WHY SHOULD YOU BE LIKE A STRANGER in the land?
Why should You be like a warrior who’s walked away?
Like a traveller who’s turned aside,
Gone to rest for the night.
Yet You, O Lord, are in our midst
And we are called by Your Name,
Lord Jesus, have mercy on us.
Though our backslidings are many,
Though we’ve sinned against You,
Lord Jesus, have mercy on us.
Why should You be so rejected in the land?
Like a messenger who’s message we can’t understand?
Like a bridegroom without a bride,
Because her passion just died.
Yet You, O Lord are in our midst
And we are called by Your Name.
Lord Jesus, have mercy on us.
For our being disconnected.
For our ways that separate.
Lord Jesus, have mercy on us.
We are flooded now with idols in the land.
A nation worshipping what it has made with it’s own hands.
Self-obsessed,self-made facade,
Saying, ‘there is no God’.
Yet You, O Lord, are in our midst
And we are called by Your Name.
Lord Jesus, have mercy on us.
For our building power structures,
Celebrities we’ve loved to touch us,
Lord Jesus, have mercy on us.
We’ve been so ‘of the world’, yet not ‘in the world’
Lord Jesus, have mercy on us.
Godfrey Birtill
Song Meaning
A lament asking why the Lord seems distant.
Biblical Message
Read Psalm 13:1 alongside the lyric. The lament speaks honestly of a God who feels distant.
Reflection
Which image or prayer in this song stays with you? Read Psalm 13:1 and consider your response.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is “Why Should You Be Like A Stranger” about?
A lament asking why the Lord seems distant.
Which Bible passage connects with the song?
Psalm 13:1 offers a starting point for reflection on its message.