The story of Tamar and Judah in Genesis 38 is a feminist critique of ancient society. It makes three points: 1) We (still) have double standards when it comes to men and women’s sexuality; 2) when people are subjected to public shaming, we should probably remember that we don’t know the whole story; 3) the people who are loudest in condemning others are often projecting their own guilt.
Both this story and the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) should remind Christians to be circumspect about leveling judgment against other people. The Bible consistently surprises us the ways outsiders “get it” before insiders do. That’s one reason judging other people (Matthew 7:1) is dangerous.
There aren’t a whole lot of hymns about humility in the church, even though it’s one of Jesus’ biggest themes. Maybe if we sang about this stuff more, church leaders would be less annoying?
There’s some scandalous language in this song—because it’s the same language used in the Bible.
lyrics
LYRICS:
Poor Tamar got pregnant after having some fun,
So Judah blew a gasket and took up his gun
Went down to her house and he banged on her door
Yelled out to all the neighbors she was playing the whore
They dragged her to the gallows there to put her to death
She said, “let me speak before I draw my last breath:
The man who got me pregnant gave me this signet ring.”
Judah took one look and felt his conscience sting.
She’s more righteous than me
She’s more righteous than me
I pray that one day I’ll have the grace to see
that the people who I judge may be the ones judging me
And I hope that when they do they do it mercifully
So that’s why I remember she’s more righteous than me
One day a man was walking down to Jericho
Through a neighborhood where nobody should go.
Some muggers beat him bloody and they left him to die,
And the preachers and the lawyers just passed him on by.
The hero of the story, well I thought he would be,
And ordinary citizen like you or like me.
But Jesus says the person who finally gave him aid
Was the person who I find it most easy to hate.
He’s more righteous than me (O, Lordy)
He’s more righteous than me
I pray that one day I’ll have the grace to see
that the people who I judge may be the ones judging me
And the measure I give will be the measure I get
So when you judge me, Jesus, please be lenient
Our privilege and our prejudice are deep in our bones
It’s easy to forget when we are gathering stones.
We treat our fellow humans like they’re part of a game
The mob will choose the ones who lose with public shame
Our righteous indignation we can’t satisfy
And in our anger any stranger we’ll crucify
But Jesus is the one who bravely takes our place
And this is what we sing when we look in his face
They’re more righteous than me
They’re more righteous than me
I pray that one day I’ll have the grace to see
that the people who I judge may be the ones judging me
And the measure I give will be the measure I get
So when you judge me, Jesus, please forgive and forget.
Strong debut album as a leader/composer/saxophonist. Smith leads 21 musicians through jazz styles from edgy to calming. Bandcamp New & Notable Dec 18, 2015
Jazz, funk, and hip-hop grooves drive the latest release by a world-class Dallas collective steered by Snarky Puppy's percussion duo. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 21, 2024
