STRICKEN, SMITTEN AND AFFLICTED

        One of the things that I have enjoyed over the years while writing this blog has been the discovery of hymns that I have never heard before.  This week's hymn is one of those.

           Thomas Kelly (1769-1855) wrote more than 750 hymns, including this one in 1804. Kelly planned to be a lawyer but after his conversion the Irishman decided to enter the ministry. He was ordained as an Anglican priest in 1792, but later became a "dissenting" minister. 

          The opening line of Kelly's hymn echoes the words of the prophet Isaiah, in his 53rd chapter. It is the description of the Messianic Suffering Servant: "We considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted." 

          In verse two, we are forced to consider the depth of Christ's passion, his groaning, his betrayal, his insults, and his unmatched grief. The deepest stroke that pierced him, however, was the stroke that divine justice gave.  Verse three reminds us that the cross displays the true nature of sin and human guilt. Then verse four elegantly summarizes the hope of the gospel -  "Lamb of God, for sinners wounded, sacrifice to cancel guilt! None shall ever be confounded who on him their hope have built." 

          These sober lyrics are set to a somber tune.  Kelly's words pose a challenge to the reader, urging us to think deeply on the events of Good Friday, as paraphrased from the Scriptural accounts. While we will never fully know or appreciate what Christ went through for us as He was beaten, mocked, and crucified, Scripture assures us that His sacrifice was on purpose, with purpose, and for our sake.  "In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.  In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (1 John 4:9-10)  "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:21)  All of Scripture points to Jesus, the Word of God.  

          What Christ accomplished for us during the week of His Passion was what the prophets proclaimed, what the apostles witnessed, and what we rest our faith upon.  There is power in God's Word.  With Jesus as the author and perfecter of our faith, we have a firm foundation that rolls the gravestones away, and remains strong into eternity.  

           May we take time to reflect upon the sacrifice and provision of the Savior who was stricken, smitten and afflicted for our salvation.

1    Stricken, smitten, and afflicted,

see him dying on the tree!

'Tis the Christ by man rejected;

yes, my soul, 'tis he, 'tis he!

'Tis the long-expected Prophet,

David's Son, yet David's Lord;

by his Son God now has spoken:

'tis the true and faithful Word.

2    Tell me, ye who hear him groaning,

was there ever grief like his?

Friends thro' fear his cause disowning,

foes insulting his distress;

many hands were raised to wound him,

none would interpose to save;

but the deepest stroke that pierced him

was the stroke that Justice gave.

3    Ye who think of sin but lightly

nor suppose the evil great

here may view its nature rightly,

here its guilt may estimate.

Mark the sacrifice appointed,

see who bears the awful load;

'tis the Word, the Lord's Anointed,

Son of Man and Son of God.

4    Here we have a firm foundation,

here the refuge of the lost;

Christ's the Rock of our salvation,

his the name of which we boast.

Lamb of God, for sinners wounded,

sacrifice to cancel guilt!

None shall ever be confounded

who on him their hope have built.

Listen to it here.   STRICKEN