Mrs. Spurling,
Often the scriptures
describe the separation of
God in terms associated with
"the chains of darkness".
Every one is separated from
God because of sin. My use
of the term "sin's prison"
is a metaphor describing
this. When one receives the
One who became sin for us
(Christ, the key), this
prison door is opened and
the shackles are gone.
"Open up the very gates of
hell". I envisioned this
line in two ways. First of
all, we all deserve hell.
In Rev1:18 Christ says "I am
he that liveth, and was
dead; and, behold, I am
alive for evermore, Amen;
and have the keys of hell
and of death." Therefore
receiving the Key allows
each one of us to escape
the literal hell supported
thoroughly in scripture.
Secondly, I always see this
line referring to people who
have lived in the darkest
places of this life, the
"figurative" hell on earth.
Though I agree that nothing
of this earth is as bad as
the literal hell, many
people identify the darkness
and hopelessness in their
lives as hell. Christ, the
key, allows them out of
this.
In this song, I wanted to
reach the extremes of life.
There are many people who
have no problem identifying
with the metaphoric
terminology of this lyric.
I have used this song in
meetings of all sorts
including a maximum security
prison in Kentucky. Those
accused of violent crimes
facing life in prison have
no problem relating to these
lyrics as you could well
imagine.
I hope this helps. These
were and continue to be my
thoughts for this lyric. I
have spent the last 20 years
composing biblical songs
that teach, edify, and
admonish people. Sometimes,
I'm led to write things that
cause people to think and
that's good. Please
encourage people to use
their God-given mind to
explore the entire context
of a lyric just as they must
in the scriptures.
When analyzed this way,
these two thought-provoking
lines become clear. I hope
you will continue to find
this lyric useful in your
meetings.
God bless,
Phil
