A Rhetorical Analysis Of The Song 'Beauty For Brokenness'

Rhetorical Analysis of the song “Beauty for brokenness” by Graham Kendrick The song that I chose for rhetorical analysis is Beauty for brokenness by Graham Kendrick. This song was written in 1993 for the 25th anniversary of the charity Tear Fund. It was influenced by a visit that Kendrick had made to India in 1992 and his perception of the contrast between Indian poverty and Western affluence. It was included in his CD album Spark to a Flame (1993), and has since been included in a number of mainstream hymn books, including the Australian Together in Song: Australian Hymn Book II (1999) [TIS], Sing Glory (1999), ICH5 (2000) and the Scottish CH4 (2005). Kendrick’s tune takes its name from the first line of the refrain (by which the hymn is sometimes known), GOD OF THE POOR. In this song, the author presents the disparities in life, social injustice, poverty, brokenness and reaches out to the audience for their action. The song is also known as God of the poor as it shows God’s heart for the broken people in this world. Even though God is usually referred as majestic and powerful, the reference to terms God of
In the last paragraph the writer uses the words” until the nations learn of your ways” makes this clear. By using the terms, God of the poor, friend of the weak, the author shatters the world’s image of God as powerful and Majestic reigning only in heaven. In the contemporary world, people dislike being introduced as friends of the poor and weak. In the social media people love to project themselves as successful and prominent with affluent connections. The author shows that in God’s kingdom, the values and dynamics are different. God’s kingdom is about justice, joy and peace. In the last paragraph he relates that salvation is not just believing in Christ but about bringing light in the darkness and justice to the hurting