10.26.2008

Wounded Conqueror

We sang two songs during our celebration of the Lord's Table yesterday. The first focused our mind on the physical suffering endured by our Savior on our behalf, the second celebrated the spiritual freedom gained by our Savior on our behalf.


O Sacred Head, Now Wounded
Words: At­trib­ut­ed to Ber­nard of Clair­vaux


O sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down,
Now scornfully surrounded with thorns, Thine only crown;
O sacred Head, what glory, what bliss till now was Thine!
Yet, though despised and gory, I joy to call Thee mine.

What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered, was all for sinners’ gain;
Mine, mine was the transgression, but Thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior! ’Tis I deserve Thy place;
Look on me with Thy favor, vouchsafe to me Thy grace.

Men mock and taunt and jeer Thee, Thou noble countenance,
Though mighty worlds shall fear Thee and flee before Thy glance.
How art thou pale with anguish, with sore abuse and scorn!
How doth Thy visage languish that once was bright as morn!

Now from Thy cheeks has vanished their color once so fair;
From Thy red lips is banished the splendor that was there.
Grim death, with cruel rigor, hath robbed Thee of Thy life;
Thus Thou hast lost Thy vigor, Thy strength in this sad strife.

My burden in Thy Passion, Lord, Thou hast borne for me,
For it was my transgression which brought this woe on Thee.
I cast me down before Thee, wrath were my rightful lot;
Have mercy, I implore Thee; Redeemer, spurn me not!

What language shall I borrow to thank Thee, dearest friend,
For this Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end?
O make me Thine forever, and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to Thee.

My Shepherd, now receive me; my Guardian, own me Thine.
Great blessings Thou didst give me, O source of gifts divine.
Thy lips have often fed me with words of truth and love;
Thy Spirit oft hath led me to heavenly joys above.

Here I will stand beside Thee, from Thee I will not part;
O Savior, do not chide me! When breaks Thy loving heart,
When soul and body languish in death’s cold, cruel grasp,
Then, in Thy deepest anguish, Thee in mine arms I’ll clasp.

The joy can never be spoken, above all joys beside,
When in Thy body broken I thus with safety hide.
O Lord of Life, desiring Thy glory now to see,
Beside Thy cross expiring, I’d breathe my soul to Thee.

My Savior, be Thou near me when death is at my door;
Then let Thy presence cheer me, forsake me nevermore!
When soul and body languish, oh, leave me not alone,
But take away mine anguish by virtue of Thine own!

Be Thou my consolation, my shield when I must die;
Remind me of Thy passion when my last hour draws nigh.
Mine eyes shall then behold Thee, upon Thy cross shall dwell,
My heart by faith enfolds Thee. Who dieth thus dies well.

Christ Has Conquered Allby Kristie Braselton (click here to listen to a sample)

Heavy-laden weary soul, bearing up a heart of stone
His Spirit comes to dwell in you, and Christ the weight of sin assume.
All my guilt is cast on Christ
And His righteousness is mine
What guilt should weigh upon my head?
For Christ has cleared it all!

The sum of all my sacrifice, though joyful fails to justify
I cannot pay for grace that’s free, nor add to work that is complete.
Jesus paid it all for me
This my ransom and my plea
What debt I labor to repay?
For Christ has paid it all!

Through the law comes sin and death, but faith is counted righteousness
So I will trust in Christ alone, my debt to pay, my sin atone.
And I’ll stand in confidence
Covered by His righteousness
What shall become of boasting tongues?
For Christ has done it all!

Where O death is now thy sting? Swallowed up in victory!
The Lord of Glory reigns on high, sovereign over earth and sky.
Yes He triumphed o’er the grave
And He comes again one Day
What lesser name shall draw our praise?
For Christ has conquered all!

2 comments:

Kristie Braselton said...

hey chief. glad you liked the song! always a blessing to hear of songs ministering to the church.

Aaron said...

Thanks for stopping by Kristie - and a big THANK YOU for writing this song! It is a great blessing to the body of Christ.
We have a "song of the month" at our church where we learn a new hymn and yours is this month's song. I've really enjoyed it.

Thanks for writing good sounding music with great theology.