What is it about the river Jordan? It's mentioned in so many Gospel songs in the genres of Southern Gospel, Bluegrass Gospel and African-American Spirituals. Is it just a 156-mile long river flowing north to south from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea? It borders modern-day Israel on it's eastern border and both Syria and Jordan on their western borders. It must a significant river to be mention in the Bible over 185 times. After a season of adversity and waiting it offers freedom. It's waters represent freedom from being oppressed and deliverance. Joshua led the Israelites, who were freed from bondage in Egypt, across it after God stopped it's flow which also allowed the Ark of the Covenant to be carried across dry land (Joshua 3). John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the river Jordan (Matt. 3:13-17).
When you consider the Israelites were once enslaved in Egypt, freed after Moses and the good Lord convinced Pharaoh to let them go, and that Jesus was born to eventually die for our sins thereby freeing us from the bondage of sin, you will see why the river Jordan is mentioned in Gospel music, especially the Spirituals.
Spirituals are the songs that African-American slaves sang, usually while working in the fields, as an expression against the inhuman conditions of slavery. These songs were inspired by the messages of black preachers or from pondering the Bible stories heard, as slaves weren't allowed to be taught to read or even write, at home and at work. The Bible proved to be a treasure trove of images, ideas and themes which also inspired the spirituals. Undoubtedly the slaves knew the story of the Israelites who were enslaved in Egypt and of their having to cross the river Jordan on their journey to the promise land. Therefore to the enslaved in the American south the river represented the border between slavery and freedom.
Symbolism abounds in Spirituals. Certain phrases, even whole songs, have particular meanings. Referencing "the other side of Jordan" is suggestive of the American north, and even Canada, where a slave would be free. "Walking Jordan's road" is suggestive of living a Christian life. "Going down to the river" suggests making a commitment to Christ via baptism. The spiritual "Roll, Jordan, Roll" became a coded message for escape. It brought to mind the Mississippi and Ohio rivers both of which led to freedom in the northern United States. The notion of the river Jordan rolling suggests approaching judgement on present injustices. In the spiritual "Deep River" the river Jordan can be connected to the Old Testament scripture of Deut. 12:10- "But when ye go over Jordan, and dwell in the land which the LORD your God giveth you to inherit, and when he giveth you rest from all your enemies round about, so that ye dwell in safety" (KJV). This song could quicken a slave's desire to "cross over" the river into a promise land of freedom. How could it not with lines such as "Deep River, my home is over Jordan....Oh, don't you want to go to the Gospel feast? That Promise Land where all is peace?..." The phrases "cross over" and crossing over" have another meaning, referencing another reason, other than freedom from slavery, to cross the river Jordan and that is death. This is the difference, in my opinion, between what the river Jordan means in Spirituals and what it means in traditional Southern and Bluegrass Gospel. Granted, many Spirituals have found their way into the aforementioned traditional Gospel music where they are as common place as traditional hymns. So much so you wouldn't know you were singing, or hearing, a Spiritual unless someone told you. Take the Gospel song "Far Side Banks of Jordan". It's about two people and how the one who dies first will be waiting for the other on the "far side banks of Jordan". "On Jordan's Stormy Banks I Stand" symbolizes a time of joyful transition when believers take their final steps on life's journey onto the shores of heaven.
It should be clear now why we hear so much of the river Jordan in Gospel music and Spirituals. We can equate, I think, the river of Jordan with hope and freedom. In the past it was a seen as a way over to a promised land of freedom for the enslaved in the American south. From the death of Christ on the cross to now and in the future, for the born again children of God it's a crossing that'll take us to heaven's shores. You can make that crossing if you have accepted Christ as your Savior. He freed us from sin's bondage when He died for us on Calvary and His sacrifice is the ticket that allows you passage across the river Jordan onto heaven's shores.
The songs:
I Stood on the Banks of Jordan
On Jordan's Stormy Banks I Stand
Other songs about the river of Jordan but not mentioned in article:
Mentions the river Jordan:
Sources:
