Chain Of Fire

“Chain Of Fire”; From the album “Tsiyon Bound” by DannyLee ben Israel

The original tune for this song, "Ring of Fire", written in part by June Carter Cash, is the first of five re-write songs of Johnny Cash on my “Tsiyon Bound” album. The original song was largely responsible for reviving Johnny's career and setting his feet on a path YHVH had planned for him. Lives have been affected positively for Adonai because of HIS extended mercy to him—including the life of this man.

On a beautiful weekend afternoon in Denver, Colorado in the late 1980's, I had my only opportunity to hear Johnny Cash sing in person—on stage at a Billy Graham crusade. Here was a man I had heard sing on radio from my high school days—singing songs of the "Outlaw Country" genre for which he was famous. I bought one of his LP albums in those early years, and have many more now.

On this particular day, he was singing and testifying of our blessed Messiah. Little did I know that day I would be standing on stages some 20 years later saying, "Hello, I'm Johnny Cash..." and singing his tunes. Even more so, I would never have dreamed then I would now be taking his songs and re-writing the lyrics to glorify the Messiah he dearly loved to his dying day.

A new line to this song, "The taste of sin is sweet when hearts like ours cheat. I fell for it like a child. Oh, but the fire went wild", gives evidence of the subtle and deceptive nature of sin. The new line, "Sin is a burning flame, and it binds with a fiery chain. Drawn by sin's desire, I was bound by a chain of fire", declares the hideous bondage and penalty of chasing after the god of "self". Sin of rebellion against YAH's Torah ways may be sweet for a time, but, in the end has the sting of a serpent.

Since Adam, men have preferred their own ways rather than the higher, unchanging ways of YHVH. As long as we live in this world in these fleshly bodies, we will be at war between flesh and spirit. Our only hope of victory is to heed the words of the writer of Proverbs in 3: 5-6. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge HIM, and HE shall direct your paths."

The words of James in 1: 14-15 clearly describe the destructively binding nature of sin. "But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death." Except for the hand of YHVH upon Johnny's life, and the fervent and loving efforts of his covenant partner, June Carter, he would likely have suffered a fate similar to many well known musicians of his time—early death.

My challenge through this song is that the listener develop a stronger desire for YAH's Word and ideals than personal desires—and build daily upon that desire. That challenge is seen in the new lyric line, "If you'd live, live, live, grasp the Rock that is higher". A great way to "grasp the Rock" is to begin with the words of the Psalmist in 119: 9.

He asks, "How can a young man cleanse his way?", and answers, "by taking heed according to (YAH's) Word". He says in v. 11, "Your Word (Torah) I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You". Grab onto and commune with the Living Word, Yeshua, glean power from Ruach YHVH, and be enveloped with encouragement from above.

Chain Of Fire

Danny Lee Whittle
To the tune of “Ring of Fire”—Johnny Cash

Sin is a burning flame.
And it binds with a fiery chain.
Drawn by sin’s desire
I was bound by a chain of fire.

I was bound by a burning chain of fire.
I went down, down, down and the flames went higher.
And it burns, burns, burns, the chain of fire, the chain of fire.

I was bound by a burning chain of fire.
I went down, down, down…the flames went higher.
And it burns, burns, burns, the chain of fire, the chain of fire.

The taste of sin is sweet,
When hearts like ours cheat.
I fell for it like a child,
Oh, but the fire went wild.

I was bound by a burning chain of fire.
I went down, down, down…the flames went higher.
And it burns, burns, burns, the chain of fire, the chain of fire.

Don’t be bound to that burning chain of fire.
If you’d live, live, live, grasp the Rock that is higher.
Or be burned, burned, burned by the chain of fire, the chain of fire.

Yes, it burns, burns, burns, the chain of fire, the chain of fire.

© 2009 Danny Lee Whittle and DannyLee ben Israel – All Rights Reserved Worldwide