More Than a Song - Discovering the Truth of Scripture Hidden in Today's Popular Christian Music - #204: "Control (Somehow You Want Me)" by Tenth Avenue North

#204: "Control (Somehow You Want Me)" by Tenth Avenue North

01/15/18 • 24 min

More Than a Song - Discovering the Truth of Scripture Hidden in Today's Popular Christian Music

Everyone has a story. Part of the beauty of God's Word is when we can identify with the people God chose to weave into His BIG story of redemption. Tenth Avenue North's song "Control (Somehow You Want Me)" leads us to explore Jacob in the book of Genesis.

There is a distinct time and place where Jacob gives control to God. Let's consider this place of surrender together.

On this episode I discuss:

Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
- Study a character
- Remember the characters in the Bible were real
- Read-and-keep-on-reading
- Context
- Make a list
Meeting Jacob for the first time - Genesis 25:23-28
When Jacob declares God as his own - Genesis 28:20-22
What Jacob left behind when he went on the run
The desperate place Jacob is in when God chooses to reveal Himself in a personal way
Living a life of surrender after the first time you surrender
Listing some of Jacob's obsessions and intention - compare them to your own
God calling Jacob back to the place where he first surrendered - Genesis 35:1-15
Understanding that God wants you...just you...ditch the bag of idols you carry with you and give Him control

Additional Resources

This Week's Challenge

Read Genesis 25 through Genesis 35. Read and keep on reading. Consider big ideas keeping them in context of the big story. Remember that Jacob was real. Most of all, make God YOUR God. Give Him control of your life. He has a really great plan for it.

Purchase your copy of A Seat at the Table today!

Change your music. Change your life. Join my free 30-Day Music Challenge. CLICK HERE.

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There is a distinct time and place where Jacob gives control to God. Let's consider this place of surrender together.

On this episode I discuss:

Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
- Study a character
- Remember the characters in the Bible were real
- Read-and-keep-on-reading
- Context
- Make a list
Meeting Jacob for the first time - Genesis 25:23-28
When Jacob declares God as his own - Genesis 28:20-22
What Jacob left behind when he went on the run
The desperate place Jacob is in when God chooses to reveal Himself in a personal way
Living a life of surrender after the first time you surrender
Listing some of Jacob's obsessions and intention - compare them to your own
God calling Jacob back to the place where he first surrendered - Genesis 35:1-15
Understanding that God wants you...just you...ditch the bag of idols you carry with you and give Him control

Additional Resources

This Week's Challenge

Purchase your copy of A Seat at the Table today!

Change your music. Change your life. Join my free 30-Day Music Challenge. CLICK HERE.

Previous Episode

#203: "Get Down" by Finding Favour

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I find it fascinating which prayers and songs God chose to include in His Word. Of all the prayers lifted in all of time it's a good idea for us to explore the ones included in Scripture. Finding Favour's song, "Get Down," is our inspiration to learn more about one of Daniel's prayers.

I can't wait for you to see how much you learn about God in this prayer.

On this episode I discuss:

Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
- Read-and-keep-on-reading
- Ask questions
- Use outside resources
Learning what we can from the prayers recorded in the Bible
Asking good questions, like:
- What details were important to include in this prayer?
- What revelation about God is included?
  - Have they mentioned his conduct, character, or concerns?
- What was requested in the prayer?
- What is the historical and physical context of the prayer?
- Why was God being sought in that moment?
- What was the result of the prayer?
- How did the result change the course of God's kingdom, bring God glory, or affect the person praying?
- What can I learn about the person lifting the prayer?
- Is there anything I want to emulate or avoid?
An amazing outside resource for Bible timelines - www.BibleHistory.com
The timeline of the two characters we are exploring...Daniel and Nehemiah
- 605 BC Daniel is captured and taken to Babylon
- 586 BC Jerusalem is completely destroyed and the rest of God's people are taken captive
- 537 BC King Cyrus decrees resettlement of Jerusalem
- 520 BC The people resume rebuilding of the temple
- 444 BC Nehemiah rebuilds the walls
Background of how Daniel ended up in the kings service - Daniel 1:3-5 and Daniel 1:18-21
How Daniel intervenes in a crisis - Daniel 2:14-19
Daniel's prayer - Daniel 2:20-23
Applying our questions to Daniel's prayer
A quick introduction of Nehemiah (CHALLENGE: Explore his prayer on your own!)

Additional Resources

This Week's Challenge

Choose Daniel or Nehemiah (or both) to explore this week to read-and-keep-on-reading. Then make a list of questions you want to explore the answers to as you zero in on Daniel's, or Nehemiah's, prayer.

Purchase your copy of A Seat at the Table today!

Change your music. Change your life. Join my free 30-Day Music Challenge. CLICK HERE.

Next Episode

#205: "Where Were You" by Ghost Ship

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Sometimes I feel like a toddler -- you know, the ones with questions for days. Their questions are unending partly because they wired for curiosity and partly because they grow in their understanding of the world through questions. Job has his own book in the Old Testament and it is filled with questions about the reason behind his suffering. God does eventually respond to Job, but rather than detailed answers He replies with a few questions of His own. In their song, "Where Were You," the band Ghost Ship captures the heart of Job's question and a great sampling of God's counter response.

Have you experienced suffering? Are you in the midst of it right now? Let's learn a little from Job this week.

On this episode I discuss:

Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
- Read-and-keep-on-reading
- Context
- Listen to an audio version of Scripture
- Refer to an overview of the book - I used Bible Project's Overview Video this week
- Read in a variety of translations
- Make a list of Job's questions
When I recognized that God was putting Scripture in music already - check out Episode 1 or Episode 122
The Bible Project's overview of the Book of Job - YouTube Video
Exploring Job's questions by making a list (I only jot down a few...you can find MANY more)
- Why did I not die at birth, come out from the womb and expire? - Job 3:11
- Have I any help in me, when resource is driven from me? Job 6:13
- Has not man a hard service on earth, and are not his days like the days of a hired hand? Job 7:1
- Why have you made me your mark? Job 7:20
- Have you eyes of flesh? Do you see as man sees? Job 10:4
Conclusions
- Suffering can cause us to be irrational
- Suffering reveals where we place our trust
- Suffering digs up the root of our purpose
- Suffering often leads us to blame
- No. God does not see as man sees

Additional Resources

This Week's Challenge

Review the overview of Job by the Bible Project. Read or listen to Job all the way through. Consider the nature of Job's suffering and what it brings out in him. Use the song to remind you of God's response in Scripture.

Purchase your copy of A Seat at the Table today!

Change your music. Change your life. Join my free 30-Day Music Challenge. CLICK HERE.