Tuesday, November 24, 2009

FFoB 11: Arise, Shine!

I recently heard a children song called "Arise, Shine" which is indeed very beautiful. The tune emphasizes on the word Shine and the children will throw up their hands to represent the explosive shining forth of the light. The ignorant me thought all along that this song is based on Ephesians 5:14

"Wake up, O sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you."

It is only upon googling for the song that I realize that the words are actually based on Isaiah 60:1

"Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.

Well, despite the embarrassment, it is still a good lesson for me. It is likely that this early Christian hymn recorded in Ephesians is based on a theology similar to Isaiah. Here we have good evidence of the early belief in Christ's divinity. Just like the Lord, Christ is the glorious light that gives life when it shines on you.

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