Awake, O Sleeper!

I have been preaching on Jonah throughout Lent. It has been a very moving experience for me. The story speaks to us in high moments and our low moments in life. Jonah’s story is often thought of as a children’s story. Nothing could be further from the truth! Jonah’s story has deep spiritual, theological, and biblical currents running through it. I’m preparing for my sermon on Jonah 2 and ran across a music video/short film. I have seen/heard the video/song before, but I could not help be moved by the video’s grittiness.

It’s loud, a little violent, a little bloody, pulls no punches, and is moving:

A Hero comes from the wilderness to cry out to the captives, pleading for them to awaken. This short film from Whitestone was in part inspired by “Plato’s Cave” and depicts the struggle of freeing the captives, whomever they may be. This film is set to the song by the same name originally written for this film by the talented Wright Brothers: Nicholas Kirk and Billy Wilkerson. (Link)

I could not help but see the strong connections between Jonah and this song. The men are held captive, and are in need of help.  Jonah is held captive in the belly of a fish (which, saved his life). Jonah cries for God in chapter 2:

Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, ²saying, “I called to the Lord out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice.

If Jonah knew about this song, he might have sung this line:

There will come a day my God will come
And put me in my place
My God I pray, You’ll call my name
Instead of turn away

The lyrics of this song, “Awake, O Sleeper” are below:

Awake! O Sleeper
(Kirk/Wilkerson)
Oh Abraham would raise his hands
And mourn this very day
For his children left the promised land
In search of their own way
They kick and scream like wayward sons
Always wanting to sleep
And dream away these evil days
In hopes that God cant see
There are chains upon your children Lord
Chains upon your children
There are chains upon your children
We’re in chains

Do you hear the lion roar?
Awake O Sleeper
Stand with me well fight the war
Awake O Sleeper
Your suffering will come again
And never fall away
For we trade our many comforts
Like the one who bled for grace
There will come a day my God will come
And put me in my place
My God I pray, Youll call my name
Instead of turn away
Let no man bring me harm
I bear the marks of Jesus
Let no man bring me harm
I bear the marks of the Lord

The title from the song/video comes from Charles Wesley’s hymn, “Awake, O Sleeper”

Awake O Sleeper, Rise from Death,
and christ shall give you light.
So learn his love, its length and breadth,
its fullness depth and height.

Then walk in love as Christ has loved,
who died that he might save;
with kind and gentle hearts forgive,
as God in Christ forgave.

In this season of Lent, may you awake, o sleeper! And see that God is calling you to rise with Christ on Easter Sunday!

BONUS: If you want to see pics from the making on this video go here.