Sorry! We were too busy jamming out to hear the message in the music! OOPS!

Posted on March 28, 2017 by Pastor In Plaid

Remember the 1980’s? Big hair, parachute pants, Ocean Pacific T-shirts, stone-washed jeans, boom boxes, and mullet haircuts. Of course you remember the 1980’s.

We were there, dude!

Do you remember this song?

I never paid much attention to the lyrics to this song in the 1980’s but recently heard it on the radio and couldn’t make out the lyrics that are repeated over and over.  What are they saying? Carry a laser? HUH? I gave up and looked it up online.  It turns out that it is:

Kyrie eleison.

I am a country boy, and that didn’t ring a bell with me so I looked it up.

SURPRISE! these are Greek words from the New Testament that mean “Lord (kyrie), have mercy (eleison).

Kyrie: (Strong’s G2962)

Strong’s Definitions [?](Strong’s Definitions Legend)
κύριος kýrios, koo’-ree-os; from κῦρος kŷros (supremacy); supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title):—God, Lord, master, Sir.
Eleison: (Strong’s G1653)
Outline of Biblical Usage [?]

  1. to have mercy on

  2. to help one afflicted or seeking aid

  3. to help the afflicted, to bring help to the wretched

  4. to experience mercy

Click for Synonyms
Strong’s Definitions [?](Strong’s Definitions Legend)
†ἐλεέω eleéō, el-eh-eh’-o; from G1656; to compassionate (by word or deed, specially, by divine grace):—have compassion (pity on), have (obtain, receive, shew) mercy (on).

Here are a few verses in the New Testament where these Greek words are used in our English translations:

Mat 15:22
And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.”

Mat 20:30
And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!”
Tools specific to Mat 20:31

Unchecked Copy Box Mat 20:31

Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!”

You get the idea. Kyrie eleison means “Lord, have mercy”.  Some denominations use the phrase in their worship liturgy.  I have to admit, as a Baptist, I never heard of it before.

This brings a whole new meaning to the Mr. Mister song that I didn’t realize was there.  I don’t know if anyone in that band are believers, but what they did lyrically was to communicate something that I think any believer can identify with, how much we need the Lord to have mercy on us each day and each night on this journey.  We can’t see what is around us or ahead of us. And we can’t stop to look back at what we have left behind to follow Him.  We need His mercy each day just to make it, and to keep moving on.

Growing older is funny sometimes. You have more time to stop and listen.  This song used to be a “jam“.  Now it’s more of a prayer to me.

Be blessed!

Bro. Beall

Pastor In Plaid

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