World in Motion is the ninth album by American singer/songwriter Jackson Browne, released in 1989 (see 1989 in music). It peaked at number 45 on The Billboard 200 and was Browne's first album to obtain neither Gold nor Platinum status. The album took three years to complete and makes statements about nuclear disarmament and the "secret" government that brought forth Oliver North and the Iran-Contra scandal.The critical reviews of World in Motion were lukewarm. Music critic William Rulhmann wrote "Except for the gloomy viewpoint, it was hard to recognise the Jackson Browne of his first few albums amid all the commentary, and even if you agreed with his overall political stance, that was disappointing." Critic Robert Christgau commented that the best songs were the ones Browne did not write. Rolling Stone wrote, "Steven Van Zandt's 'I Am a Patriot' is the only truly memorable song on Browne's trilogy of protest albums." "How long is all of 6 mins and 10 seconds and is all of a protest song, It's a rage against the machine. It's a lament in the face of the tragedy that we call the world.
When you look into a child's face
And you're seeing the human race
And the endless possibilities there
Where so much can come true
And you think of the beautiful things
A child can do
How long - would the child survive
How long - if it was up to you
When you think about the money spent
On defense by a government
And the weapons of destruction we've built
We're so sure that we need
And you think of the millions and millions
That money could feed
How long - can you hear someone crying
How long - can you hear someone dying
Before you ask yourself why?
And how long will we hear people speaking
About missiles for peace
And just let it go by
How long will they tell us these weapons
Are keeping us free
That's a lie
If you saw it from a satellite
With its green and its blue and white
The beauty of the curve of the earth
And its oceans below
You might think it was paradise
If you didn't know
You might think that it's turning
But it's turning so slow
How long - can you hear someone crying
How long - can you hear someone dying
Before you ask yourself why?
And how long will it be 'till we've turned
To the tasks and the skills
That we'll have to have learned
If we're going to find our place in the future
And have something to offer
Where this planet's concerned
How long?
This song fits with the long line of old testament prophets who raged against the injustice of the nations. Browne's take on the world would fit very well with many of the OT prophet's worldviews. One in particular is Habbakuk. Habbakuk asks the Lord "How Long" and in the midst of Habbakuk's miserable condition and outlook he is given hope in the answer that the Lord gives him. He then has to live life through a new lens, the lens of hope in the promise of God.
Habakkuk is a prophet of God, who finds himself in the same place where we all find ourselves at times: a place of questioning; a place of doubt. So this great Old Testament book is like an exhorting glimpse into Habakkuk’s personal journal.
As the text plays out, we see a dialogue between God and his prophet. We see Habakkuk challenge God, cry out to God, and distrust God - just like we do. But along the way, we see God answer Habakkuk's every question, challenge, cry, and doubt. So the book culminates with Habakkuk as a changed man. His final words are an awe-filled personal prayer, which he then turned into a corporate hymn: he admits God’s goodness in the past, asks God to carry out God’s will and plan in the future, and confesses utmost faith and trust in the present.
The book of Habakkuk challenges us to ask questions like, “What does prayer look like?,” “Is it OK to question God and his will?,” and “Can I truly trust God, when life is hard and I don’t understand what he’s doing?" - and to ask those questions in light of a God who stands up to every question; a God who is good, glorious, righteous, and true. While doubting God throughout most the book, Habakkuk actually shows us how trusting God truly looks.
The other thing that Habakkuk demonstrates is utmost hope. In Chapter 3:17-18 we find some of the most hope filled verses in the bible. Habakkuk lives life as if the promise of God comes to pass and encourages others to do the same. Habakkuk lives with eyes of hopefulness and not despair any longer.
This is applicable to us today in the following ways. We may all ask "How Long". This especially true in this season of advent. We may lament at the world's situation like in Jackson Browne's song. We may feel that there is no hope. Habakkuk's lesson should be our lesson, for we as followers of Jesus are to look at world events through resurrection eyes. This is the hope we have. This is the hope we can give away. We may still ask "How Long", but we can see a different plan and that plan, that eternal, kingdom hope causes us to sing when there seems to be no hope left. This is our song of protest.
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