Refrain: A Picture of Surrender to God’s Will

The Refrain in the Old Testament

Building on the theme of restraint, the Old Testament employs refrains in Psalms and Proverbs to anchor communal worship and moral instruction through deliberate repetition.

In the Psalms, recurring lines such as 'The Lord is King' (Psalm 96:10) or 'I will praise the Lord’ (Psalm 22:22-24) structured worship, allowing congregations to collectively affirm covenantal truths. Proverbs uses repetitive teachings. Its repeated calls to heed wisdom, such as in Proverbs 1:8 and 2:1, reinforce ethical instruction through memorability. This repetition transformed abstract theological concepts into tangible, communal practices.

By embedding refrains in liturgy and pedagogy, Israel’s religious life cultivated a shared identity rooted in divine commandments. Such repetition ensured that covenantal obligations were not only heard but internalized, laying a foundation for later scriptural reflection on communal faithfulness.

Jesus and the Refrain of Obedience

In John 18:11, Jesus embodies the refrain of divine submission by refusing to evade his crucifixion despite Peter’s violent defense.

Jesus’ words, *“Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?”* (John 18:11), reveal a deliberate refrain from self-preservation, prioritizing scriptural fulfillment over human impulse. This mirrors Psalm 40:7-8, where the psalmist declares, *“I take joy in doing your will, O my God; your law is deep within me,”* illustrating a pattern of faithful surrender to God’s will. In both passages, the refrain becomes a liturgical act of trust, aligning human will with divine purpose.

The Old Testament’s refrains of covenantal obedience - seen in psalms and proverbs - find their climax in Jesus’ refusal to override his Father’s plan. His restraint in Gethsemane and Golgotha transforms the refrain from a communal practice into a salvific act.

By modeling this obedience, Jesus redefines the refrain as the core of Christian discipleship. His example bridges Israel’s liturgical traditions to the New Covenant, setting the stage for how believers might emulate his self-emptying faithfulness in their own lives.

The Refrain in Christian Life and Worship

The practice of refraining - rooted in Jesus' obedience - finds expression today in worship and daily trust.

Modern hymns like 'Amazing Grace' or 'How Great Thou Art' employ refrains to anchor congregational faith, mirroring psalms' communal repetition. Liturgical practices such as the Lord's Prayer or creeds transform repetition into acts of covenantal alignment, echoing Jesus' submission in Gethsemane. By internalizing these patterns, believers cultivate a rhythm of dependence on God's will over human impulse. Yet risks arise when repetition becomes mechanical, as Jesus warned against 'vain repetitions' (Matthew 6:7), emphasizing intentionality over empty formulas.

Going Deeper

The concept of refrain intersects with other biblical symbols, such as the 'cup' in Psalm 116 and John 18:11, which also embody themes of divine submission and covenantal trust.

In Psalm 116:13, the 'cup of salvation' parallels the refrain’s emphasis on surrender, while Jesus’ prayer 'Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?' (John 18:11) reveals how refrains and symbolic objects alike anchor human will to God’s purpose. Advanced readers may explore commentaries by Gordon Fee or N.T. Wright for deeper analysis of these interwoven motifs.