Track 4 on The ❤️ Of Missions
The Cord of the Covenant
Built on Isaiah 54:2–3, Isaiah 54:2, and Isaiah 54:3
01Read along
The study behind the song
Built on Isaiah 54:2–3, Isaiah 54:2, Isaiah 54:3, Matthew 28:18–20, Matthew 28:18, and Matthew 28:19.
"The Cord of the Covenant" tells the story of William Carey, as the caption puts it, from his heart. It rests first on Isaiah 54:2-3, where God calls barren Zion to enlarge her tent, lengthen her cords, and drive her stakes deep, because her descendants will spread out and possess the nations. In the opening verse, the cobbler at his bench is told that God can convert the heathen without his help. He answers by preaching that very text.
The second verse follows Carey to Calcutta, through forty years of translation and a fire that took his books and ink. It shows what held him: the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20, with Jesus' authority over heaven and earth and His promise to be with His people to the end of the age.
The chorus drives home Carey's watchword, "Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God," and ties it to the album's Deuteronomy 32 view: nations once handed to lesser powers are being reclaimed, while others hold the ropes.
02Sing along
Lyrics
Expect great things from God.
Attempt great things for God.
We’re going down into the gold mine... hold the ropes.
William Carey was a cobbler, making shoes upon the bench
But his heart was on the nations and the multi-ethnic trench
The legalists told him to sit down, said, "Young man, if God intends"
"To convert the heathen nations, He’ll do it without your friends!"
But Carey looked at scripture and he saw the cosmic plan
He saw the disinherited blocks of every tribe of man
He stood before the ministers and he preached the word of might
"Enlarge the site of your tent," step out into the fight! (Isaiah 54:2)
"Lengthen your ropes, and drive your pegs deep" into the ground
"For you will spread out to the right and to the left" unbound! (Isaiah 54:2-3)
"Your descendants will dispossess nations" under foreign spirits bound
"And inhabit the desolate cities" where the true praise will resound! (Isaiah 54:3)
Expect great things from God! Attempt great things today!
We’re clearing the ancient highway, we’re cutting through the clay!
The bene elohim of India are losing their legal right
As the cobbler throws the gospel seed into the pagan night!
He sailed away to Calcutta, dropped his anchor in the mud
Spent forty years translating the covenant of the blood
Through fire in the printing shop, losing all his books and ink
He stood upon the ashes and refused to yield or blink
He held to the great promise that the Savior left behind
The anchor for the missionary soul and human mind:
"All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth" to stand (Matthew 28:18)
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations" in every land! (Matthew 28:19)
"Baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost" clear
"And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age" right here! (Matthew 28:19-20)
The ropes are being held.
The mine is being plundered.
The gods of the East are bowing down.
To the Lord of Hosts.
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