Amen – Anonymous

Most people do not eagerly invite a curse upon themselves. Instead, if someone asked for an advantage or for someone to be treated well, that would be reason to say ‘Amen’, or ‘so be it’, ‘yes, I agree’. So, whoever decided to create the responsive chant “Amen” was perhaps not thinking about the biblical episode (Deuteronomy 27:15-26) in which Moses (see him pictured here) and other leaders of the Israelites directed that the people should assent – by saying ‘Amen’ -- to curses on themselves if they broke the sacred laws to which they had agreed. They said ‘amen’ twelve times in that episode. On the other hand, eight times in Revelation do people say ‘Amen’ in the context of worshipping God, a recognition of His divinity. Was “Amen” rooted in the negro slave era of the U.S., and was the author thinking about the Revelation emphasis, rather than the Deuteronomy one, as he coaxed others to join in this spiritual endeavor? See what you think.

There are various versions of ‘Amen’ that substitute different phrases to which a chorus assents with the song’s title word. The most common theme of the verses is a focus on the life of Jesus. His birth, miraculous life, suffering, death, and resurrection are truths that believers accept readily, not with just a casual head nod, but instead as exclamations to shout. A group of slaves, if indeed they were the first to worship with “Amen” sometime in the 18^th or 19^th Centuries, would have reason to draw upon Jesus’ powerful example. They were a powerless group, without hope seemingly. So much of the slave’s life was in the negative, perhaps the author wanted to declare something to which he and others could cry ‘yes!’ Jesus entered the same world as a baby that you and I inhabit; showed himself while still a boy to have power and insight; drew people to Himself as an adult; agonized over His impending death; and, yes, died and was buried; but, rose to defeat death once and for all. That’s a summary of how eight or nine verses of “Amen” would progress, a movement between highs and lows that are common for mortals, even one like Jesus who was simultaneously mortal and divine. “Amen” sums up the life that was given, but not surrendered indefinitely. The final ‘Amen’ could be accompanied by a ‘Hallelujah’, as an acknowledgement that He overcame death, and so can I. That should be an easy one to verbalize, correct?

Everyone needs this Amen. Moses charged his people to say it, and John foresaw it proclaimed many times in his vision on Patmos. Whoever crafted ‘Amen’ must have thought it needed to be uttered energetically, with an exclamation mark like the 12 times that the Hebrews did in the wilderness (Deuteronomy). Today, I cannot say I willingly cry ‘Amen’ to my own punishment as those followers of Moses did; but, I do link myself to Him eagerly as age and the inevitability of the end draws closer. Amen to rising as He did! And, Amen that He decided to come and experience everything else about which I can sing in this old spiritual. Is ‘Amen’ on your lips today?   

See background on the word here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amen

See here for discussion of the song: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amen_(gospel_song)