GREAT GOD OF WONDERS

Pardon - a verb which means to forgive or to excuse a person, error, or offense.  To release an offender from the legal consequences of an offense or conviction.  All of us need a pardon from God for our sin.  The scriptures remind us that all of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God.  We would be condemned to eternal separation from God, but God demonstrated His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  And while the wages of sin is death, the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ.  This pardon from sin and its consequences is ours if we just accept it.  Such grace, so rich and so free!  And that is the message of this week's hymn choice.  It is an old one not found in many hymnals in the last few decades, but its message is powerful and relevant for lives today.  The author of this hymn text, Samuel Davies, was an American Presbyterian minister who was appointed president of Princeton University in 1759, succeeding the well-known evangelist, Jonathan Edwards. My how times have changed in the college scene. Dr. Davies was highly influential in the fields of religion and education and he wrote a number of hymns that had a wide acceptance in the 18th century, especially in England.  We don't know the events behind the writing of this text, but it was published posthumously by Thomas Gibbons in 1769.  I'm not sure how many verses were actually penned by Davies, for it appears that numerous additions and revisions may have been made over the centuries.  The three verses marked below are the ones most commonly found in later hymnbooks but I am also including two others which appeared in many older texts and books.  The question posed by this hymn is an important one in today's society where many feel that there are numerous ways to God.  But there is only one who can pardon and forgive our sins.  And so this hymn bodly proclaims to God "Who is a pardoning God like Thee".  And the answer is obvious - there is none except Him.  Oh how amazing is His grace to us and it is freely given.  There is nothing we can do to earn it. Let us be thankful that the price has been paid for our pardon.  May we fill the whole world with grateful praise as we share this truth to all.  It is the only hope for mankind.

*1.     Great God of wonders! All Thy ways

Are matchless, Godlike and divine;

But the fair glories of Thy grace

More Godlike and unrivaled shine,

More Godlike and unrivaled shine.

Who is a pardoning God like Thee?

Or who has grace so rich and free?

Or who has grace so rich and free?

2.     Crimes of such horror to forgive,

Such guilty, daring worms to spare;

This is Thy grand prerogative,

And none shall in the honor share,

And none shall in the honor share

3.    Angels and men, resign your claim

To pity, mercy, love and grace:

These glories crown Jehovah's Name

With an incomparable glaze

With an incomparable glaze.

+4.    In wonder lost, with trembling joy,

We take the pardon of our God:

Pardon for crimes of deepest dye,

A pardon bought with Jesus' blood,

A pardon bought with Jesus' blood.

Who is a pardoning God like Thee?

Or who has grace so rich and free?

Or who has grace so rich and free?

+5.     O may this strange, this matchless grace,

This Godlike miracle of love,

Fill the whole earth with grateful praise,

And all th'angelic choirs above,

And all th'angelic choirs above.

Who is a pardoning God like Thee?

Or who has grace so rich and free?

Or who has grace so rich and free?

I had a very difficult time finding a video of this hymn because it is such an old one.  But I did find one that is a little hard to understand at times and I also think some of the words may be different.  But I love the moving bass part in the chorus and that is the same and can be easily understood. So make sure that you listen to the chorus and enjoy the music and the words.     LISTEN