A Spring of Joy

Picking the song for this week’s Wednesday Worship was easy, partly because I could listen to Shane & Shane all day long and never tire of their poetry, reflection, worship, and reverence. Their blend of acoustic instrumentation and heartfelt lyrics speak to me every time I listen to them. I love them because they are real. They speak truth. I love when music blends apologetics with experience, because that’s part of worship… knowing truth and clinging to that truth moving me to a place where I praise and rejoice.

I have sung the hymn “Before the Throne Of God Above” for years, and the depth of truth in that song has always spoken to me. I love that it is the complete Gospel in song. The promise of hope and the certainty of where I stand in the eyes and heart of my Savior is rich in this hymn. Knowing that with Christ, I cannot die. Knowing that He, the sinless One, took my place and I am guiltless. Knowing that my name is inscribed on the palms of His hands. I can never fall out. It is the peace of assurance. Full assurance that nothing can change who I am in Christ.

Shane & Shane do an excellent cover of this hymn on their Pages CD which you can download at iTunes or Amazon.com mp3 downloads. They add a refrain that brings the power of truth to the place of experience, and with experience comes praise. I have spent the past week (literally!) singing their refrain over and over as I go through my day. He has brought me from a place of despair to the truth of my place of security in Him and that brings me to praise. So I echo Shane & Shane’s cry to “Praise the One, the Risen Son of God!”

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 heaven 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 to 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.

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Praise the One, Risen Son of God!

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!

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Praise the One, Risen Son of God!

Amen and amen! Won’t you praise the Risen Son with me today?