We will not keep silent
based on Psalm 96
We are people who must sing you,
for the sake of our very lives.
You are a God who must be sung by us,
for the sake of your majesty and honour.
And so we thank you,
for lyrics that push us past our reasons,
for melodies that break open our givens,
for cadences that locate us home, beyond all our safe places,
for tones and tunes that open our lives beyond control
and our futures beyond despair.
We thank you for the long parade of mothers and fathers
who have sung you deep and true;
We thank you for the good company of artists, poets, musicians,
cantors, and instruments that sing for us and with us, toward you.
We are witnesses to your mercy and splendor;
We will not keep silent … ever again. Amen
— by Walter Brueggemann, from his Psalms class on January 20, 1999. Posted on the Gladly Listening blog.
Tip: 12 Song Challenge
It’s not too late to join this international community of songwriters (including Irene Bom), working together to grow in their creative gifts and serve the local church.
Also be inspired by Irene’s Make and do website, a window into her creative projects, including new songs. The index offers easy access to the songs and other creative projects that were featured in the her workshop on the Psalms, held in Lausanne (2022) and Budapest (2024).