondered again about what Mary might have sung to the baby Jesus, and I started thinking about all the songs I sang to my babies. A teacher at heart, I naturally sang songs about the days of the week, the months of the year, counting songs, and the alphabet song. Additionally, I often turned everyday tasks into songs. I’d lay my little captive audience on my bed while I folded laundry and made up a song about it. There were songs about bath time, cleaning the house, and when the time came, peeing in the potty. (“If you pee pee in the potty you get a cookie” to the tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know It.” Not exactly my best work, but that plus frosted animal cookies sure did the trick.)
Then there were lullabies. These were songs of faith that I sang while rocking my babies to sleep. I sang children’s church songs, hymns, praise choruses, anything that entered my head and heart. One of my favorite memories of this is a vacation we took to Mexico when my son was 3 and my daughter was 1. Both desperately needed afternoon naps, especially after spending all morning splashing in the pool, but they had a hard time settling. Our hotel room had a lovely shaded patio with a hammock in the corner, and a breeze was always blowing through, ever so lightly. Each afternoon of that trip I laid in the hammock with my daughter on my chest; I sang songs about Jesus to her as we swayed gently back and forth. It never took long for her to drift off to sleep. There are times as mothers that we, like Mary the mother of Jesus (Luke 2:19), store up and ponder in our hearts, and this was just such a time.
The songs about counting or days of the week (and even the potty song) were teaching songs, songs meant to help foster language and the learning of concepts or skills. The songs I chose for lullabies were songs that introduced my babies to their Creator because I wanted them to know Him. Looking back, it was as though I was singing His love over them. Every word, every melody, every note, carried with it not only my love for them, but also an even greater, more sustaining, more fulfilling, deeper love–the love of God. I was draping my babies with the banner of God’s love. Song of Solomon 2:4 says, “he brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.” A banner is something that identifies and unites a particular group of people. Singing to my children about God was not only a way to teach them about Him, it was an act of extending God’s banner over them, to proclaim, “You belong to God. May you follow Him all the days of your life.”
“I wonder as I wander out under the stars, how Jesus the Savior did come for to die for poor on’ry people like you and like I…”
I’m sure Mary sang songs of God’s love to the baby Jesus. Think about that for a moment–Mary likely sang songs about God to God as she looked into his eyes and studied his little face. Maybe she sang the same song of praise she had proclaimed after the angel told her she would be the mother of the Messiah. (Luke 1:46-55). You and I also sing songs of worship about God to God, but not while physically holding Him in our arms. Mary looked into the face of her Savior as she praised Him. (Someday, we’ll get to do the same thing!)
The prophet Zephaniah tells us, “The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zeph. 2:17) In context, this passage is describing a time in the future when God’s judgment will have ended and Israel’s enemies are defeated; a time of peace and safety, and His people will experience His blessing instead of cursing. But the words that the Holy Spirit inspired Zephaniah to use are interesting as they reveal something of God’s character. “He will quiet you with His love” makes me think back to those moments in the hammock with my baby. God is our Father who tenderly wraps us in His love to quiet us, to bring peace to our ever racing minds and often anxious hearts.
“I wonder as I wander…”
He’s also a Father who delights in us and sings over us with joy. What does it mean that God sings over us? I think the answer may be in the previous verses. Before we learn that God sings over us, Zephaniah 2:14-15 says, “Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, daughter Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy. The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm.” God’s people will rejoice and sing because God has removed their punishment. They will shout and be glad because they have turned from their sin and are delighting in Him. They are His people and He is their God. It’s the covenant relationship God always intended. God’s children are home with Him. Therefore God rejoices over them with singing. “The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.” Psalm 147:11
That the Lord of the universe would delight in me is a great source of wonder. Have you considered that God delights in you? It’s not something we can give a quick thought to and move on. We have to ponder it, store it in our hearts, and sit with it for a while. Maybe a long while. That requires us to slow down, to stop hurrying to the next thing on our schedule or rushing to our next destination. When you wander, you don’t have a specific destination in mind. You give yourself time to roam, to explore….to wonder as you wander.
Let’s do more of that this year.
