Some times I have written a post and then I just feel like writing another post. So here is this one.
In April my friends and I held a Seder dinner which is the festive meal at the start of Passover. We followed the instructions in the JFNA Haggadah which suggested we sign some traditional Jewish songs. My Hebrew is not perfect and I am self-conscious of my pronunciation so I found some youtube videos of the songs.
One of the songs that lives in infamy among my friends is the song Dayenu as performed by the Maccabeats. Regardless of what my friends think this song Slaps as the youths say. I recommend looking it up on youtube.
But what about it makes me want to write a post is the meaning of the song.
Its all in Hebrew and I did not get most of it for the longest time, until today, turns out the subtitles on the video are in Hebrew and English.
The song is one of gratitude and remembrance of how great our God is.
These are the Lyrics in English:
If God would have taken us out of Egypt and not executed judgement upon them it would have been enough for us.
If He would have executed judgement on them and not on their idols, it would have been enough for us.
If He would have judged their idols and not killed their first born, it would have been enough for us.
If He would have killed their first born and not given us their wealth it would have been enough for us.
If He would have given us their wealth and not split the sea for us, it would have been enough for us.
If He would have split the sea for us and not let us through on dry land it would have been enough for us
If He would have let us through on dry land and not drowned our enemies it would have been enough for us.
If he would have drowned our enemies and not have provided for our needs in the desert for 40 year it would have been enough for us.
Of course knowing the exodus story we can see that God did all of this for them, but that is what the song is getting at. If God had only taken them out of Egypt that would have been more than they deserved and would have been enough for them, but God didn’t stop there. God is good and gave more than they deserved and more than they could have hoped.
This is a principle found through out all of the scriptures. Had God only lead the family of Lehi out of Jerusalem that would have been enough, but he didn’t. He gave them food, shelter, the Liahona, a promised land, the means to get there, the scriptures, ample reason to not return to Jerusalem, posterity, covenants, and His spirit.
He did the same thing in the restoration. If he had just answered Joseph’s question as to which church was right that would have been enough, but he didn’t. He restored the church, the full gospel, the priesthood, the authority and keys, the ordinances, the temple, and gave new scripture.
How often has He done such marvelous works in your life? He has done them time and time again in mine!
Had he just made man, that would have been enough. But He has led us, guided us, and continually walks beside us. He has made a way, He has wrought salvation for us, He has given us His spirit and His Son, He has called to us and reaches His arms open wide for us.
He has done and continues to do so much more than we ever deserved.
Gave thanks to a giving God.
Sing praises to the One True God who has always gone the extra mile for us.
God has spared no expense with us.
God is good all the time, and all the time God is good.
As always, I’m praying for thee; please pray for me.