With Courage Tamar Acted
Genesis 38:12-30; Matthew 1:3
Recommended Tune: Nyland, Finnish folk melody Meter: 76.76 D
With courage Tamar acted
to gain a rightful heir.
Bereft of both her husbands
with wit she set a snare.
When Judah did not give her
his last son she devised
a plan to change her clothing
and don a harlot's guise.He saw her by the roadside,
and tempted by her lure
agreed to what she asked for.
Then he lay down with her.
Surprised when he discovered
that she would bear a child
he planned her execution,
but found he was beguiled.When Judah saw the payment
he knew he was outdone.
"She is more right than I am;
for I withheld my son."
The treasured twins of Tamar
thus furthered Judah's clan,
and she goes down in history
as part of our God's plan.Now women who are single
must dare to act alone.
God, shelter them through shadows
as they face days unknown.
Help them remember Tamar
whom you helped in her need.
Uphold them, God of justice,
as they with you proceed.
Edith Sinclair Downing's photo, biography, contact information and links to additional songs and choral music are available on the Discipleship Ministries website.
Copyright © 2007 Wayne Leupold Editions, Inc. Permission to copy this text for use in a church bulletin, etc., must be obtained from Wayne Leupold Editions, Inc. unless the church has a license from CCLI, OneLicense.net, or LicenSing.
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