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Photo of bejeweled crown to symbolize throne.

Photo by Canva

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea;
A great High Priest whose name is love;
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands.
My name is written on His heart.
I know that while in heav’n He stands.
No tongue can bid me thence depart.
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

 

When Satan tempts me to despair.
And tells me of the guilt within.
Upward I look and see Him there,
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the Just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.
To look on Him and pardon me.

 

Behold Him there, the risen Lamb.
My perfect, spotless Righteousness.
The great unchangeable I AM.
The King of glory and of grace.
One with Himself, I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by His blood.
My life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ my Savior and my God.
With Christ my Savior and my God.

Yes, this newish hymn is another of those old, old ones.  It was written in Ireland by Charitie Lees Smith in 1863. She was the daughter of a pastor., Over the years, it was sung to a variety of different tunes. But more recently, it took on a new life when Vicki Cook wrote a new tune to it for Sovereign Grace. Later, the Gettys sang it. The words are loaded with Biblical truth and singing them only cements them into our memory.

Singing Biblical truth repeats God’s truth to you instead of lies that often come into your mind.

A friend of mine who had been a believer for a most of her life, told me that when she heard the words to this song, she understood more about the doctrine of salvation and justification than she understood in all those years of listening to sermons!

We must understand that each of us “hears”, understands, and processes in different ways and for many, the words they sing touch their hearts and souls at a place that much of the preaching doesn’t. No, I’m not suggesting we get all our theology from songs.  Just that we not be threatened by them or tunes that make them more singable and thus more memorable. It’s an aid to memory. We want to maintain all the aids we can to keeping GOD’s Word in our hearts.

As long as I get to hear some of the music I like, and the music isn’t disruptive (I’ll talk more about that later), I don’t mind that I don’t love all of the tunes. My big desire is for good Biblical lyrics. I realize that for many, this is their language. It is the language of their soul!  It is how they sing out their faith. Frankly, it is how I sing out mine too.  I am just familiar with different songs and often different tunes.  However, this newish song to me is a real favorite.  I love the words AND the music.

Knowing I have a high priest advocating for me at the throne of God? How wonderful is that?

To know that I have my High Priest advocating for me at the throne of GOD; that at those times (like recently) when Satan tosses accusation after accusation at me, tempting me to despair…often successfully!  I know that He paid for all of it…already!  I am hid with Christ…in His death and His resurrection. There is a time coming when I will be with him because of His grace to me! I am forgiven. I all happened at the cross. I am so thankful. This topic is woven through many of Paul’s epistles so clearly!