Like Sands Through the Hourglass

In my Bible reading last night I turned to Ecclesiastes and, as I began reading, I was struck by the common sentiment found in Solomon’s inspired words and the lyrics of one of my favorite songs.

All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing.

What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.

I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor.

Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.

Meaningless! Meaningless! Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.

What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?

Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever.

I close my eyes, only for a moment, and the moment’s gone

All my dreams, pass before my eyes, a curiosity

Dust in the wind, all they are is dust in the wind.

Same old song, just a drop of water in an endless sea

All we do, crumbles to the ground, though we refuse to see

Dust in the wind, all we are is dust in the wind

[Now] Don’t hang on, nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky

It slips away, and all your money won’t another minute buy.

Dust in the wind, all we are is dust in the wind

Dust in the wind, everything is dust in the wind.

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We all sometimes experience frustration with the futility of life. Sometimes things just seem so meaningless. Perhaps that’s why Jesus didn’t want us to merely exist; existence is futile.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

I appreciate the insight that Kerry Livgren put into the song Dust in the Wind, and I wish him the best in his Christian walk. And while “all we are is dust in the wind,” Solomon, and I think Kerry, have both come to the wisest conclusion:

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Ecclesiastes 12:13

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On Calv'ry's Tree

Sometimes we struggle with reverence. It’s easy to lose perspective, to forget just how much God sacrificed to sanctify us. In the words of Isaac Watts, “would He devote that sacred head for such a worm as I?”

Being reminded of our smallness, our insignificance, is uncomfortable. We want inspirational platitudes that build up our self-esteem. We want to feel good about ourselves. The problem is that we miss the larger message here; “God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son.” You see, the greater the distance between God’s glory and my filthiness the more marvelous is the display of His love in this sacrifice. That God would stoop to save “such a worm” speaks more of our worth to Him than some feel-good philosophy. If that doesn’t instill in us a sense of awe and reverence I don’t know what will. This text, my first hymn, strives to renew the wonder I felt when I first accepted the fact the God loves me, a wretched sinner, so much that He would go to such lengths to save me.

I kicked around a few tune ideas since I wrote this song in 1988, but never found one that I really liked. Lately I’ve been looking at tunes that are rarely sung in the worship tradition I grew up in. I’ve always liked this one, Kingsfold, and I thought that I would bring it to my own congregation in this hymn.

On Calv’ry’s Tree

On Calv’ry’s tree Messiah hung,
A world of grief to bear—
No law transgressed nor wrong He’d done,
Yet God forsook Him there.
For sin incarnate He became,
The vilest evil, He—
What burden laden sore with blame
Has He borne there for me.

What myst’ry on the cross laid bare,
Despite my filth and shame,
Could cause the Lamb to call me there,
And there my soul reclaim.
What wondrous Love of noblest worth
Could harbor such a plan,
That God, creator of all earth
Should die for sinful man.

But Death cannot God’s will enslave,
Nor keep Him from His own—
The Son is risen from the grave
And sits upon His throne.
With grateful hearts our voices raise
Thy Name, O Lord, to sing,
And give Thee honor, laud, and praise
As most befits a King.

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Downloads

Get this song for yourself and please share it with others.

• Download the sheet music in traditional notation or shaped notes.
• Download worship slides in traditional notation or shaped notes.
• Download a music file with each part highlighted for practice.

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