Over the weekend I listened to a podcast with Sadie Robertson, Matt Redman (a worship singer/songwriter), and Maisey Redman (Matt's daughter). Overall, it was a great podcast with lots of great truth, but the part I'll look at today is the concept of what makes a worship song last forever. Matt's example was the Psalms and how they are still applicable today, despite having been written such a long time ago. Matt said that the most important element to a worship song was the inclusion of powerful truth. Songs that last forever have strong aspects of theology. Really, this means letting the "throne set the tone".
I have already had a few chances to evaluate songs for their theological elements, at Corban and with the WCC staff, and each time I have felt so blessed when I realized that the songs we sing often speak of truth about the nature of sinners, the character of God, and the great grace we receive. What great reminders!
I wanted to take some time to look at the theology behind the song How Deep the Father's Love For Us, sung by Selah.
Whether you know this song or not, take a few moments to listen to the song: https://youtu.be/1vmY2ztb5xc?feature=shared.
How Deep the Father's Love For Us
How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory
Behold the man upon a cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished
I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom
Hopefully we can all see the strong elements of truth in this song right away.
Within the first stanza we see the truths about God's character, the sacrifice of Jesus, and the nature of sinners.
How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
First, let's look at the magnitude of God's love. The songwriter uses the adjective deep, which like in English, the Greek word can be understood literally or as a metaphor. Ephesians 3:18-19 says, "...to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." In this verse, Paul is using the word deep literally.
A good example of the literal definition is Psalm 139.
Verses 7-10 say, "Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast."
The passage speaks of the physical distance that the Spirit of God spans. When we know that God is love (1 John 4:16), and we know that He is omnipresent, we can further understand the songwriter's intent behind the first two lines of the song. Like it says in Ephesians, the love of God is so deep and wide that it cannot even be measured.
In the next two lines of the first stanza, the songwriter speaks of the willing sacrifice of Christ for the redemption of sinners. Romans 5:8 makes the connection between the love of God (first two lines) and the redemption of man (second two lines). It says, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Like it says in the song, God the Father gave Christ (God the son) to die on the cross on behalf of wretches (sinners) so that they could become treasures (clean of their sin through Christ's sacrifice - 1 Pet. 2:9-10). An important concept when considering this first stanza is the idea that Christ was given as a sacrifice by the Father, but also that He willingly came to die for us. In John 10:18 Jesus says, "No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father." Jesus could have prevented His death since He was fully God and fully man, but instead submitted to the will of the Father. Philippians 2:8 says, "And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!". Out of His love, Jesus chose to die to redeem sinners.
The next stanza continues by saying...
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory
The pain of searing loss likely refers to Jesus' cry on the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34). It is at that moment when the sins of the world go upon Jesus, who has never sinned. Because of God's holiness, sin cannot be permitted in His presence. Christ endured the separation from God that we deserved, which is truly great pain of searing loss. For Jesus, God did turn His face away because He was enduring punishment for our sins. As I already mentioned, Jesus was fully man and fully God. This is something that is described as the Hypostatic Union, a doctrine essential for our salvation. If Jesus was not fully God, He could not have overcome sin and death. But if He was not fully human, He would not have been able to bear our sins. But... Jesus was fully man and fully God, thus bringing sinners to glory through our imputed righteousness (2 Cor 5:21).
Behold the man upon a cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
In this stanza the concept of the sinner's rejection of Christ is introduced. I am reminded of when the crowd praised Jesus on Sunday and then decided to release Barabbas (the murderer) so that Jesus would be crucified. Similarly, Peter denies Jesus three times right after saying that He would follow Jesus to the cross. As sinners, we were there mocking Jesus and sending Him to the cross.
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished
The doctrine of sin continues to be established as the song continues. Our sin was what led to Christ being crucified on the cross, but it wasn't without a purpose. The work on the cross accomplished the work of overcoming sin and death. If we return to Romans 5, we see the doctrine of justification. Verses 8-10 describe Christ's sacrifice and how through His sacrifice we are forgiven of our sins (justified) and that because of that we get to experience relationship with God (eternal life now) and we will get to experience eternal life with Him in Heaven one day. This work is not something we can lose but something that we are assured of in the nature of our salvation.
I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
In the second to last stanza the doctrine of grace occurs. There is not anything that sinners can do to earn their salvation. We cannot boast in our gifts, in our power, or in our wisdom. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." The only work that we can boast about is the work of Jesus on the cross, how he overcame sin and death.
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom
In this last stanza the songwriter expresses confusion on God's choice to be gracious to sinners. This connects back to the first stanza and title of the song. God's great love. His great grace. That through His sacrifice, sinners can experience redemption. We can enter into relationship with Him and experience renewal and new life, for this earth and for eternity. Christ's death on the cross on our behalf paid the price for our sin, making us holy.
What great truth! I am sure there is so much more that could be elaborated in the theology of the song, but this gives a quick glimpse to the Biblical truth in the lyrics.
As I was writing this, some of the theology seemed so simple. A few sections seemed to be easier to make the connections and other sections took more time and research, so that I could try to fully understand what was being portrayed. When it comes down to it, the song has again reminded me of the Gospel. What amazing grace that Christ would die on our behalf so that we can become righteous.
….. humming in my head all the way through …..
Yes !
As my dad was proofreading he couldn't help but hum the song. Is this a familiar song to you? Were you humming the lyrics as well?
I have really appreciated the engagement and comments on these blog postings.
Is this something you'd like me to do again with a different (or newer) song?
Was this too long or boring for you to read?