Hymns

I enjoy the old hymns because I think they have something to say.  Sometimes when we sing hymns at church, it’s easy to get “lost in the song” and just sing without really knowing what you’re singing.  I think that it is sometimes good just to read a hymn and meditate on it to get a deeper understanding and appreciation for it.  I haven’t figured out how to post directly to this page yet, so I will probably just put up a new hymn each week until I do figure it out.  I hope it will be a blessing to you.

And Can It Be That I Should Gain

Written by Charles Welsey (1738)

And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain—
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

’Tis mystery all: th’Immortal dies:
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
Let angel minds inquire no more.

He left His Father’s throne above
So free, so infinite His grace—
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race:
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

Still the small inward voice I hear,
That whispers all my sins forgiven;
Still the atoning blood is near,
That quenched the wrath of hostile Heaven.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

I found these lyrics on hymnlyrics.org and found that this great old song has a couple of verses that I had not heard before.  The songbook at my church has only the first, third and fourth verses listed here.  I had heard the last verse sung before, but had not heard the second and fifth verses as listed here. 

“Died He for me who caused His pain- For me, who Him to death pursued”.  That is true- it was my sin that sent Jesus to the cross.  We criticize the Israelites of His day for crucifying Him, but had I been around back then, I likely would have been among the mob shouting “Crucify Him!”  It truly is an amazing love that caused my God to die for me.

“Tis mercy all, immense and free”.  It really is all mercy and nothing but mercy that showed God’s love to me.  I could keep going and going, but I will just let you read the hymn and make your own applications.

What an amazing and powerful song!