141. Rock Goes The Gospel - Rush "Closer To the Heart"

"Closer to the Heart" is a single by Rush, released in 1977, from the album A Farewell to Kings. It was the first Rush song to have an external co-writer, namely Peter Talbot, a friend of drummer and lyricist Neil Peart. It was issued as a single for Christmas 1977, and after two near misses with "Fly By Night" and "Bastille Day" in 1975, it finally gave Rush their first hit single in the United Kingdom, reaching No. 36 in the UK Singles Chart in February 1978. "Closer To The Heart" was one of five Rush songs inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame on March 28, 2010. It is one of Rush's most popular recordings, receiving a fair amount of radio airplay still to this day. The song has also been part of the set list on nearly every tour since 1977. The band decided to drop "Closer To The Heart" for the bulk of their 2002 Vapor Trails Tour and the entire R30: 30th Anniversary Tour in 2004 because, according to Peart, "we got sick of it." The song was also not played during the 2007 and 2008 legs of theSnakes & Arrows Tour. The song was brought back for the 2010 and 2011 legs of the Time Machine Tour, but it was dropped again for the 2012-2013 Clockwork Angels Tour.

This is about people who run governments, and how they should be responsible for initiating harmony among themselves, just as blue collar workers do: "And men who hold high places must be the ones to start to mold a new reality, Closer to the Heart, Closer to the heart." The next part talks about a blacksmith and an artist and how they forge their creativity in their art. Then we hear about the role of philosophers and ploughmen in sowing a new mentality - a new way for people to view life. Finally, "You can be the captain, I will draw the chart, sailing into destiny, closer to the heart" - achieving your goal is like sailing; someone needs to guide you or be your role model, but you have to draw the charts to navigate toward your destiny. The goal is to be "Closer to the Heart." We can apply this too as getting closer to God's heart.

God’s people, the kingdom of Judah, had disowned Him. They had actually sacrificed their own children in the fire to another god, which seems like the most abhorrent sin you could ever imagine. So, It was right on track with God’s plans to clear the promised land of these people who called themselves by HIS name, but lived like pagans. In context this is painful true.

They were immoral, they were unjust, they disobeyed God’s direct commands, they killed His prophets, they thought they could get away with their sinful lifestyles without consequences. And finally, after years of putting up with this atrocious behaviour, God is ready to bring down the hammer.

So, “His” people were attacked, carried off to Babylon (and various other countries), the temple and palace were burned to the ground and Jerusalem was left desolate. God said it was about time that the land took it’s Sabbath rest."

But, God never ends the story with discipline. He didn’t give up on His people even though they had forsaken Him. He stilled loved them with an everlasting love and He still planned to woo them back into His embrace, he still lamented there condition, he still sent the prophets, he still continues with them despite there rejection of him, despite their pride.

Sometimes when you read a verse in the context of the rest of story, the meaning changes a little bit. But this time, the meaning today is amplified. When things seem to be at the very worst they could EVER be, that’s the exact moment when God says He has a plan. Yes, His people are undergoing great discipline, but His plan is never for their harm, but restoration.

Ultimately, God’s plan for our lives isn’t about prosperity and everything being just wonderful. No, His plan is that we would seek Him. And so, God really does have a plan for all our lives and that alone should give us great hope. But when the plan seems difficult, we are reminded that His plan for us always revolves around our relationship with Him.

Whatever is going on in our lives, His ultimate plan is that I would come to Him, seek Him and live in communion with Him. This is our Hope. Getting closer to his heart.