Several weeks ago we introduced a song called “Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder.” It’s a re-tuned old hymn by John Newton, the writer of “Amazing Grace,” and it exults in Christ’s atoning work on our behalf.
Like many of the classic hymns, this one is loaded with biblical allusions and references. Sometimes it’s helpful for us to walk through language like this—it can help us to see and understand what we’re singing more clearly, and it can unlock these truths so they seep into our hearts. We don’t have space to cover the whole hymn, be we can take a look at verse 1!
The first verse draws on two sides of Exodus 19. In Exodus 19, newly freed Israel is gathered at the foot of Mount Sinai to hear from the God who delivered them. However, the tone is not the joyful celebration one might expect. God warned them not to set foot on the mountain, because his holy presence would consume any unholy, impure creature who came near. The sheer weight of his glory enforced that warning; he came with thick clouds, trumpet blasts, thunder, lightning, smoke, and fire. When he spoke the people trembled. In the next chapters God gives Moses the law that would govern Israel as a people, and that still bears witness to the massive gap between God’s righteousness and ours. The law instructs us and shows us the character of God, and it shows us how badly we have failed to keep it. Without Christ, we would be in the same place as Israel—huddled at the foot of the mountain, overwhelmed by the weight of God’s glory, terrified of his judgment, and exiled from his presence.
But, as our song reminds us, Jesus has overcome the terror of Sinai and the problem of our unrighteousness. “He has hushed the law’s loud thunder, he has quenched Mount Sinai’s flame.” The law constantly reminds us of our unholiness, and of our unworthiness to come into God’s holy presence. But instead of leaving us trembling outside the fence, God has welcomed us into a place infinitely more terrifying than Mount Sinai. He has brought us to “Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem” (Heb. 12:22-24). We can go there without fear. Why? Because “he has washed us with his blood.” Jesus’ blood purifies us and his righteousness covers us. We were not worthy, but he is, and his worthiness is given to us. Joined to the Son we receive his status. We have permission to go where he goes, even into the “heavenly places” (Eph. 1:20).
When we sing together this Sunday, let us love and sing and wonder. The salvation God offers begins with forgiveness, but it doesn’t end there. God doesn’t just reset the hard drive with a wink and then leave us to go our separate ways. He has drawn us near to him—both as a people, and as individuals. When we gather to pray, sing, hear his word, and eat at his table, we are in his presence together. He is near to us when we are alone, too. Whether we are busy, overwhelmed, surrounded, alone, joyful, or despondent—even in those times when we feel complete unworthy, we can take heart. Jesus has “brought us nigh to God.”
Listen Here
Justin+