2 Kings 9-10; Psalm 94
*Click here to read these passages:
I had the privilege recently to help with a local production of
the musical “Les Miserable.” Today
certain verses in Psalm 94 reminded me of the story of redemption in what has
become my favorite musical.
“The Lord isn’t looking,” they say, “and
besides, the God of Israel doesn’t care.” (vs.7
NLT)
“Unless the Lord had helped me, I would
soon have settled in the silence of the grave. I cried out, ‘I am slipping!’ but your unfailing love, O
Lord, supported me.” (vs.17-18 NLT)
In the opening scene of Les Mis one of the prisoners has the line,
“Sweet Jesus hear my prayer,” to which the others around him respond, “Sweet
Jesus doesn’t care.” And then they
all have the line, “We’re standing in our grave.”
Jean Valjean, one of those prisoners, gets released but is on
strict parole, and since he is labeled a criminal, struggles to find work,
food, or shelter. Until a bishop
welcomes him to his home and treats him as a guest. Valjean steals his silver in the night and flees, but is
caught. The bishop tells the
authorities that he gave the silver as a gift; therefore, protecting Valjean
from going back to prison.
Valjean realizes that the bishop has taught him love, has given
him his freedom, and given him hope.
He sings these words:
“He told me that I have a soul. How does he know?
What spirit came to move my life? Is there another way to go?
I am reaching but I fall.
And the night is closing in.
As I stare into the void.
To the whirlpool of my sin.
I’ll escape now from that world. From the world of Jean Valjean.
Jean Valjean is nothing now.
Another story must begin.”
And he tears the papers that proclaim him a criminal.
I love this story because this is what Jesus does for us. He shows us love. He offers us freedom. He tears the papers. We’re standing in our grave, asking is there another way to go, and He
provides the way. The old has
gone; the new has come. Another
story must begin! A story where we
show that same love and grace to others.
Click here to watch the scene after Jean Valjean is released from prison from the 2012 movie "Les Miserable" with Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean. Les Mis clip: Jean Valjean soliloquy
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