O Death' Where Is Your Sting! - By Jason Holman

O DEATH, I TAUNT- WHERE IS YOUR STING

YOU SIT UP HIGH - AS IF A KING

YES’ YOU HAVE POWER - BUT NONE TOWARDS ME

CAUSE FROM YOUR GRIP - I’VE BEEN SET FREE

SO NOW YOU WONDER - HOW IT’S TRUE

THAT SOMEONE HAS ESCAPED FROM YOU

YOUR CHAINS WERE TIGHT - YOUR LOCKS HELD FAST

JUST WHAT WENT WRONG - I HEAR YOU ASK

PLEASE TAKE A SEAT - WE’LL HAVE A CHAT

AND I WILL GLADLY ANSWER THAT

WHEN ALL’S BEEN SAID - AND END IS REACHED

YOU’LL KNOW JUST HOW YOUR WALLS WERE BREACHED

            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

IN VAULTS CALLED TIME IS HISTORY KEPT

ADAM WOKE WHILE YOU STILL SLEPT

FIRST CONSCIOUS MAN - FIRST HUMAN BIRTH

FIRST SON OF GOD TO WALK THE EARTH

DEEP BLUE SKY - THICK GREEN SOD

MORNING WALKS ALONG WITH GOD

GREAT DAYS OF JOY - GREAT DAYS OF PEACE

BUT ALL TOO SOON THOSE DAYS WOULD CEASE

THE RULE WAS ONE - BUT VERY CLEAR

ENJOY YOURSELF- BUT DON’T GO NEAR

THE TREE HAS KNOWLEDGE YOU DON’T NEED

OBEY MY VOICE - OH PLEASE TAKE HEED

IGNORE MY VOICE - YOU LOSE IT ALL

MY SPIRIT LEAVES - YOUR WORLD WILL FALL

THE CHOICE I GIVE- IT’S YOURS TO MAKE

BUT CHOOSE THE WRONG - AND DEATH WILL WAKE

AND SO WE KNOW THAT ADAM FELL

THEN YOU AWOKE ALONG WITH HELL

WITH GREEDY HANDS AND LUSTFUL EYES

ADAM’S SEED BECAME YOUR PRIZE

YOU TOOK YOUR SPOIL AND SHUT THEM IN

YOU WERE THE PAYMENT FOR THEIR SIN

MAN’S DAYS WOULD NOW BE LIVED IN FEAR

ALWAYS HOPING YOU WEREN’T NEAR

AND SO THE YEARS PASSED BY AND BY

MEN WERE BORN AND MEN WOULD DIE

THIS SEEMED TO BE THE STORY’S SUM

BUT GOD SAID WAIT - THERE’S MORE TO COME

THEN IN A WAY THAT FEW CAN SEE

GOD GAVE A MAN A GUARANTEE

AND WITH SOME STUDY AND EXAM

YOU’LL SEE THAT THIS WAS ABRAHAM

TO ABRAHAM WAS PROMISE SAID

YOU’LL RISE UP SOMEDAY FROM THE DEAD

AND NOW THE QUESTION COULD BEGIN

IT’S NOT AN IF BUT ONLY WHEN

THE WORLD STILL TURNED AND TIME STILL CREPT

BUT NO HINT OF THE PROMISE KEPT

AND JUST AS HOPE BEGAN DECLINE

GOD MOVED AGAIN FOR ABRAM’S LINE

A COVENANT MADE AND LAW WAS GIVEN

BUT SIN’S PRICE WAS NOT FORGIVEN

IGNORANCE COULD BE CLAIMED NO LONGER

LAW MADE YOU DEATH EVEN STRONGER

AND SO YOUR SEAT OF POWER GREW

IT MUST HAVE SEEMED LIKE GOD WAS THROUGH

BUT THIS IDEA WAS WRONGLY THOUGHT

FOR “THROUGH” WAS ONE THING GOD WAS NOT

            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ONE THING IS CLEAR IN HISTORY’S TAIL

KINGDOMS RISE THEN KINGDOMS FAIL

AND THOUGH YOU FELT ABOVE THEM ALL

THE TIME HAD COME FOR YOURS TO FALL

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HEAVEN STIRRING - ANGELS RISE

SIGNS NOW SHOWING IN THE SKIES

STAGE NOW SET AND CURTAINS DRAWN

THE REIGN OF LIFE ABOUT TO DAWN

            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AT FIRST HE SEEMED LIKE ANY OTHER

CHILD BORN TO GLOWING MOTHER

ONE MORE LIFE IN YOUR DOMAIN

ONE MORE SOUL TO FEEL YOUR PAIN

BUT HERE-IN LIES YOUR FIRST MISTAKE

THIS CHILD WAS NOT YOURS TO TAKE

THOUGH THROUGH THE WOMB THIS BOY WAS GOT

ADAMS SEED THIS CHILD WAS NOT

BUT HE INSTEAD WAS FROM GOD’S LINE

FREE FROM SIN AND ADAM’S FINE

SO DEATH YOU SEE THAT IT IS TRUE

THAT THIS MAN OWED NO DEBT TO YOU

BUT THIS WAS MORE THAN YOU COULD STAND

HE MUST FALL BENEATH YOUR HAND

TO YOUR THRONE HE MUST COME UNDER

MAKE HIM REPEAT ADAM’S BLUNDER

SO YOU LED HIM TO THE TREE

HOPING HE WOULD ALSO SEE

THE LOVELY FRUIT - NICE TO THE EYES

GOOD TO EAT AND MAKE ONE WISE

THOUGH HE WAS TEMPTED - HE STAYED STRONG

HE CHOSE THE GOOD AND SHUNNED THE WRONG

AND NOW THE FACT WAS CLEAR TO SEE

YOUR SERVANT HE WOULD NEVER BE

BUT THEN AN UNEXPECTED DEED

SHOOK YOUR WORLD AND FED YOUR GREED

THE EARTH STOOD STILL AND ALL HELL SMILED

AS GOD GAVE YOU HIS ONLY CHILD

HIS REASON NEVER CROSSED YOUR MIND

YOUR LUST TO STRIKE HAD MADE YOU BLIND

WITH RAGE AND FURRY NOW UNMASKED

YOU CARRIED OUT YOUR MORBID TASK

IDEAS TO KILL WERE AT NO LOSS

REEDS AND WHIPS AND THEN THE CROSS

ONE FINAL BLOW YOU GAVE GOD’S SON

AND JUST LIKE THAT YOUR DEED WAS DONE

WITH EGO NOW INCREASED IN SIZE

YOU ASK A FRIEND TO GUARD YOUR PRIZE

AND SO HE LOCKED HIM IN HIS CELL

SOME CALL HIM GRAVE - SOME CALL HIM HELL

YOU KNEW THE GRAVE COULD HOLD MEN TIGHT

THE SINS THEY’D DONE GAVE HIM THIS RIGHT

BUT THIS YOU FAILED TO KEEP IN MIND

A SIN IN HIM YOU COULD NOT FIND

AND SINCE THE GOD OF ALL WAS FAIR

HE COULDN’T LEAVE HIS CHILD THERE

HE TASTED DEATH - HE DRANK THE CUP

THE TIME HAD COME TO RAISE HIM UP

AND WITH A VOICE BOTH LOUD AND STRONG

GOD SANG THE RESURRECTION SONG

“THOU ART MY SON LET ALL MEN SEE

THIS DAY HAVE I BEGOTTEN THEE”

AND JUST LIKE THAT - THE STORY’S TOLD

THE GRAVE RELEASED HIS HEAVY HOLD

THE MAN YOU SLEW NOW FILLED WITH BREATH

NO MORE TO TASTE OF YOU O DEATH

            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BUT NOW THE QUESTION COMES TO CALL

WHY LET THE SON TASTE DEATH AT ALL

WAS THIS ALL JUST A USELESS GAME

A STUNT WITHOUT A POINT TO NAME

A USELESS GAME THIS ACT WAS NOT

BUT THOUGH THIS ACT WAS VICTORY GOT

FOR ALL OF THOSE FROM ABRAM’S TREE

WERE NOW FROM CHAINS OF DEATH SET FREE

BUT HOW? YOU ASK, CAN ONE MAN’S DEED

EFFECT THE WHOLE OF ABRAM’S SEED

JUST ONE MAN DIED - JUST ONE MAN ROSE

YET LIFE UNTO THE MANY FLOWS?

IT IS A RIDDLE I CONFESS

BUT ONE THAT HAS BEEN SOLVED NO LESS

A CLUE I GIVE YOU AS I CRY

IN MARRIAGE DOES THE ANSWER LIE

            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

IN EARLY DAYS OF GARDEN LIFE

GOD CREATED MAN A WIFE

FROM ADAM’S RIB FROM ADAM’S SIDE

GOD GAVE MAN HIS HELP AND BRIDE

QUICKLY ADAM BROUGHT HER NEAR

AND THEN ANNOUNCED FOR HER TO HEAR

“FROM MY BONE YOU CAME TO BE

YOU’RE OF MY FLESH YOU’RE PART OF ME

AND EVEN THOUGH IT’S ME AND YOU

GOD DOESN’T COUNT US AS A TWO

FOR WHEN A HUSBAND TAKES A WIFE

THE TWO BECOME A SINGLE LIFE”

THIS IS THE RULE THAT GOD HAD MADE

AND BY IT WAS THE FOOTING LAID

IT’S BY THIS LAW – THIS LEGAL TOWER

THAT THE WORK OF CHRIST HAS POWER

IF YOU TAKE AWAY THIS CLAUSE

HIS DEATH NO LONGER HAS A CAUSE

I TELL YOU TRUTH - I SPEAK NO LIE

IT’S BY THIS LAW I WILL NOT DIE

NOW DEATH I SEE YOU DOUBT MY SPEECH

BUT PLEASE REMAIN AND LET ME TEACH

I’LL DO THE BEST THAT I CAN DO

TO MAKE THIS MYSTERY PLAIN TO YOU

            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

IN TIME BEFORE IN DAYS GONE BY

I TRULY WAS A FOOLISH GUY

I SPOKE OF GOD AND CALLED HIM LORD

BUT ONLY TO RECEIVE REWARD

AS I LOOK BACK THE PICTURE’S CLEAR

I HAD NO LOVE - I HAD NO FEAR

TOWARDS THE MAKER OF THE SEA

REBELLION’S ALL THAT FLOWED FROM ME

BUT THEN THE GOD OF MERCY CAME

AND IN HIS KINDESS CALLED MY NAME

HE SAID “REPENT AND TURN AROUND

YOU’RE LOST OH MAN BUT CAN BE FOUND

IT’S TIME TO CHOOSE THE GOOD AND RIGHT

AND FOLLOW ME WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT

MAKE ME LORD AND LET ME REIGN

WITHOUT PURSUIT OF SELFISH GAIN”

AND JUST LIKE THAT I SAW MY FLAW

THEN TURNED AND MADE HIM LORD OF ALL

MY CHOICE WAS FIRM - MY CHOICE WAS SOUND

NO WAVERING COULD IN ME BE FOUND

AND WITH THIS CHOICE GOD TOOK DELIGHT

HE DANCED AND SANG IN ANGELS SIGHT

IT REALLY WAS A SIGHT TO SEE

TO THINK THAT THAT WAS ALL FOR ME

BUT THOUGH HIS FAVOR I HAD GAINED

ADAM’S CHILD I REMAINED

AND AS A PART OF ADAM’S RACE

MY DEBT TO DEATH WAS STILL IN PLACE

BUT OF MY FATE GOD WASN’T BLIND

HE KNEW THAT IT WAS ON MY MIND

AND SO HE CAME TO ME AND SPAKE

THE WORDS THAT WOULD STIR HOPE AWAKE

HE SAID “DEAR CHILD - TO YOU I GIVE

A WAY TO DIE - AND YET STILL LIVE”

I ASK HIM HOW COULD THIS BE DONE

AND THEN HE TOOK ME TO HIS SON

I MET THE SON AND QUICKLY KNEW

THAT LOYALTY TO HIM WAS DUE

HE WAS THE KING BY GOD’S DECREE

SO UNTO HIM I BOWED MY KNEE

I PLEDGED MY LOVE – I KISSED HIS HAND

I SAID “YOUR WISH IS MY COMMAND”

HE WAS THE KING WHOM I WOULD SERVE

AND FROM THAT VOW I WOULD NOT SWERVE

AND THEN THIS KING OF UNTOLD FAME

STOOD ME UP AND SPOKE MY NAME

HE SAID THAT HE WAS PLEASED TO SEE

MY HEART OF LOVE AND LOYALTY

WITH JOYFUL EYES THAT DID NOT DIM

HE SAID THAT I WAS ONE WITH HIM

“THROUGH MARRIAGE WE ARE NOW ONE FLESH

THE OLD IS GONE AND ALL IS FRESH

ALL I HAVE I SHARE WITH YOU

FOR IS THAT NOT WHAT HUSBANDS DO

SO MANY THINGS I WILL PROVIDE

FOR YOU WHO I NOW CALL MY BRIDE”

THEN AS HE SPOKE THIS FINAL WORD

A MIGHTY CHANGE IN ME OCCURRED

YOUR CHAINS, O DEATH, FELL TO MY FEET

AND ALL MY FEARS TOOK QUICK RETREAT

I FOUND MYSELF IN JOY ARRAYED

I KNEW MY DEBT TO YOU WAS PAID

AND THAT, O DEATH, IS HOW IT’S TRUE

THAT THIS MAN HAS ESCAPED FROM YOU

            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BUT HERE WE ARE AT STORY’S END

AND YET YOU FAIL TO COMPREHEND

SO YOU ASK ME TO EXPLAIN

HOW MARRIAGE FREED ME FROM YOUR CHAIN

TO YOUR REQUEST I WILL COMPLY

IT’S NOT EASY BUT I’LL TRY

MORE WORDS I CRAFT AND ENGINEER

IN HOPE TO MAKE THIS MYSTERY CLEAR

YOU SEE O DEATH, WHEN MARRIAGE CAME

I JOINED WITH CHRIST AND TOOK HIS NAME

NOW I’M IN CHRIST AND HE’S IN ME

AND HEREIN LIES THE GOSPEL’S KEY

FOR WHEN UPON THE CROSS HE DIED

I WAS THERE WITHIN HIS SIDE

AND AS HE DIED – I DIED TOO

AND THEREFORE PAID MY DEBT TO YOU

NOW HAD I DIED UPON MY OWN

FOREVER IN THE GRAVE I’D GROAN

BUT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE FOR ME

I DIED WITH ONE WHO OWED NO FEE

AND SO THE GOD WHO LOVED HIS SON

CAUSED YOUR DEED TO BE UNDONE

HE SANG THE RESURRECTION SONG

AND AS CHRIST ROSE – I TAGGED ALONG

FIRST BORN AS ADAM’S SEED WAS I

BUT THEN WITH CHRIST I WENT TO DIE

NEXT, I ROSE AND THAT IS WHEN

THIS CHILD OF EARTH WAS BORN AGAIN

SO HERE I AM ALIVE, AFRESH

BUT NO LONGER AS ADAM’S FLESH

ADAM’S SON IS DEAD AND GONE

HIS SINFUL WAYS WILL NOT LIVE ON

BUT NOW I LIVE AS GOD’S OWN SEED

FOR IS THIS NOT WHAT GOD DECREED?

WHEN HE RAISED CHRIST FROM THE DEAD

THOU ART MY SON IS WHAT HE SAID

AND SINCE THE CHRIST AND I ARE ONE

THE WORDS GOD SPOKE MADE ME HIS SON

SO I CAN SHOUT – IT’S NOT A LIE

A FULL FLEDGED CHILD OF GOD AM I

ETERNAL LIFE IS NOW MY CLAIM

IT’S CARRIED IN MY FAMILY NAME

WE THINK OF YOU AND HAVE NO FEAR

FOR YOU OH DEATH CANNOT COME NEAR

OH DEATH IT’S TRUE MY FLESH WILL FADE

AND IN THE GROUND I WILL BE LAID

BUT THIS IS NOT A LONG TERM STATE

IT’S JUST MY BED AS I AWAIT

SOME DAY THE ONE TO WHOM I’M BOUND

WILL COME TO EARTH WITH TRUMPET SOUND

AND TO THAT SOUND I WILL ARISE

TO TAKE MY PART IN HEAVEN’S PRIZE

MY FLESH OF DUST WILL BE NO MORE

BUT GOD HAS GREATER THINGS IN STORE

SOWN IN WEAKNESS – RAISED IN POWER

CORRUPTION CAN NO MORE DEVOUR

I’LL JOIN THE WHOLE OF ABRAM’S SEED

MY BROTHERS WHO WERE ALSO FREED

AND ON OCCASION WE WILL SING

O DEATH, O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING!