We wanted to pass on to you a new song written by Nick Holovaty, the leader of our Missionaries. It's called "How Long O Lord". The song is based on Psalms 42-43, and the lyrics and spirit of the song seem well-suited to this moment when the whole world is longing and groaning for "the redemption of our bodies," as Paul put it in Romans 8.
Watch here:
Song Lyrics:
In a dry and weary land, my soul longs for you!
Save me from this sinking sand, Lord, my God!
When can I come back again? My soul longs for you!
Hear me knocking, let me in, Lord, my God!
How long, O Lord?
I once joined the joyful throng, my soul longs for you!
Praising you with shouts and songs, Lord, my God!
Now my enemies harrass me! My soul longs for you!
All day long they jeer and ask me, "Where's your God?"
How long, O Lord?
Ocean depths cry out in thunder, my soul longs for you!
All your waves have plowed me under, Lord, my God!
With you I've crossed hills and valleys, my soul longs for you!
Now I'm groping down dark alleys, Lord, my God!
How long, O Lord?
Why are you cast down, my soul? Why groan within me?
Hope in God, I'll praise him still! Lord, my God!
Send your light so I won't falter, my soul longs for you!
As I climb that hill and altar, Lord, my God!
How long, O Lord?
Copyright © 2020 People of Praise Inc.
You can listen to the audio as well as all the other missionary music here:
http://missionarymusic.org/
Responses
Basil Davis says:
March 20th, 2020 at 4:35 PM
Hauntingly beautiful.
Powerfully expresses the faith of the singer who cries out to God with Jesus when going through the darkest experiences of human existence.
Ann Hagens says:
March 20th, 2020 at 4:42 PM
Thanks the song is beautiful.
Rich says:
March 20th, 2020 at 4:46 PM
A depth and truth that is consistent with the call and the Cross.
Paul conlon says:
March 20th, 2020 at 4:54 PM
Thank you my wife said it was beautiful God bless all the missionaries in the people of praise
Tom McNichol says:
March 20th, 2020 at 4:59 PM
As I listened I found myself aware of the reality that this virus is impacting the entire world. For the first time ever, as a child of God, I experienced a sense of community, fellowship with every man woman and child on the face of the earth.
Thank you, Nick
Matt Wacker says:
March 20th, 2020 at 5:20 PM
That was extremely powerful.
Barb Bittner says:
March 20th, 2020 at 6:10 PM
loved the combination of guitar and cello --beautiful.
Dick Safranski says:
March 20th, 2020 at 7:05 PM
Brothers & sisters - We are groping down dark valleys, but Our Lord is the light that will take that darkness away. We ask The Lord "How Long?", especially with the Corona Virus causing such fear and consternation, but all will be well in the time He chooses.
Liz Slattery says:
March 20th, 2020 at 7:44 PM
Beautiful! As well as being deeply moving, it helps me feel connected with you all! I can picture Nick singing and Mary on the cello! Thank you for your inspiring music!
Stewart Dobson says:
March 20th, 2020 at 8:12 PM
It's hard to write with tears in your eyes....I am praying daily for our return to the altar where we can be one again with Jesus. My heart aches while i cannot receive him. Thank you Nick for this beautiful prayer.
Linda ronayne says:
March 21st, 2020 at 11:28 AM
This was beautiful and moving! Can we share it outside of POP?
Elizabeth Pease says:
March 21st, 2020 at 11:31 AM
Absolutely!
Pam Seale says:
March 21st, 2020 at 12:27 PM
Beautiful. A psalm for our time.
Jim Mysliwiec says:
March 21st, 2020 at 1:05 PM
Very moved by the emotion evoked in hearing this song.
John Vogel says:
March 21st, 2020 at 7:33 PM
Thank you deeply. I felt a strong need to capture my experience in words.
An inspired musical creation -- the setting, the tempo, the simplicity of word and melody, the choice of instruments, the excellent performance.
An inspired spiritual creation -- moved my spirit to be with the Lord, moved my body with tears and weakness, moved my mind to fragments of Scripture ("a voice cries in the wilderness", the two edged word separating bone from marrow, "love the Lord your God with all your heart and mind and soul.")
An inspired timely creation -- for each of us now, for this time of separation (How long, O Lord), for awakening how I have taken our life together for granted, for encouraging "visits" those who live alone.
Peter Walters says:
March 21st, 2020 at 9:54 PM
Thank you Nick. You totally captured what I feel at this moment. A real blessing!
Dominic Jeremiah says:
March 21st, 2020 at 10:11 PM
The Lord is our hope and our salvation whom shall we fear, the Lord is our strength and our fortress, our rock in times of darkness and trial. He is the only constant - we take our comfort and our refuge in Him. Our heart and our souls are restless until they rest in you.
What a tremendous song of hope and confidence in the God who saves us! The cello is a haunting resonance of God's presence with us in this time of peril.
Carolyn Reinhardt says:
March 22nd, 2020 at 10:19 AM
Thank you for publishing this. Come Lord and help us keep faith alive! Rescue us from our own sin and the darkness that surrounds us.
Linda Coney says:
March 22nd, 2020 at 12:51 PM
Beautiful! The words and music reached deep down in me and touched the isolation and loneliness I feel while reminding me of the Lord’s constant presence. Thank you.
Claire Kurdelak says:
March 22nd, 2020 at 5:48 PM
Thanks for sharing. Very beautiful. It is indeed a time for praying the Psalms.
Tom M Caneff says:
March 23rd, 2020 at 10:01 AM
Well done, Very well done. Thanks for listening to Him as you composed and performed!
Bonnie Burek says:
March 23rd, 2020 at 3:18 PM
Hauntingly beautiful...soul searching. Thank you.
James W SCHENKEL says:
March 24th, 2020 at 2:17 PM
You have extended the tradition of excellence in our People of Praise music. For generations now, God uses artists to draw His people closer to Him and each other. Thank you for your faithfulness to His calling and his empowering of your talents.
Know we are with you, even while miles distant. We each have a piece of the work to accomplish and a path by which we help each other.
How long O Lord?
Jim Schenkel
Carol Ruch says:
March 25th, 2020 at 4:25 PM
Thank you for this hauntingly beautiful song. I will use it in my prayer time.
Ruth Sanford says:
March 27th, 2020 at 9:57 AM
Beautiful. This music draws in the listener and helps extend the connection among us all.
Julie Delaplane says:
April 3rd, 2020 at 8:46 AM
Just got home (& showered of course ) I transferred to ED to take Covids. Uncle Steve asked a few days ago for tips. MDs are saying hydrate as much as you can and suggesting Vitamin C and Zinc can help! Stay home and limit exposure as much as possible ! Indy is on fire right now. 3/4 of the patients are coming in for Covid symptoms. Our surge will happen any day. We have even planned for the ambulance bay (outside) to set up make shift triage. We are sending patients home that are more sick than we have before. Patients are coming back daily bc they are miserable....we are basically giving them Tylenol and booting them if they can keep O2 saturation's up. Of the 50patients in ICU, 45 are intubated! That's insane!
This is message from front line niece In Indy at st Vincent’s
Lord protect my brother and sisters in POP
Mary L Louise Duddy says:
April 15th, 2020 at 11:12 PM
I love this song. I listen to it when I seek encouragement. The cello is lovely.
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