Posted by: Chris | Thursday, 22 May 2008

Simply Awesome, Totally Undeserved, Immesurably Valuable: The Depth of God’s Mercy

… by the mercies of God …
Romans 12:1

 Have mercy on me, O God,
     according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
     blot out my transgressions.
Psalm 51:1, (ESV)

The accompanying song, a hymn written by Charles Wesley, teaches some wonderful truths. The music is taken from Red Mountain Music’s album Depth of Mercy, (although the lyrics are slightly abridged)

Depth of mercy! Can there be
Mercy still reserved for me?
Can my God His wrath forbear,
Me, the chief of sinners, spare?

I have long withstood His grace,
Long provoked Him to His face,
Would not hearken to His calls,
Grieved Him by a thousand falls.

I have spilt His precious blood,
Trampled on the Son of God,
Filled with pangs unspeakable,
I, who yet am not in hell!

I my Master have denied,
I afresh have crucified,
And profaned His hallowed Name,
Put Him to an open shame.

Whence to me this waste of love?
Ask my Advocate above!
See the cause in Jesus’ face,
Now before the throne of grace.

Jesus, answer from above,
Is not all Thy nature love?
Wilt Thou not the wrong forget,
Permit me to kiss Thy feet?

If I rightly read Thy heart,
If Thou all compassion art,
Bow Thine ear, in mercy bow,
Pardon and accept me now.

Jesus speaks, and pleads His blood!
He disarms the wrath of God;
Now my Father’s mercies move,
Justice lingers into love.

Kindled His relentings are,
Me He now delights to spare,
Cries, “How shall I give thee up?”
Lets the lifted thunder drop.

Lo! I still walk on the ground:
Lo! an Advocate is found:
“Hasten not to cut Him down,
Let this barren soul alone.”

There for me the Savior stands,
Shows His wounds and spreads His hands.
God is love! I know, I feel;
Jesus weeps and loves me still.

Pity from Thine eye let fall,
By a look my soul recall;
Now the stone to flesh convert,
Cast a look, and break my heart.

Now incline me to repent,
Let me now my sins lament,
Now my foul revolt deplore,
Weep, believe, and sin no more.

Charles Wesley, Depth of Mercy, (1740)

Thanks to Cyber Hymnal for the lyrics and UCCF for the video which was shown during the evening meeting at New Word Alive 2008, when Hugh Palmer was preaching on Romans 12.

Responses

Good stuff. Interesting that, though it is very visual, it necessarily would require a certain education level to grasp it. For example, the speed of the writing passing by would befuddle someone with dyslexia or a less able reader.

…a trait we need to engage with in the future of NWA.

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