Mercy by Jonas Myrin and Matt Redman, 2013. Verse 3 by Don Strand, 2015.

1. I will kneel in the dust
at the foot of the cross,
where mercy paid for me.
Where the wrath I deserve,
it is gone, it has passed.
Your blood has hidden me.

Mercy, mercy,
as endless as the sea.
I’ll sing Your hallelujah
for all eternity.

Observe: We often fail to truly understand the depth of our sin and the offense (stench) it is to God’s holiness. In ancient times, repentance was demonstrated “in dust and ashes.” After God revealed to Job his sin of questioning God’s wisdom, Job said, “I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know…therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:3, 6).

We cannot plumb the depths of God’s love and grace for it endless. The only reasonable response is, like Job, to kneel in the dust, repent, receive forgiveness because of the cross, and sing “hallelujah.” What mercy!

2. We will lift up the cup
And the bread we will break
Remembering Your love.
We were fallen from grace
But You took all our shame
And nailed it to a cross

Mercy, mercy
As endless as the sea
I’ll sing Your hallelujah
For all eternity

The cup and bread remind us that we should constantly be looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2). But John Calvin said there is more. He said, “Those who partake of the bread and wine in faith are also, by the power of the Holy Spirit, being nourished by the body and blood of Christ.” When we eat and drink, we are ‘remembering your love,’ but we are also being spiritually fed and bonded in love to Christ and one another as we sing “hallelujah.”

This song seemed to leave out an important truth, so I wrote verse 3.

3. Now in Christ all is done

And I stand as a son

For all eternity.

I am no longer lost

Jesus paid the full cost

He bore God’s wrath for me.

Mercy, mercy
As endless as the sea
I’ll sing Your hallelujah
For all eternity

To ‘stand as a ‘son’ means every believer is granted a full inheritance in the Kingdom of God. In Romans 8.15-16, Paul writes you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” Paul says, adoption as “sons” to assure men and women of their equal standing as “children of God.”

To stand as a child of God for all eternity is why we sing “hallelujah.” The Spirit bearing witness with our spirit speaks of the preserving power of God. We cannot lose true salvation because it is the work of God in us. The closing reprise is fitting.

May I never lose the wonder,
oh, the wonder of Your mercy.
May I sing Your hallelujah.
Hallelujah, Amen.

I hope you will carry this song in your heart with “hallelujah” on your lips throughout this day.

Blessings, Pastor Don.