From the recording Bread Blessed and Broken
This is a song of Israel's repeated rejection of God...and of God's longing to bring them back into His arms.
This song is not a condemnation of Israel but a repeated theme in scripture. God still has a very strong following in Israel...they just haven't accepted Christ as the Messiah.
Lyrics
I Called You
I have called you as my people, I have called you as my own
I have called you to my table, I have called you to come home
I know you are my people, I have called you each by name
Oh Israel I formed you, and my love for you remains
Oh, Israel I called you, even tho you would not hear
But still my love grows stronger and I long to hold you near
You walked this land unknowing, you lit your funeral pyre
Like the twigs from branches fallen, you were gathered for the fire
In the place of booming thunder, on the waters of Meribah
I freed you from your burdens, When oppressed by Egypt’s law
Oh mountains of Israel send your rivers through the land
Your fruit bourn for my people Let my Manna fill their hands
Behold! I will turn to you, I will mold you as my own
From the wasteland build my cities where you’ll be tilled and sown
I have called you as my people, I have called you as my own
I have called you to my table, I have called you to come home
Come home…….