BONO' S BIBLE
BIBLICAL ALLUSIONS IN U2 SONGS
BIBLICAL ALLUSIONS IN U2 SONGS
He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” John 9:25 NIV
Jesus: “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” John 9:39 NIV
As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” ... Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” Luke 9:57-61 NIV
But Ruth said, “Do not plead with me to leave you or to turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you sleep, I will sleep.” Ruth 1:16 NASB
Jesus: “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’” Luke 15:22-24 NIV
Jesus: “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” John 15:11 NIV
Jesus: “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” John 16:24 NIV
I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together. Psalm 34:2-3 NIV (see also Psalms 57:5 & 108:5)
O Lord, open my lips,
That my mouth may declare Your praise. Psalm 51:15 NASB
Jesus: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7 & Luke 11:9 NIV
Jesus: “Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.” Revelation 3:20 NRSV
“All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” Isaiah 40:6-8 NIV
The life of mortals is like grass… like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love.... and his kingdom rules over all. Psalm 103:15-19 NIV
Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.... He says, “Be still, and know that I am God” Psalm 46:6,10 NIV
Jesus: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.... Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” Matthew 24:7,35, Mark 13:8,31 & Luke 21:10,33 NIV
My soul is in deep anguish. How long, Lord, how long? Psalm 6:3 NIV (see also Psalm 13:1-2, Habakkuk 1:2)
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Revelation 21:4 KJV (see also Revelation 7:17, Isaiah 25:8)
“Let us eat and drink,” you say, “for tomorrow we die!” Isaiah 22:13 NIV (see also 1 Corinthians 15:32)
When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30 NIV
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?... But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 KJV
I do not claim that I have already succeeded or have already become perfect. I keep striving to win the prize for which Christ Jesus has already won me to himself. Philippians 3:12 GNT
NEW YEAR'S DAY
Jesus: “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:3 KJV
Jesus: “And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.” John 16:22 KJV
The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. Revelation 6:12-13 NIV
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come. Joel 2:31 KJV & Acts 2:20 KJV
Jesus: “For many are invited, but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:14 NIV
Jesus: “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” John 3:3 NIV
DROWNING MAN
Save me, O God! The water is up to my neck; I am sinking in deep mud, and there is no solid ground; I am out in deep water, and the waves are about to drown me. Psalm 69:1-2 GNT (see also Psalm 69:14-15)
The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. Psalm 18:4-5 NIV
“Listen and come to Me. Hear, so you may live. And I will make an agreement with you that lasts forever, because of the faithful love promised to David.” Isaiah 55:3 NLV
He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. Psalm 107:29 NIV
The disciples went and woke him, saying “Master, Master, we're going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. Luke 8:24 NIV
He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. Psalm 18:16 NIV
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:30-31 NIV
His love endures forever. Psalms 136, 100:5, 106:1, 107:1, 118:1-4 NIV (see NLV for "lasts forever")
"40"
I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me and heard my cry.
He brought me up out of the pit... out of the miry clay. Psalm 40:1-2 NASB
I will sing a new song to you, my God... Psalm 144:9 NIV
He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God... Psalm 40:3 NASB
And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm...
Many will see and fear. Psalm 40:2-3 NASB
My soul is in deep anguish. How long, Lord, how long? Turn, Lord, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love. Psalm 6:3-4 NIV
PRIDE (IN THE NAME OF LOVE)
For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. Romans 5:19 NIV
After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Isaiah 53:11 NIV (see also Acts 13:38-39 KJV and 1 Corinthians 6:11)
Jesus: “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” Matthew 26:21 NIV
Jesus: “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:12-13 NIV
Jesus: “Where I am going, you cannot come. A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:33-35 NIV
Jesus: “Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:26-28 NIV see also Mark 10:43-45
… let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 1 John 4:7-8 KJV
“I sank beneath the waves, and death was very near. The waters closed above me”.... And the Lord ordered the fish to spit up Jonah on the beach, and it did. Jonah 2:5-10 TLB
Jesus: “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” Luke 22:48 NIV
THE UNFORGETTABLE FIRE
Walk on by, walk on through
Walk till you run and don't look back
For here I am
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze...
Do not be afraid, for I am with you... Isaiah 43:2-5 NIV
Carnival, the wheels fly and the colors spin through alcohol
Red wine that punctures the skin
Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper. Your eyes will see strange sights, and your mind will imagine confusing things. Proverbs 23:31-33 NIV
Face to face in a dry and waterless place
There on the mountain the Lord spoke to you face-to-face from the fire. Deuteronomy 5:4 GNT
He led you through that vast and terrifying desert where there were poisonous snakes and scorpions. In that dry and waterless land he made water flow out of solid rock for you. Deuteronomy 8:15 GNB/GNT
And if the mountains should crumble
Or disappear into the sea
Not a tear, no not I
And so we need not fear even if the world blows up and the mountains crumble into the sea. Psalm 46:2 TLB
Don't push me too far, don't push me too far, tonight
And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV
WITH OR WITHOUT YOU
See the thorn twist in your side
I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 NIV
I wait for you
My back is filled with searing pain; there is no health in my body. I am feeble and utterly crushed; I groan in anguish of heart.... Lord, I wait for you... Psalm 38:7-8, 15 NIV
My hands are tied, my body bruised
They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head.... They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. Matthew 27:28-30
And you give yourself away
Jesus: "whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matthew 20:26-28 NIV
Yeah, we'll shine like stars in the summer night
Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure.... Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. Philippians 2:15-16 NIV