Wade in the Water, ELW 459
Devotion
Refrain
Wade in the water,
wade in the water, children,
wade in the water,
God's a-goin'-a trouble the water.
1See that host all dressed in white,
God's a-goin'-a trouble the water.
the leader looks like the Israelite.
God's a-goin'-a trouble the water. Refrain
2See that band all dressed in red,
God's a-goin'-a trouble the water.
looks like the band that Moses led.
God's a-goin'-a trouble the water. Refrain
3Look over yonder, what do I see?
God's a-goin'-a trouble the water.
the Holy Ghost a-coming on me.
God's a-goin'-a trouble the water. Refrain
4If you don't believe I've been redeemed,
God's a-goin'-a trouble the water.
just follow me down to Jordan's stream.
God's a-goin'-a trouble the water. Refrain
This is a song of freedom, and it is a song of faith. It's a song of and for people who knew the biblical story of freedom, and who dared to claimed it for themselves. God's going to show up, the African-American slaves tell us. God's going to shake up the waters. God will deliver us.
This is a song of baptism, of and for people who knew who they were (God's beloved) and who they were not (less than, unworthy, forgotten, abandoned). Hear their song today. Hear their song of faith and trust in the God who keeps God's promises, the God who wades in the water with those who are enslaved, the God who is continually writing God's story of justice and deliverance. May their song be true today.
Prayer
God, show up today for all who are enslaved, just as you always have. Shine light in the darkness of racial injustice. Remember those who are forgotten. And help me remember too. Amen.