Redemption Song

Listen to the Redemption Song by Bob Marely and the Wailers

A desire for freedom is inherent in man. A yearning for liberty is part of the very soul of mankind. We can see it if we look through any history book. Tale after tale of people struggling to free themselves from oppression. When look at the news headlines we see the same struggle across the world - people are seeking freedom from poverty, war, persecution, oppression, violence and disease. Redemption Song begins with a simple description of the slave trade.

“Old pirates, yes, they rob I sold I to the merchant ships. Minutes after they took I from the bottomless pit”.

Millions of Africans were robbed of their freedom and sent to the Americas to supply the new colonies of the European Empire with human labour. About 15% died enroute due to the wretched conditions of slave ships and if they survived the voyage they were put to work on sugar plantations suffering gruelling work, appalling conditions and cruelty from their masters. There was no way out. It was a desperate and seemingly hopeless situation.

But Marley continues:

“My hand was made strong by the hand of the Almighty”.

God enters the song and brings hope. How? Many slaves in the midst of their suffering found hope in Jesus. Jesus himself had walked the dark valley they were walking through and African-American Christians were absolutely certain the Christ who died on a cross understood their suffering and would see them through it. Slaves who were forbidden by masters to attend church or, in some cases, even to pray, risked floggings to attend secret gatherings to worship God. In time God used his servant William Wilberforce, who relentlessly campaigned for an end to Salve Trade for 26 years until finally on the 29th July 1833 the bill abolishing slavery would finally be passed two days before Wilberforce’s death.

But the struggle for freedom did not end. Modern Slavery is still a huge issue today. People throughout the world are still suffering loss of freedom and cruel oppression.

Marley sings:

“how long will they kill our prophets while we stand aside and look”

probably referring Martin Luther King and Malcolm X who were key figures in the African American Civil Rights movement in 1960s who were silenced by the assassin’s bullet. Bob Marely was in his 20s when these assassinations took place. At the time he wrote the song in 1979, Bob Marley had been diagnosed with the cancer and knew he was dying. Considering all he had seen in history and in his own life time - this was his parting message.

“Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery none but ourselves can free our minds”.

What is he saying?

The slavery we all experience is of the mind. Marley sees that the primary bondage we experience is not from the oppression of other people but it is in our own hearts and minds. We all feel deep inside that we should be more than we are. What is this bondage? God tells us plainly in his word. Jesus said “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin” (John 8v34) and that is true for every human being for “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3v23). We live in servitude to corruption. Sin is our master, we are unable to resist it. Therefore when we stand before God, our Creator, we will be found guilty of breaking his laws and condemned. The whole world is held accountable to God for we are all conscious of our sin and yet continue in it (Romans 3v19-20).

We cannot free ourselves from this slavery. “None but ourselves but free our minds” says Marley – we know that this isn’t true! If we woke up tomorrow morning and resolved to free our ourselves from sin we wouldn’t get to lunchtime with our integrity intact. In any case our past sins are enough to condemn us! The Bible confirms this by describing us as dead in our trespasses and sins. On our own, we are helpless and hopeless!

Praise God that out of his mercy and grace he has provided a Redeemer. Christ has set us free. The amazing news of the gospel is we can be freed from the curse of sin. God came down to earth as a man to live the perfect life we couldn’t live and bore the condemnation we deserved. Those that trust in him are justified, freeing them from the guilt of sin and sanctified, freeing them from the bondage of corruption. What wonderful freedoms we have as Christians - access to God, freedom of speech in prayer and a heart is set at liberty and enlarged to run the ways of Gods commandments. “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8v36). As Christians we constantly battle our sinful natures, for our sinful nature is still there and will be until we are made perfect in glory. But Paul implores the Galatian believers who were tempted to return to their lives of sin “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery” (Galatians 3v1) Christ has opened the gate of our prison for us at such a cost, why would we would we reincarcerate ourselves?

Bob Marley asks his fans to help to sing these redemption songs and these was what he wanted his legacy to be. Redemption song strikes a cord across the world because we all long to be set free. True redemption is only found in Jesus. “Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.” (Psalm 130 v 7-8).

We as Christians have a precious Redemption Song to sing!