There is only a handful of hymns that I can say really speak to me with their lyrics… Just a few days ago Petra and I bought ourselves a compilation of Integrity Music – iWorship 24/7 – it’s a local Dutch edition, from what I read on the cover.
Anyways, it features a song called My Savior My God by Aaron Shust. It captured me from the first time I heard it, so I decided I’d investigate on the lyrics… It turns out it’s basically an old hymn with the chorus added to it and apparently one verse changed. More about the story of this new song and the complete lyrics of it you can read here: www.aaronshust.com.
Here’s the original lyrics of the hymn which is written by Dorothy Greenwell and first published way back in 1873 in England.
I am not skilled to understand
What God hath willed, what God hath planned;
I only know at His right hand
Stands One who is my Savior.I take Him at His word indeed:
“Christ died for sinners”—this I read;
For in my heart I find a need
Of Him to be my Savior!That He should leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die,
You count it strange? So once did I
Before I knew my Savior!And, oh, that He fulfilled may see
The travail of His soul in me,
And with His work contented be,
As I with my dear Savior!Yes, living, dying, let me bring
My strength, my solace from this spring—
That He who lives to be my King
Once died to be my Savior!
This text reminded me of how simple, complete, and full of power our relationship with God is intended to be.
I hope it will be a blessing to you as well… one way or another.
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