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MatchBox 20 and the Gospel

When Matchbox 20 used to be popular (I know I am showing my age), they released a song entitled “Bright Lights”. I loved this song. I’ve enjoyed covering it when playing in bands.

She got out of town,

On a railway New York bound.

Took all except my name.

Another alien on Broadway.

The lyrics tell a story of a woman who left town for New York. The first two lines tells us that much. However the next two, gets really depressing. We learn that this woman is heading to New York and is leaving her husband (“Took all except my name”). The last line, tells us the reason. She is going to Broadway to be one of the many hopefuls wanting to succeed in an acting career.

Well some thing in life, you just can’t change

Some things you can’t see until it gets too late

The next stanza speaks of the husband’s lament. Those desires in her has always been there. But he thought what they had was enough to keep her. And then there is the fact that her leaving came out of nowhere, things he could not see coming until she just decided to pack up and leave.

The laments goes further as he mourns his loss. But the husband retains a hope and here is where the song gets its title. If the Bright Lights don’t receive you, you can always turn around and come on home.

The next verse describes the hurt felt by the husband. He has a hole and he has a scar now. The husband’s mourning is repeated to draw us to empathize with him.

Then we come to the bridge of the song where the husband goes into a rage:

Let that city take you in

Let that city spit you out

Let that city take you down

For God’s sake turn around
 

The whole song while titled “Bright Lights” is incredibly dark. A lament not unlike Hebrew poetry.

In a lot of ways, this really describes us. We left our husband, God. We went after our lusts, our Broadway and New York, eager to make a name for ourselves. Forsaking the love that is so strong towards us.

The song, rightly understood draws us into the hurt felt by the husband. The Bible does this is as well. In the Book of Hosea: “Rejoice not, O Israel! Exult not like the peoples; for you have played the whore, forsaking your God. You have loved a prostitute’s wages on all threshing floors.”

But praise God for the faithfulness of our Husband, Jesus. Though we have played the adulterer, he remains faithful and washes over our sins and purify His church with the Word. May He do so till the wedding takes place and we are betrothed to Him.

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