#JesusLyrics Episode Eji.

I feel like it’s been years since I did this but I felt like picking it up, and taking it in another direction. So #JesusLyrics essentially where I explore the meaning behind songs. I initially felt a lead to blog more about gospel songs. Songs that we always sing in church and maybe don’t know the meaning.

But I realised with this whole secular music debate within Christianity. Is it something Christians should listen to, is it a sin to listen to it and therefore we shouldn’t.

It’s never really had a clear answer

HOLD UP. WAIT A MINUTE

This is no excuse to listen to anything btw, in fact go read: Ecclesiastes 7:6, and don’t lead others to sin through encouraging your control of music on others.

Why I chose this song is that often times when we look at secular music – it’s anything outside the church. But there are so many songs out there that wouldn’t be sung in ‘church’ but have deep meanings that are directly related to a person’s walk in Christ – the same way in which some Gospel artists were inspired to write the ones we do sing in Church.

Or just the ones your mother auto plays on YouTube in your living room.

I came across this song being used in a lot of video content I saw across social media. It’s a deep, emotional song by David Kushner. A 23…

He's younger than you and he's out here making hits, what are you doing with your life bro? 

American Singer and Songwriter. His music is regarded by many, regardless of religion or faith and is a rising artist. With over 300M views in about a year on the music video – Daylight. And the track has 1.2 BILLION streams on Spotify.

Sorry this blogger doesn't care enough to look up Apple Music streams, even though he has an iPhone.

David Kushner is a CHRISTIAN. And his lyrics are inspired by his faith.

My faith in God has been a foundational thing in my life. Although sometimes things can get challenging if I’m being completely honest, I have learned that it’s okay.

I don’t really get caught up with any scrutiny. I embrace my faith and write music that I think will speak to people. –

Telling myself I won’t go there
Oh, but I know that I won’t care
Tryna wash away all the blood I’ve spilt
This lust is a burden that we both share
Two sinners can’t atone from a lone prayer
Souls tied, intertwined by pride and guilt

DK is dealing with a huge sea of temptation, and that’s probably relatable to most of us. As he mentions in his interview, we often tell ourselves through self-doubting convictions that we won’t fall to sexual sin, or that we can pattern it. And then it does happen, it’s so easy for us to not worry about it because we know we’ve done it before. And God forgave us. So the same way God did a miracle in our lives before and did it again, we can also mess up and God will call us back again. It’s true but that’s not how we should have our relationship with him.

I saw a commentary on the lyrics and its links to Christianity, and someone suggested the blood spill reference to Saul in the bible (later becoming the favoured Paul). When he was Saul, he was known for persecuting Christians, which was ironic because as Paul he is known for being the most influential Apostle later in the New Testament. Others suggest it’s the blood of a virgin. PURELY VIRGIN.

It’s clear it’s about sexual sin with a partner because it uses the big L word Lust, and ‘both’, ‘two’, ‘tied’ and ‘intertwined’. It’s interesting because when you’re single, lust and sexual sin (even if you committed fornication) will feel more personal. Yet in a relationship with the goal to keep it pure and holy before God – everything you do is shared. The same way you share hope, peace and love together in a couple you also share the same feelings of lust.

What you don’t share however is prayer. You can pray together and pray for each other, If I pray for forgiveness but my partner doesn’t, we’re both not cleared. Individually we have to both come before God and seek his forgiveness and help with the struggle.

Even with soul ties, I grew up always being told about how sex leads to soul ties. And they probably right. So having multiple partners leads to multiple soul ties,

And if you keep around your soul dies

There’s darkness in the distance
From the way that I’ve been livin’
But I know I can’t resist it

Don’t get too close, it’s dark inside
It’s where my demons hide – ID

I remember jamming to a lot of tunes back when I was younger and I was fully into a soft rock bag, and there was this song by Imagine Dragons – and in the song they speak about the toxic comfort that comes with being in the dark. Like Adam and Eve when they were exposed – their first instinct was to hide. And in darkness there’s no light, and no light means no God’s presence. Not only is it comfort, it’s pleasure. And David knows that the way he lives, he invites demons, soul ties. It’s bad yet, so attractive.

But damn, it feels so good for like 2 minutes

Oh, I love it and I hate it at the same time
You and I drink the poison from the same vine
Oh, I love it and I hate it at the same time
Hidin’ all of our sins from the daylight
From the daylight, runnin’ from thе daylight
From the daylight, runnin’ from the daylight
Oh, I love it and I hatе it at the same time

David said in his Genius interview that the chorus just came in his head, and he built the song around it. It’s a powerful few lines that have biblical, emotional and theatrical tones. The pleasure, the confidence, the ‘love’ that comes with it, but the after affects of it all hurts. Your partner feels ashamed. You feel ashamed and the conviction you have in you makes you regret it. But then the thoughts of how it felt in the moment reel you back in.

Vines are often referenced in the bible, and so is poison. You ever watch Nollywood or Gollywood and see the typical drink of the poison. The wife has finally got her husband for ruining her life and initially he’s enjoying the rice and stew. Then BAM, the poison hits, and the amateur acting really shows its face and the person dies. Spiritually that’s what happens to us, Again Adam & Eve reference they both ate the fruit and their attachment to God became sour and dry. And God feels at the exact moment we take a little dip down to the garden.

The demons, the sins are hidden in darkness because daylight is only meant to be for things that are good and just. So we must exit that light because we’re not worthy to be seen, but we’re worthy of each other’s bodies. Daylight means you have to behave. Daylight means you’re an example. It’s a lot easier to engage in sexual activity knowing the door is closed, and no one is going to see, look or find you.

Tellin’ myself it’s the last time
Can you spare any mercy that you might find
If I’m down on my knees again?
Deep down, way down, Lord, I try
Try to follow your light, but it’s night time
Please don’t leave me in the end

There’s one thing not caring because it’s happened before, but it’s another to tell yourself it’s the last time you’re going to do it (before marriage if it’s with a partner) and that’s the trap. It’s always going to be a last time, until you’ve cast last last, last last, last last, and everybody has chopped breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner.

I blogged about mercy (which also referenced a similar song from JB), and it’s an interesting contrast from the first verse which used ‘share’, referencing the relationship he has with his partner. But in this case it’s ‘spare’. And at this point he’s begging, and the tone and keys in which he sings this part clearly takes the song to a new level. Knees often be a physical representation of begging, it’s a outcry to God like a beggar, or like the man who was by the pool of Bethesda. 

‘Deep down’ is recognising that on the surface, he has to get the flesh. Trying to do right on our own is often our first reaction but has never been the best, and it’s why we can’t handle the night time.

The night time reference is more of an excuse than a reason, but when you’re currently in that situation trying to get out, it’s very easy to look around and see the darkness you found yourself in. It could also be an additional reference to it being that it’s easier to stay away from doing bits during the day than at night.

Ladies know how them late night calls got them moving DIFFERENT 👀

One of the craziest things that the devil can do to you with lust – is leave you with fear after.

Fear that the partner might leave you. Fear that the partner isn’t satisfied. Fear that you won’t even be satisfied. Fear of being condemned, shamed by every aunty in existence. So much of the world’s fear that you literally forget God’s promise in Hebrews 13.

⁵ Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” ⁶ So we may boldly say:

If you are dealing with lust, sexual sin, remember that God is here to help you. Instead of sharing soul ties with sexual partners or sexual content, take the steps to draw closer to God instead. It’s a process, but make the start now.

O dabo.