Question #67

What about the songs “Days of Elijah” and “Indescribable”?

Do you find anything scripturally wrong with the songs “Days of Elijah” and “Indescribable?”

Days of Elijah

These are the days of Elijah, Declaring the word of the Lord. And these are the days of Your servant Moses, Righteousness being restored. And these are the days of great trial, Of famine and darkness and sword. And we are the voice in the desert crying, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord.”

Chorus: Behold He comes, riding on the clouds, Shining like the sun at the trumpet call. So lift your voice, it’s the year of Jubilee, And out of Zion’s hill salvation comes.

These are the days of Ezekiel, The dry bones becoming as flesh. And these are the days of Your servant David, Rebuilding a temple of praise. And these are the days of the harvest, The fields are as white in Your world, And we are the laborers in Your vineyard, Declaring the word of the Lord.

Chorus

Indescribable

From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea, Creation’s revealing Your majesty. From the colors of Fall to the fragrance of Spring, Every creature unique in the song that it sings, All exclaiming;

Chorus: Indescribable, uncontainable! You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name. You are amazing God; All powerful, untamable! Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim, “You are amazing God.”

Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go Or seen heavenly store houses laden with snow? Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night? None can fathom,

Chorus

The Answer:

I have never heard either song, accordingly I cannot comment on the music. Most of the contemporary Christian songs have a beat that is not conducive to worship in my opinion, but that does not make the music unscriptural. The language of “Days of Elijah” is Old Testament language, and we do not live under the Old Testament. That in and of itself does not make the song unscriptural. For instance, we sing “On Jordan’s stormy banks I stand,” which is a figurative use of Old Testament language and history. Upon a quick reading of the song, it seems to be using Old Testament history as a precursor to the coming of the Lord. That is in fact what Old Testament history is – a looking forward to the fullness of time. Galatians 4:4-5. Absent the music, the feel and flow of the words fall on my ear more on the entertainment side of the ledger than the worship side. Entertainment is not and can never be worship. Entertainment called worship is still just entertainment. But it is the use of the song and not the words that is unscriptural.

The message of “Indescribable” is “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.” Psalm 19:1. As with “Days of Elijah,” I have never heard the song and cannot speak as to the music. My personal preference would be for other songs that speak the message more eloquently, such as “This Is My Father’s World” or “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee.” That said, however, since the language of “Indescribable” violates no scripture, it would not be wrong to sing it.