Hymns and such

For those of you who know me know I love hymns. I can't get enough of them. I love the music, I love the lyrics, and I love the heart that is behind them. All to often, today's music is filled with words that mean nothing.

I've been listening to Selah's Greatest Hymn CD (which is AH-mazing!) and it includes a song that I was not previously familiar with, "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded". I finally got a copy of the lyrics and they just blew me away. I'm going to list all the lyrics, but for this purpose I wanted to focus simply on the last stanza.

O sacred Head, now wounded, With grief and shame weighed down,

Now scornfully surrounded With thorns, Thine only crown;

How pale Thou art with anguish, With sore abuse and scorn!

How does that visage languish Which once was bright as morn!

What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered Was all for sinner's 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.

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.

For some reason, this particular verse was really speaking to me. I think my favorite line is the last. What a prayer - let me never outlive my love to Thee!

I suggest you listen to the song. One cannot appreciate the words until you hear the song sung by such wonderful voices. I have it if you would like to borrow it. It's guaranteed good times!