Leah’s Song: Praise beyond rejection - An antidote to disappointment and rejection

Ruach Breath of Life

The despairing words of the original Welsh song, the Ash Grove, tell of a lover wandering in an ash grove, mourning the loss of the love of his life because she has been taken from him too soon. I have given this poignant folk song a new twist by taking for its subject the potentially tragic figure of Jacob’s first wife, Leah. When her father subtly substituted her more flamboyant and attractive sister into Jacob’s tent on his wedding night, Leah would forever live with the shadow of knowing that her husband’s heart infinitely preferred her sister Rachel. Living in the constant backwash and disapproval of her sister’s envy at her ability to bear so many children, Leah could easily have wasted away under the withering gaze and comments of both Jacob and Rachel. Instead she chose to praise God even in her sorrow, the names of her children reflecting her determination to rise above the waves of scorn that must so often have come her way. (See Genesis 29) Her firstborn, Reuben, sounds like the Hebrew for ‘He has seen my misery,’ whilst Her second was Simeon, for God is ‘one who hears,’ and her third Levi: ‘God will join,’ so named in the hope that God would finally cause her husband to love her. Her fourth son drew forth a new song in Leah's heart, and she called him Judah: “This time, I will praise the Lord.” (Gen. 29:25) Well done, Leah! You were not blessed with strong eyes, but you learned where to direct your heart in praise, and in time you became the mother of a nation – Your children being amongst those who became the founding fathers of Israel. It was from Judah’s lineage, of course, that would come not only Israel’s great king and composer of psalms, but also the Saviour of the world. What an inspiration for each one of us to praise the Lord when we find ourselves in strange and uncharted territory. May the Lord give us a song and spirit of thanksgiving that enables us to rise above those wearying feelings of rejection at those times when we feel passed over and unwanted, and when things are not working out as we had hoped. Words of the first verse by Robert Weston The words of the second adapted from the prolific American composer, Katherine Davis, who used the melody to set one of her hymns. Keys and vocals – Sally Mowbray Guitar – David Booth To Leah was given a husband unbidden In the darkness he mistook her for the love of his life He had waited for Rachel and longed to be her husband But then in the morning came the shock of his life This shame, would it now consume her, not being beloved by Jacob He setting his heart on Rachel to be first and not her? In praise Leah found refuge, not heeding her sadness, For God saw her mis'ry and blessed her estate. Let all things now living a song of thanksgiving To God the creator triumphantly raise; You fashioned and made us, protect and direct us, and guide us like Leah, to the end of our days. Your banner is o'er us, Your power goes before us, A pillar of fire shining forth in the night. Till shadows have vanished and darkness is banished Your purposes prosper as we pour forth our praise.