Thus Says The Lord

Victoria Orenze's “Thus Says The Lord” is a series of declarations made in the name of Jesus. Each line states that something is already happening and then repeats it as an echo. “Dry bones are rising, strongholds are breaking, mountains are moving, giants are falling, red seas are parting, valleys are filling.”

The images come from scripture. Dry bones rising recalls the vision given to the prophet Ezekiel. Red seas parting points to the escape of Israel from Egypt, and giants falling recalls the story of David. Valleys being filled and mountains made low come from a promise of comfort in Isaiah. The last lines add that levels are changing and armies are rising, and the song concludes by naming the matchless name of Jesus Christ with a cry of Hallelujah. There is no story or complex verse here, only a chain of statements of faith that the congregation can echo. It works as a prayer of agreement in services where people are standing against sickness, fear or hardship, and the repetition lets the room build momentum. The title makes clear that the words are meant to be spoken with authority from what God has said, not from hope alone.

Dry bones living is Ezekiel 37:4-5. The sea parting is Exodus 14:21, and valleys raised up is Isaiah 40:4.