Relentless

Okay, first let me assert that I am not humping Misty Edwards' "Relentless" CD (released in 2007).  However, her song, "You Won't Relent", included on that CD, prompted this post.

My exposure to this song was at a "Night of Worship" service at the church I attend (Southview Community Church in Herndon, VA).  One of the featured songs was "You Won't Relent". Although written by Misty Edwards, I believe that the Southview team performed the "Jesus Culture" rendition of the song.  I am not an expert on Christian rock or praise songs, but I am learning (primarily through exposure to music introduced by our worship pastor, Andy King, and performed by our praise band).

As a result, I was surprised -- okay, jazzed -- by the following lyrics and the vivid imagery that they invoked:

"You won’t relent
Until You have it all
My heart is Yours
I’ll set You as a seal upon my heart

As a seal upon my arm

For there is love that is as strong as death

Jealousy demanding as the grave

And many waters cannot quench this love

Come be the fire inside of me

Come be the flame upon my heart

Come be the fire inside of me
Until You and I are one”

Uhhh...wow!  These sound like song names or lyrics from Goth-Metal, Rock, Pop, and other secular bands. Here are a few actual song titles from these types of bands that the lyrics above brought to mind:

• "Entwined" - Lacuna Coil
• "Crucify My Heart" - Lullacry
• "Heart-Shaped Scars" - Lullacry
• "Don't Touch the Flame" - Lullacry
• "Love and Death" - Tokio Hotel
• Painted on My Heart" - The Cult
• "Like a Rose on the Grave of Love" - Xandria
• "Eternal Love" - Sayuri Sugawara (Final Fantasy XIII theme)
• "Sealed With a Kiss" - Bobby Vinton (okay, that's a real oldie)

Further investigation and research, including a few other blogs (PeculiarAlecsa and Brian Lusky), revealed that the core verses from the song originate from a passage in Song of Solomon in the Old Testament.  (Oops; I guess that I am not as familiar with the Bible as I should be; but then again, Song of Solomon is not a book that I gravitate towards.  I would preferr be reprimanded by Paul in one of his epistles or dig into a symbolical and eschatological journey with the apostle John in Revelation -- but I digress.)

Anyway, the Song of Solomon reference gave me pause to consider the song's inherent dual-nature as both a worship song and a love song. The fact that it is performed with male and female lead singers leads me to believe that this dichotomy was also the intent of the songwriter. With certitude, I don't know what Misty Edwards really crafted the piece to be, but it's a cool song. (There's a long build-up, but the music really cranks up around the 2-minute mark of the song.  If the link is no longer active, just look for the song on YouTube.com, iTunes, or an online music seller for an excerpt.)

Is it a story of two lovers inextricably bound "as one", jealous to "the grave", with a love as "strong as death"?  Or is it the story of a "relentless" God that again and again seeks uncompromising devotion from each of us, His creations? We should be relentless in the intensity of our responses to either of these scenario's, as they both lead to real happiness on earth and in heaven!