Donkey Song

Here is a fun break-the-ice / call-and-response song you’ll love to have in your songleading tool kit. It uses “me first, you second” imitation to get the group into the song instantly. The song is like clean blue jeans — it is not formal, it brings a smile, and it blends silly with serious so it can be used to pivot a meeting in any direction that would bless. Please give the song a listen, then come back for some thoughts on God knowing US by name.

“♫♪ My name is in the Word of God ♫♪”

So sings the Palm Sunday donkey. What about us? Does God know you and me by name?

With human organizations, the larger they get, the more impersonal they become. As students and drivers and citizens we are assigned identification numbers, otherwise they could not keep track of us. Yikes!

But it is not that way with God. He is big enough that He is ABLE to — and DOES — know everyone personally. He knows and lovingly cares for individuals beyond our ability to comprehend. He numbers our days and the hairs on our head.

He certainly knows our names.

God has a good memory

Have you ever started reading the Bible and gotten bogged down in a sea of names? The Bible is loaded with names. According to the Biographical Bible, 2nd Edition, there are 3,237 Bible characters named in the Scriptures, with 1,443 characters who do not have unique names (for example, there are 4 Benjamins, 14 Josephs, and 31 Zechariahs named).

When I think of donkeys in the Bible, Balaam’s name comes to mind. Numbers 22 gives us the remarkable record of this prophet who was “crookeder than a dog’s hind leg”. An evil king named Balak tried to hire this prophet, Balaam, to curse the Israelites. God did not want Balaam to take the job, but Balaam thought he knew better than God, so he hopped on his donkey and headed off to work. The Bible says Balaam’s donkey actually tried to talk Balaam out of going. (It doesn’t say his donkey SANG, but she DID speak!) God knows when a sparrow falls, so I’ll bet He knew that donkey, even though her name is not supplied. And I’ll bet the names of both Balaam and Balak are recorded in the book of works mentioned in Revelation. The day is coming when they will be resurrected, and will answer for what they did. That points to at least one reason God keeps track of names.

With God it’s personal

But there is a much more exciting reason God knows people by name. I was reading one of those “sea of names” sections (I Chronicles chapters 1-9) and it dawned on me that God really, truly knows people by name. When III John says, “I wish above all things that you would prosper and be in health”, we must not think of these words as if they were merely a clever quote preserved on a lone bumper sticker on some rusty, abandoned car.

Not at all.

III John expresses the desire of the Father God for each and every one of us personally. To help us receive the good He desires for us, He gave us life, His Word, His Dear Son, Jesus Christ, His gift of holy spirit, family — and the list goes on and on. Blessings abound.

God wishes that each and every one of us would receive blessings He showers on us personally.

I’m thrilled He knows us by name!

Even better than knowing I can ask the Lord for help and blessing is — is — is just knowing the Lord personally. What a privilege. What a joy. What comfort.

It’s enough to make a donkey sing.
It’s even enough to make a donkey song!

HEE HAW!

God bless you lots!
Dale R.


Download this songsheet

LYRICS: Donkey Song

There once was a little donkey
Tied to a post by a tree
Until one day they loosed him
And he followed the disciples’ feet
And this is what he said
As he waved his wooly head
Walking along the street:
“HEE HAW (hee haw) HE HAW (hee haw),
My name is in the Word of God!
HEE HAW (hee haw) HE HAW (hee haw)”
He sang it as he onward trod.
“HEE HAW (hee haw) HE HAW (hee haw)!”
It’s enough to make a donkey sing,
And the people all around
Were throwing branches to the ground,
Hosanna to the King!

Your thoughts?

Please jot a note in the “Leave a reply” spot below.

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First published June 18, 2020. Reposted January 22, 2023.

13 Replies to “Donkey Song”

  1. Julia Witchard

    Good evening mr dale, so u brought back that donkey song, that was an amazing song then and still is ,who could top that, and the character that’s singing it, makes it worth while listening to , .over, and over again, nice work mr dale, and u have the audacity mr dale, singing like u are having the time of your life …I know u are, because that donkey song is amazing ………………AND YES, Mr Dale, WHAT AND AMAZING FATHER WE SERVE, AND YES HE DOES KNOW EVERYTHING, HE DID THINK IT INTO EXISTENCE, …A FATHER OF ALL CREATION…THANKS FOR BRINGING BACK MEMORIES, AWESOME, MEMORIES, ….Much blessings to you and Cathy…much 💘… and 🙏…

    Reply
    1. Dale Reichel Post author

      Hi Julia. Thanks for your encouragement on reintroducing Bible lessons and songs that appeared earlier on this site. I’m finding that every week more people are viewing these pages and songs. They usually start with the newest post, which means they might not be aware of a lot of the older good songs that were posted over the last four years. At this time there are over 180 songs on the site. Several months ago I began reposting older songs so they can see the light of day for more people. Sometimes when reposting I’ve recorded a fresh video of the song. Usually I’ve been able to improve the lesson notes. Not only is this helping more people find these great older songs, but it also is giving me a little more time to spend learning new songs and make better recordings of them. Everyone wins! Thanks for your encouragement and kind notes! God bless you lots — Dale R.

      Reply
    1. Dale Reichel Post author

      I wonder how many times you hee-hawed this by now? Too many to count. I’ve known the song longer than I’ve known you … and you’ve known this song a larger percentage of your life than I can say I have. To which I say mreeeet… followed by a warm HEE HAW. God bless you lots! -D

      Reply
  2. Amy B

    I am so glad that I get these. It is not often that I am prompted to send a comment, but I am now! I thank God for His wonderful love and how He does abundantly above all that we can ask or think to bless, supply, and protect His beloved children – and WE are!! This was an absolute blessing for me, at the right time! God bless you, Dale! All out of proportion to your giving, may God pour into your life blessings upon blessings! And do likewise for me! I am encouraged and blessed by your words! And I am assured of His love and His provision! He KNOWS me and I KNOW Him! Thank you again, Dale! – AS He Is, Amy

    Reply
    1. Dale Reichel Post author

      Amy, thank you so much for your note of encouragement and blessings. May God honor your request for blessings upon blessings. I receive it! Lead on. God’s best to you always – Dale R.

      Reply
  3. Sarah D.

    Very fun! This reminds me of the scene in the gospel of John when Mary doesn’t recognize the risen Christ until he says her name. ❤️

    Minor note, I believe Balaam’s donkey was a “she.” ?

    I love your perspective on the long lists of names in the Bible. Now I will appreciate how these lists represent people made in God’s image that he knew by name. (Even the crooked ones!) ?

    Lovings!
    Sarah

    Reply
  4. Julia Witchard

    GOOD AFTERNOON MR DALE…THAT’S AMAZING HOW U CAME UP WITH THAT THREESOME OF U….HOW THOUGHTFULLY PLANNED….OUR FATHER JESUS IS REALLY USING…IT JUST MADE ME LAUGH JUST LOOKING AT U SINGING IN THOSE THREE PICTURES OF U, ACTUALLY IT’S FOUR OF U…NOW THAT’S WELL PLANNED…AND YES HE DID, CHEERISH US WITH THE GIFT OF LIFE..THROUGH OUR FATHER JESUS , HIMSELF IN THE FLESH, AND HE DIDN’T STOP THERE, HE SENT OUR FATHER HOLY SPIRIT TO COMFORT US…THANKS Mr. Dale, And Happy Father’ s Day…Much Love Goes Out To U And Your family…ALWAYS…

    Reply
    1. Dale Reichel Post author

      Steve, thanks for your kind words! It was fun getting the band back together to do this song ? God bless you lots! – Dale R.

      Reply

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