April 1976 · Vol. 5 No. 2 · pp. 31–32
Ballad of the Lamb
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Now Cain and Abel came before the Lord
to sacrifice an offering from their yield.
And Abel brought the whitest
perfect lambs and brightestbut Cain—he brought an offering from the field.
Behold the lambs of God,
a sacrifice of bloodupon the stones where Cain and Abel kneeled.
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Now Yahweh came to Abraham one day
to prove him if in faith he would obey.
“Where are you, Abraham?”
And he said, “Here I am!”“Now sacrifice your only son to Me.”
Upon a mountain bare
he found when they got therethat Yahweh would Himself provide a lamb.
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Now Israel in Egypt’s land must die
as slaves lift desperate hands up to the sky.
“Your best lamb,” said the Lord.
“Splash its blood upon your door,a signal when Death’s angel passes by.”
Behold the sons of Cain
in sorrow’s morning slainas Israel beholds the lamb of God.
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And Heaven in its tears beheld one day
all we like sheep were stubborn, gone astray.
The Shepherd gave His whitest
perfect Lamb and brightestWhose blood dripped to the earth without a sound.
Behold the sins of men,
the sins of Cain again.Behold the Saviour’s blood upon the ground. {32}
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And in our greed the earth is ripped and red
and left alone to swallow up its dead.
On war and famine’s sod
we slay the lambs of God,refusing to behold where they have bled.
As if the Father’s Grace
had never taken place,we bring their blood, His blood, upon our head.
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And on the ancient altar made of stone—
there Death is murdered by One Man alone.
And from the grave appear
those who lie waiting therewhile Death is smashed and swallowed where they lay.
And rising, risen, they
will join us as we say,“Behold the Lamb of God upon His throne!”