Michael Card’s “The Hidden Face of God” is classic Card. Which is to say that it is intelligent, articulate, engaging and not for everyone, unfortunately.
Card's magic cannot be gulped down in a half dozen quick gobbles, but needs time to resonate within the spirit. Thus, the tragic certainty that some will miss the power of this great concept album.
Card notes that current Christian culture disrespects mourning and the truthful emotions behind sorrow, doubt, regret, frustration and grief. Yet more than 80 of the 150 Psalms contain lamenting in various forms, although only one (Psalm 88) does not end in praise. This leads Card to believe that God welcomes our sorrow and doubts as he receives our praises, knowing that ultimately it leads us home to faith. Mining the experiences of Job, Saul, and even Jesus, he writes seven of the albums 11 songs that invite us into honesty and self-examination before our God.
"Come Lift Up Your Sorrows" sets the stage with its slow R&B-tinged burn, welcoming us into the safety of honest confession. The title track opens up with Card's usual dexterity on bouzouki, mandola, banjo and harp, laying a bed of sharp strings for his truthful tale of Job. It is followed by the album's stunner, the brave and powerful "Silence of God." This poignant ballad serves as the album's thoughtful centerpiece. Fully taking in these moving lyrics is almost painful, but it is a useful pain. The next track, banjo-rich "Walk With Me, Lord," moves you on carefully to consider the faithful presence of God. I loved "Tears of the World" for its brave look at the world's sorrows, overwhelming apart from God. The language of "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded" is heart-breaking, first written in 1656, still abundantly stirring today.
I wish I had the power to insist that all believers listen at least once to Michael Card's great works. It could only help us all.
