Jesus begins the Sermon on the Mount by describing the "blessedness" of his disciples. These men and women are blessed to see God's character and experience God's power in the person of Jesus. "Theirs is the kingdom of heaven!" Here and now, the compassionate reign of God has dawned, and they are chosen by grace to participate in God's re-creation of a broken world. The beatitudes are firmly rooted in God's covenant with Israel: "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him" (Jer. 17:7-8; cf. Ps. 1:1; 24:3-5; 32:1-2; 37:22; 40:4; 146:5). Jesus is the true Israelite who hopes in God alone for salvation and thus becomes the channel of God's covenant blessings to his disciples. Jesus is the uniquely "blessed one," a personification of the beatitudes. Now he calls disciples to be part of his new Spirit-filled humanity. As the light of the world and the salt of the earth they will manifest God's goodness. Here, I share my poetic paraphrase of the beatitudes, set to a new musical composition, which can be accessed at https://archive.org/details/Beatitudes_201303
The Beatitudes
Blest are you who follow me,
walking in love’s way,
Blest to see the reign of God in your midst today.
Blest to see the reign of God in your midst today.
REFRAIN: You
are the light, light of the world, city of God on a hill;
You are the salt, salt of the earth, called by God’s gracious will,
Praise to his glory still!
You are the salt, salt of the earth, called by God’s gracious will,
Praise to his glory still!
Blest are you in spirit
poor, weak and empty ones,
Blest to know your need of God—here his kingdom comes.
Blest to know your need of God—here his kingdom comes.
Blest are you who sorrow now,
mourning evil’s sway,
Consolation comes from God, wiping tears away.
Consolation comes from God, wiping tears away.
Blest are you who bow to God,
trusting love’s domain,
Meek ones shall possess an earth ruled by God again.
Meek ones shall possess an earth ruled by God again.
Blest are you who long for God’s
promise to prevail,
He will satisfy your thirst—justice shall not fail.
He will satisfy your thirst—justice shall not fail.
Blest are you who mercy show, captives
to relieve,
Mirror of God’s suffering love, mercy you’ll receive.
Mirror of God’s suffering love, mercy you’ll receive.
Blest are you whose hearts are pure,
mammon overthrown,
Spurning every false support, eyes on God alone.
Spurning every false support, eyes on God alone.
Blest are you who bring “shalom,” channel
of God’s grace,
Sons and daughters of the King, arms of his embrace.
Sons and daughters of the King, arms of his embrace.
Blest are you when vilified for
Messiah’s cause,
Scorned like prophets who receive heavenly applause.
Scorned like prophets who receive heavenly applause.
Blest are you who follow this (poor
and blessed, God-obsessed, hated) Israelite;
Blest to die and rise with him who is the world’s true Light.
Blest to die and rise with him who is the world’s true Light.
Copyright G. Alan Crandall 2013
