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September 2001 Table of Contents
Musical Insight
Bow The Knee
By Chris Machen
Bow the Knee was the first song Mike Harland and I ever wrote together.
We felt God had given us a timely message. It certainly ministered to us, but we had no idea how the Lord would bless it and use its message to speak so personally to people. It has amazed me how many churches have used the song. I feel so blessed to be able to have songs from time to time that "hit a nerve." God has gone way above and beyond in my life.
What Mike and I didn't know is that our families would be challenged as to whether we "believed" what we wrote or not. The chorus of the song says,
Bow the knee! Trust the heart of your Father
When the answer goes beyond what you can see.
Bow the knee! Lift your eyes toward heaven
And believe the One who holds eternity.
When you don't understand the purpose of His plan
In the presence of your King, Bow the knee!
Shortly after we wrote the song, Mike's wife, Teresa was diagnosed with breast cancer. During hospital stays and radical surgery, Mike and Teresa were put to the test. Mike told me that when they had heard the "C" word he stepped into the hallway of the doctor's office and began to sing to himself, "Bow the knee..." At that time he and I were the only ones who really knew the song. It hadn't been put in print or recorded. God used the message in Mike and Teresa's lives. He has mercifully given health back to Teresa. Her cancer is in remission. Recently, Diane and I have been walking through a time of testing as well. A year and a half ago, Diane was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. However, this past July she spent 27 days in the hospital and we discovered that she more likely has Crohn's Disease. Both are Irritable Bowel Disorders (IBD) that have no cure and have similar symptoms. She's home now as the doctors try another drug treatment. We're praying for this disease to go into remission. We've asked God to do a work of supernatural healing, but He's chosen at this point to work through the doctors. I believe the Lord has given us the miracle of medicine, too. Ultimately, God is the healer however He chooses to do so. We're being challenged to believe what we've written at this very moment. All these things we preach, sing and write about, do we really believe?
With all our hearts-Yes!
I believe the message of Bow the Knee has "struck a chord" with people because we all have a testimony of impossible situations that we've been in, whether health or finances or family challenges. Sometimes God's will is hard to discern and understand. There doesn't seem to be an answer to our prayers. We too often want God to do what we want whether it has anything to do with His will or not. If I were answering my own prayers about Diane's health, I'd heal her. But God seems at this point to have a different agenda.
The apostle Paul asked the Lord to remove his "thorn in the flesh," but instead God said, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." Did Paul lack faith? I don't think so. Sometimes, I believe, God may have a "greater grace." He has a purpose that we cannot possibly see because of our limited view. We have to trust the Lord even when our vision is blurred. He doesn't always answer prayers the way we want Him to, nor in the time frame we wish that He would. Sometimes there is not an answer-at least that we can see immediately. We must trust Him and His sovereignty nonetheless, even if His ways don't make sense to us. "…for My ways are not your ways…" (Is.55: 9)
With all that in mind, let me introduce you to Bow the Knee-A Dramatic Easter Musical. Lillenas' George Baldwin approached me last summer about writing an Easter musical based on Bow the Knee that would have a complete story to tell. At first, I didn't see the connection until he mentioned the possibility of using the soldier at the cross who said, "Surely, this was the Son of God." As I studied the character, there wasn't much mentioned. In fact, the only other centurion that I could find much about was the one whose servant Jesus healed. Remember Jesus said, "I'll come and heal him" and the centurion said, "I'm not worthy to have you come under my roof, but say the word and he will be healed." What faith! We don't know that these two centurions were one and the same, but for the musical's purpose I created a "composite" character named Anthony. The story reveals the inner struggle the centurion has between his allegiance to Caesar and his journey into a relationship with Christ. Along with the servant who was healed, Anthony has another slave named Eli who has become a follower of Christ and is a "witness" to his master. He helps Anthony on His "journey to faith". At the moment of Jesus' judgment, Pilate commands Anthony to have Jesus flogged and crucified. Anthony hesitates and Pilate challenges him as to where his loyalties lie. Fearing Pilate, Anthony reluctantly submits to the order to crucify Jesus.
At the cross, Anthony has a classic moment of questioning. "Why would God let His Son die this way? Couldn't He have done more if He were alive?" As Anthony hears Jesus' last words from the cross, he finally understands. God's ways are higher than our ways. During the singing of Bow the Knee, we see Anthony kneel at the cross and bow his knee to Jesus as Lord and Savior. I love evangelism. I believe that is one of the chief reasons for our music ministries. This story clearly presents the gospel in a way a non-believer could relate to. I'm praying that many will come to Christ as a result of this musical. Even though this is a dramatic musical that is driven by characters, the choir is involved in every song. We have tried to write songs that can be used outside of this musical context as pullouts. I think you will find my opportunities to use songs like One Day Every Knee Shall Bow, Hosanna to the King, I Will Arise and of course, Bow the Knee.
Richard Kingsmore has done an incredible job arranging the work. Richard is one of the best in creating "moments" musically. He understands the "Broadway" concept. But the highest compliment I could pay him is that he understands the church orchestra. He can make lay people sound like professionals. Richard has outdone himself!
The message is clear. "Faith is the evidence of things not seen and the assurance of things hoped for." (Heb.11:6) Trust God even when the answer isn't clear. "When you don't understand the purpose of His plan, in the presence of your King, Bow the Knee!"
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