Monday, April 13, 2009

Before the Throne of God Above

One of the ways I preach the gospel to myself is to memorise great hymns and sing them when I'm praying, or when I need to fix my straying thoughts on Jesus.

My favourite hymn at the moment is "Before the Throne of God Above", the version from the CD Songs for the Cross Centered Life. It's about how the risen Jesus stands in heaven and pleads for me - something which has come to mean a great deal to me recently. I'll tell you why tomorrow.

In the meantime, you might want to read or sing these words with me:


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 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.

© 1997 Sovereign Grace Worship (ASCAP).

You can listen to a short sample here.

image is from stock.xchng

1 comment:

Nicole said...

This is one of my favourite songs too. I've often found this part of the song a real encouragement:

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.