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Psalm 20:1 NRSV
"The LORD answer you in the day of trouble!"
Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Had
Nobody knows de trouble I’ve had,*
Nobody knows but Jesus,
Nobody knows de trouble I’ve had,
Glory hallelu!
One morning I was a-walking down, O yes, Lord!
I saw some berries a-hanging down, O yes, Lord!
O yes, Lord I saw some berries hanging down.
I pick de berry and I suck de juice, O yes, Lord!
Just as sweet as the honey in de comb, O yes, Lord!
Sometimes I’m up, sometimes I’m down,
Sometimes I’m almost on de
groun’.
What make ole Satan hate me so?
Because he got me once and he let me go.
—Slave Songs, 74
This is another classic Spiritual that speaks the truth! We need the truth
and nothing but the truth. “Sometimes I’m up, sometimes I’m down,
Sometimes I’m almost on de groun’.” Up and up and down. This can be
life. This can be your life even as a Christian. Of course, there are times
when we get to enjoy the juice from a berry and honey in de comb. But
what this spiritual reveals is how often “nobody knows de trouble I’ve
had.” That line is repeated and is part of the refrain of this spiritual.
Trouble, trouble, trouble.
Yet, like the movement of lament psalms, this spiritual doesn’t close
out with trouble. Rather, it rings out with a word of hope and praise.
“Glory hallelu!” Glory hallelu? This singer knows something about God.
Something happens between all of the trouble and this trumpet-tongued praise at the end. This slave singer knows that our trouble will
not terrorize us forever. This singer knows that hope will have the final
word. This singer knows God will win and triumph over all of our
trouble! As Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take
heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 NIV). Yes, you may be
experiencing trouble but in the midst of that, you can still say, “Glory
hallelu,” because even if you make your bed in Sheol, God is there (Ps.
139). This should make anyone declare, “Glory hallelu!”
Prayer for the Day
God, I don’t ask for anything. I just have one thing to say—glory hallelu!
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