Posted May 29th, 2009
In the tradition of songs like “And Can It Be,” this song articulates a Christian’s journey from one who is “ignorant of grace” to one comes to know God’s grace shown at the cross, then to one who will forever weep and sing because of God’s mercy. In verse one we remember our spiritual condition before God called us - we did not understand the grace of God (Colossian 1:6) even while enjoying the benefits of God’s goodness to humanity in general (Matthew 5:45). We were dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1) and needed new hearts (Ezekiel 36:26). But God began his work when he opened our eyes to see our true condition before him and the wonder of grace that he would still give His Son for rebels like us. Because of the cross we need not shrink back before a holy God but may admire, love, and approach Him, thanking Him for giving us our savior, Jesus. And that thanksgiving will overflow into song as we forever remember the Lamb of God who was slain for us (Revelation 5:9).
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Posted January 8th, 2005
Praise God for His sovereign grace! John Kent, the hymn writer from the late 18th century, draws our attention to several things that God's sovereign grace accomplishes. First, he explains that it is the delivery method for God's limitless love. He draws from Ephesiams 3:18 when he speaks of the breadth and length of God's sovereign love that no man can know. Second, sovereign grace binds us to Christ by everlasting chains (bands) so that no one can snatch us from His hand (John 10:28). Third, God's grace gave us status as joint heirs with Jesus even before we were born (Eph 1:3-14). Fourth, sovereign grace fills us with the question "why, O Lord, such love to me?" We are given no other answer as to why God chose us to be saved other than the "kind intention of His will" (Eph 1:5). The song helps us to properly respond to this love by answering simply "hallelujah" - Praise the Lord! The chorus was added to the historic lyrics to summarize what the song is teaching us about God's grace and add a plea for God to pour it out even more abundantly in our lives so that we will passionately worship Him.
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Posted January 8th, 2005
This song is based on a hymn by famous songwriter Francis Scott Key (best known for writing "The Star Spangled Banner") named "Lord, with Glowing Heart I'd Praise Thee." In this song we praise our sovereign God who "loved and sought" us, drawing us to the cross of Christ and lifting our heads to look to Him and live. Key sweetly renders God's work in our hearts by describing how "His loving promise warmed me" (v. 3) and goes on to plead with God to make this warmth into a flame of love for Him. Unfortunately, our passion for God quickly cools when subvert it with the passing, unsatisfying pleasures of this world. We can only rely on God himself to light the fire of our love for Him - not our own efforts, not by listening to really pretty music, or by relying on the passion of others around us. In this song we pray directly to God: "God, help my weak endeavor; this dull soul to rapture raise!" May this be our prayer as we come before God in worship!
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Posted May 28th, 2004
One of the mysteries of God's love for us is why He loves us at all! Romans 9:12-13 shows that God chooses to love us before we were even born, knowing full well that we would turn our backs on Him and spurn His gracious will to worship the God of self. This hymn writer captures this truth beautifully. In order to extend and encapsulate this idea in a chorus, Ephesians 2:5 was used: "In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will". We have no other reason given in God's Word as to why He chose to love us - and we can rest content in that.
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Posted July 11th, 2003
God's word is clear about the condition of sinful humanity, of which we are all a member. We are described as being dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1), with a heart that is desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). Joseph Hart experienced this desperate condition of his heart and gave us personal, cutting hymn that helps us cry to God for Him to change our stubborn hearts. We know that it is only God, by His Spirit, that can move our hearts to worship Him as He designed and commands.
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Posted July 10th, 2003
The doctrine of election is one of the most precious to believers. The fact that God would choose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, not based on anything he would forsee we would do, but simply because of the kind intention of His will (Ephesians 1:5), is overwhelming. Even more amazing is the truth that God did this knowing full well that we would despise Him - His character and His word. He loved us while we shook our fist in His face and cursed Him by our thoughts, words, and deeds. The chorus lyrics are original and were written to compliment and summarize the two existing verses.
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Posted July 10th, 2003
Another song about the blessed doctrine of election, "Such Love" captures the wonder and love that God's eternal, sovereign choice instills in His people. How overwhelming the truth that God's love is so great that He covered millions of sins - ruthless rebellion against His law and authority, in Christ's righteousness. Regarding election, this song expresses the fact that God chose us before creation. He loved us with an everlasting love from before time began, purchasing the Church as a people for His own possession. How can we respond except by singing with the author, "Such everlasting love demands and everlasting song from me."
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Posted July 10th, 2003
The doctrine of election, though misunderstood by many, is one of the most precious truths that we can sing about. Our Lord called us long before we heard - before our heart was warmed even slightly to the things of God. May we celebrate the fact that God lifted us according to the kind intention of His will (Ephesians 1:5). Truly we were dead in our trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1) and needed God to lift us from our hopeless condition.
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Reformed Praise presents Martin Luther's setting of Psalm 130 in a fresh, reflective, piano-driven setting suitable for a wide range of worship music styles.
