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My children with your mother plead
Lest she fall under curse
Stripped barren as the wilderness
To perish in her thirst
My love she has the harlot played
Conceived she has in sin
With other lovers that she chased
For all that I have given
So I will hedge her way with thorns
My love for will be a wall
That she will no more follow when
Her other lovers to her call
She did not know I was the one
Who gave her wool and wine
Since these she spent on idols I
Will take back what is mine
Her feasting I will cause to cease
Her mirth will turn to shame
I will destroy her lovers’ gifts
For which she me betrayed
So I will woo her heart again
Just as I did in the wilderness
And like a youth she’ll sing for joy
Delivered from all her distress
In that day to her again
A husband I will be
The names of all the other men
No longer will she speak
A covenant I also will
With all creation make
To break the bow and split the sword
Till all’s at rest and safe
Then I will my beloved betroth
In faithfulness and grace
And all the earth will marvel at
The radiance of her face
Then they whose name is Ruhama
The People I Know Not
Will say when I them mercy show
We’re yours alone, O God
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O watchman cry to Zion that
A day of darkness comes
Thick clouds on the horizon of
A people great and strong
Before them burns consuming fire
Despoiling Eden’s green
Invincible their storming is
They plunder like a thief
The earth will tremble at the sound
The heavens at the sight
As Yahweh utters forth his word
And who can it abide?
Yet his great mercy knows no bounds
To him turn and repent
Rend not your garments but your heart
That his wrath may relent
O watchman cry to Zion that
Its people gather near
To sanctify them to the Lord
And in his presence fear
The Lord will show compassion to
His people and his land
In power he will deliver them
With his almighty hand
Fear not, O earth, be glad, rejoice
The Lord will wonders do
Be not dismayed, O wilderness
Your waste will bring forth fruit
Exult, O Zion’s children, sing
And praise the Lord most high
He’ll bless until you overflow
With wheat and oil and wine
To you I will restore the years
Lost in the dying day
In me you will be satisfied
And never be ashamed
Then afterward upon all flesh
My spirit I will pour
Both old and young will prophesy
And visions will behold
Signs great and terrible you will see
Of fire and pillared smoke
The sun will hide, the moon will bleed
These wonders I will show
And it will be that everyone
Who calls upon my name
I will deliver, I the Lord
From age to age the same
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Give ear O children whom I loved
From slavery to birth
You only have I known of all
The families of the earth
Give ear O fallen virgin, I
For you sing this lament
Forsaken there is none to save
When you’re left desolate
Seek not for Bethel that unto
Captivity is doomed
For when the Lord breaks out like fire
Its wormwood he’ll consume
Seek him instead who made the stars
Who darkens night with day
Who summons water to the seas
Who only is Yahweh
When the lion roars
Who will not be terrified?
When the Lord has spoken holy words
Who can but prophesy?
Woe unto you who seek the day
Of darkness not of light
As one who fleeing from a lion
Falls to the serpent’s bite
For in that day the Lord will cause
The sun at noon to set
On every feast gloom will descend
And ash on every head
A famine will strike all the land
But not for want of bread
For they will seek the word of God
That from them will have fled
Yet in that day for David I
Will raise the fallen tent
Upon the ruins from the saints
My praises will ascend
The plowers and the planters will
The reapers overtake
The mountains with sweet wine will drip
My people’s thirst to slake
From exile I will bring them back
And plant them in their land
Uprooted they will never be
Held firmly in my hand
When the lion roars
Who will not be terrified?
When the Lord has spoken holy words
Who can but prophesy?
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The eagle’s pride beguiles the heart
On high its gaze cast down
From clefts of rock it makes its boast
Who’ll bring me to the ground?
How the deceiver is deceived
How foolish is the wise
Destroyed is Edom’s mountain with
All that on it resides
The violence to your brother done
Will also fall on you
For when he taken captive was
You with his captors stood
Why did you when his enemies came
Rejoice at his dismay?
Why did you take your share of spoil
And cut off his escape?
The day of Yahweh’s judgment nears
The cup of unmixed wine
You’ll drink your fill and stagger for
Mount Zion will arise
Then will the house of Jacob be
A fire of holiness
To burn all stubble that remains
The earth they will possess
To Zion’s mountain Christ will come
To rule with iron rod
For rule he must until all is
The kingdom of our God
The day of Yahweh’s judgment nears
The cup of unmixed wine
You’ll drink your fill and stagger for
Mount Zion will arise
The eagle’s pride beguiles the heart
On high its gaze cast down
From clefts of rock it makes its boast
Who’ll bring me to the ground?
How the deceiver is deceived
How foolish is the wise
Destroyed is Edom’s mountain with
All that on it resides
Then will the house of Jacob be
A fire of holiness
To burn all stubble that remains
The earth they will possess
To Zion’s mountain Christ will come
To rule with iron rod
For rule he must until all is
The kingdom of our God
The day of Yahweh’s judgment nears
The cup of unmixed wine
You’ll drink your fill and stagger for
Mount Zion will arise
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5. |
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Unto the Lord I cried because
Of this affliction mine
Though crying from the depths of hell
My voice he heard on high
For terror of his calling
I from him had tried to flee
But his swift frightful mercy
Cast me deep into the sea
Engulfed by floods I groaned as if
Forsaken I had been
Yet I believed I’d look upon
His temple once again
So much the waters compassed me
That almost drowned my soul
The weeds had wrapped around my head
The only voice my own
Beneath the mountains I went down
Entrapped by earthen bars
Yet from corruption I was raised
Delivered by my God
Although my soul within me failed
Remembered I Yahweh
And to his dwelling heavenly
My supplication came
Now I have learned that those who trust
In lying vanities
Who run away from holy fire
Forsake their own mercy
So I will offer sacrifice
With songs of thanks and praise
And to the nations I’ll declare
Salvation in his name
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Hear all people, hearken O earth
To the Lord alone who is your God most high
As he from his holy temple
Comes to witness and against you testify
Hear how silent are the prophets
Who spoke words of peace even when there was none
How no answer now is given
Even though they desperate seek signs from above
But I am full of power by
The Spirit of Yahweh
With might and judgment to declare
The hastening of his day
Bethlehem Ephratah, though you
Are so small and by the thousands are disdained
Out of you shall come the ruler
Who at his birth is still ancient in his days
He will put an end to suffering
To his call the scattered remnant will return
He will take his stand in strength and
All the ends of all the earth to him will turn
His judgment rendered then will they
Forge plowshares from their swords
A harvest not of war but peace
Thus spoken has the Lord
Behold the Lord comes forth to tread
The lofty in his ire
The mountains melt beneath his feet
As wax before the fire
God’s house will rise to mountain’s height
That all may see and laud
To its great light will peoples come
To hear the word of God
Now O enemy rejoice not
Even though I fall, I surely will arise
Know that when I sit in darkness
Even there the Lord my God will be my light
For my sin his indignation
I will bear yet I know that my cause he pleads
I will stand in vindication
At the judgment for his righteousness will be my peace
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With jealousy the Lord burns fierce
His vengeance he will have
On Nineveh, the prophet sees
How they have stored up wrath
When he rebukes the foaming sea
Its waters flee away
The earth burns at his presence and
His voice makes mountains quake
Before his indignation who has
Power to remain
When he pours fury out like fire
And throws down rocks like rain?
Do you ignore the word of God
And think you can survive?
Can desiccated thorns withstand
The scorching heat of fire?
Though you be shrewd and powerful
Still you will be cut down
The yoke you’ve placed on other necks
Will lay upon your own
The Lord has so decreed that no
More idols will remain
Each vile image he will smash
And put you in your grave
The Lord is slow to anger, full
Of steadfast love is he
The whirlwind is his chariot
The clouds dust from his feet
A stronghold is the Lord for all
Who in him refuge take
But floods will overwhelm the fools
Who him an enemy make
But to the bloody city woe
Upon injustice built
That multiplies its merchants and
Of wealth is never filled
Your crowned like locusts flee the light
Your people dwell in dust
If now you cry for help let save
You those in whom you trust
There is no healing for your wound
So grievous and so deep
That all rejoice, for whom have you
Not wounded constantly?
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How great a burden is your word
O Lord that I must bear
How long I’ve cried for you to save
From violence everywhere!
Why do you show me all this sin
And cause me only grief?
Why do you stay your judgment when
Injustice shatters peace?
Thrice holy Lord and God you are
With eyes of fire and flame
Are they not purer than to look
As wicked scorn your name?
Behold I am about to do
A work wondrous and strange
For I will call a nation strong
This cruel land to raze
Like ravenous wolves swift they will come
With judgment as my rod
They heaps of dust will leave behind
As tribute to their gods
So woe to them who like the grave
Are never satisfied
As waters cover seas, I will
Alone be glorified
Write plain the vision that is yet
For the appointed hour
Though it should tarry, wait, for it
Will soon arrive in power
Behold, the haughty soul that boasts
I will humiliate
But as for he who trusts in me
The just shall live by faith
Now that your word I’ve heard, O Lord
I grieve for what I know
Remember mercy in your wrath
This burden rots my bones
Yet I will stand upon my watch
And wait upon his word
To know how I should answer when
I his reproof have heard
Although the trees should blossom not
And fruit die on the vine
Yet still will I rejoice in God
Who hears my prayer on high
Though flocks be cut off from the fold
And barren be the land
My song and strength will be the Lord
Who makes me firmly stand
Now woe to those who seek their own
And to the heights aspire
Who build their house on bloody stones
Whose only end is fire
And woe to those who say to wood
And stone: “Arise, awake!”
Can that which has no breath at all
From judgment come to save?
But Yahweh in his temple is
Upon our praise enthroned
So let the whole earth silence keep
And know he’s God alone
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Thus says the Lord: Upon me wait
For soon I will appear
To flood the world with fiery love
And save all who me fear
I’ll fill their mouths with holy speech
Their tongues will sing my praise
That every nation, tribe, and tongue
Will come to know my fame
Then you will not be put to shame
Despite your shameful deeds
When I bring down the proud but lift
Up those that humble be
The lowly ones left in your midst
Will call upon my name
They’ll know the truth that sets them free
Of none they’ll be afraid
O Zion’s daughter, shout and sing
Rejoice with all your heart
Fear not, your God is in your midst
From him you none can part
Immanuel is mighty; my
Salvation soon will come
With joy I will sing over you
And quiet you with love
I’ll comfort those who sorrowful are
I’ll heal the blind and lame
I’ll seek and bring the outcast home
I’ll turn your grief to praise
When at that time I gather you
And raise you from the dust
The earth will lift its voice in song
For I have spoken thus
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It is not time to build God’s house
I heard the people say
While they inhabit dwellings fine
The Lord’s own lies in waste
Consider how much you have sown
How little you have gleaned
You drink, but always thirsty are
Still hungry though you eat
Your greatest hopes have come to naught
Your strivings all have failed
Because my house is ruined still
Its cinders ash and pale
For this the sky withholds its rain
The earth no fruit will bear
The corn and cattle, oil and wine
The famine will not spare
Now, O prophet, speak unto
The people great and small
Is there among you one who saw
This house before the fall?
Consider all your ways; go up
The mountain and bring wood
To build the house in which you’ll find
My glory and your good
Now be strong, O priest and king
For to his covenant
The Lord will faithful be; fear not!
On you his Spirit rests
Thus says the Lord: in just a while
The heavens I will shake
The earth and sea will tremble as
My presence fills this place
The glory of this latter house
Will so much greater be
Than of the first with all its gold
And then you will know peace
Before stone had been set on stone
You would not turn to me
But built upon this cornerstone
Blessed always you will be
I’ll overthrow strong kingdoms and
Destroy their rebel thrones
So that each tongue in heaven and earth
Will worship me alone
And then my chosen servant I
Will take and make into
A signet ring for my right hand
The nations he will rule
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I saw by night a rider red
Among the myrtle trees
Then horses white and speckled to
Fulfill the Lord’s decree
Four horns then followed to disperse
Judah and Israel
The turning on the scatterers
To scatter them as well
I lifted up my eyes again
And saw a measuring line
The holy city to surround
By God, a wall of fire
And then I saw the high priest who
Before the judgment stood
Yet as a brand plucked from the flame
His pardon God secured
As wakened out of sleep I saw
A candlestick between
Two olive trees, yet I knew not
What this vision could mean
Then I beheld a flying scroll
Proclaiming words of woe
Its message one of cursing that
Throughout the whole earth goes
And then a strange sight met my eyes
A basket that contained
A woman named for wickedness
Whom others took away
One final time I lifted up
My eyes to chariots four
The spirits of the heavens that
Are sent out by the Lord
Rejoice and sing, beloved child
Thus says the Lord of hosts
Before me all flesh silent be
That your God you may know
O mountain great, who are you that
Before me you should boast
It’s not by might nor power but
By my Spirit alone
Do not despise the day of things
That weak and small appear
My eyes run through earth and rest
On all those who me fear
O shout for joy, Jerusalem
Your king is here, behold
In justice and salvation he
Comes riding on a foal
All nations will be his domain
To them he peace will speak
His rule will be from age to age
His reign from sea to sea
In Ephraim and Judah he
Will break the battle bow
His blood will raise up from the pit
The prisoners of hope
The Lord shall over them be seen
His arrow will go forth
Like lightning and with trumpet blast
He rides upon the storm
Lift up your eyes and look upon
The one whom you have pierced
And mourn for your rejected Lord
Who in his grace draws near
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From where the sun arises to
The setting of the same
Among all peoples, tribes, and tongues
Great will be Yahweh’s name
But you have wearied him with words
By questioning him thus:
Where is the God of righteousness?
When will he come to us?
Thus says the Lord: First I will send
My prophet to prepare
The way to my house where the Lord
Will suddenly appear
But who his coming may abide
And stand when he returns?
For he is like the fuller’s soap
Like flames that cleanse and purge
Like a refiner he will sit
And purify like gold
His people that they may again
Bring offerings of old
In judgment I will come to you
Swift witness I will be
Against unrighteousness and those
Who have no fear of me
For I am God and I change not
Thus you are not consumed
If you will just return to me then
I’ll return to you
Rob me no more but bring your tithes
Into the storing house
And I will open up the heavens
To pour my blessings out
You’ll not have room to store them all
You’ll not fear want or blight
All nations then will call you blessed
A land of great delight
Behold the day will come when all
The wicked and the proud
Like stubble in a furnace they
Will burn and not be found
But unto you that fear my name
The sun of righteousness
Will rise with healing in his wings
In him you will be blessed
The serpent and his offspring you
Will tread upon the ground
Like ashes underneath your feet
Your heel will be his crown
Remember thus the word I spoke
Through Moses long ago
Let it be your constant delight
The bread to feed your soul
Elijah I will send before
My great and dreadful day
To turn the hearts of one to all
The dawning to proclaim
Repent the kingdom is at hand!
Of God and of his Christ
Repent the kingdom is at hand!
Dark must give way to light
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Tarblossom's second full-length album expands the musical palette used on the debut release "That Violent Country" and takes its lyrical inspiration from the biblical minor prophets. Blending the signature use of old-time instrumentation (banjo and bottleneck resonator guitar) and contemporary electronics, "The Healing Hunger" incorporates the biting edge of distorted electrics to give additional teeth to the overall sound.
This approach seeks fidelity to the source material in the minor prophets, whose visions both plumb the depths of darkest judgment and woe and soar to the heights of brightest hope and beauty. Juxtaposing minor-key laments with major-key anthems, "The Healing Hunger" explores the paradoxical message of the biblical prophets concerning the God who strikes in order to heal (Isaiah 19:22).
released February 7, 2019
All songs written, performed, recorded, mixed, and mastered by Jonathan Kleis, June 2018 – January 2019
