"Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver?"
Isaiah 50:2
How do I wrap my head around the word redeemer? If Jesus Christ purchased me with his blood, how do I relate to that? How does that make Him feel about me? I remember giving birth to my fourth child. It was a very long delivery. I labored and labored to bring him life. After, I held that sweet baby boy in my arms and every muscle in my body quivered with exhaustion. I was connected in every way to this child. Does He feel that way about me after having wrought the work of redemption for me?
"No love in mortality comes closer to approximating the pure love of Jesus Christ than the selfless love a devoted mother has for her child. When Isaiah, speaking messianic ally, wanted to convey Jehovah's love, he invoked the image of a mother's devotion. "Can a woman forget her sucking child?" he asks. How absurd, he implies, though not as absurd as thinking Christ will ever forget us."
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
How much do I need this redemption? Do I cry out for it? Do I pray for his redeeming power in my life. The words to the song below seem much more intense than my feelings. I have cried and prayed with intensity but not with this much intention. I am humbled by my Savior's mission to redeem.
Ah, turn me not away, receive me though unworthy.
Ah, turn me not away, receive me though unworthy.
Hear Thou my cry, hear Thou my cry,
Behold, Lord, my distress!
Answer me from Thy throne,
Haste Thee, Lord, to mine aid!
Thy pity show in my deep anguish, Thy pity show in my deep anguish.
Let not the sword of vengeance smite me,
Though righteous Thine anger, O Lord!
Shield me in danger, O regard me!
On Thee, Lord, alone will I call!
O divine Redeemer, O divine Redeemer!
I pray thee grant me pardon, And remember not
Remember not my sins!
Forgive me!
O divine Redeemer! I pray Thee, grant me pardon
And remember not, remember not, O Lord, my sins!
Night gathers round my soul
Fearful, I cry to Thee,
Come to mine aid, O Lord!
Haste Thee, Lord, haste to help me!
Hear my cry, hear my cry
Save me, Lord in Thy mercy;
Hear my cry, hear my cry!
Come and save me, O Lord!
O divine Redeemer! O divine Redeemer!
I pray Thee, grant me pardon, and remember not
Remember not, O Lord, my sins!
Save in the day of retribution
From death shield Thou me, O my God!
O divine Redeemer, have mercy!
Help me Savior!
There are twenty-four names of Christ and twenty-four days until Christmas. Check back here to find the contents page of this series.
Never thought about Jesus laboring for us like that. Great analogy. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is a great focus for Advent. I like the analogy of all a mother goes through in labour to bring forth a child and all that Jesus endured to give us life.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my favorite of his names, even though I too an incapable of wrapping my head around it.
ReplyDeleteMy mom & dad sang that song/hymn EVERYWHERE when we lived in Utah. It was my favorite if any song/hymn they sang together. When our son was killed, I asked them to sing this at his funeral. I wept so hard I shuddered... I realized that my tears were not simply at the tragical grief level, but I also felt that tremendous gratitude...the kind I will never have enough words to time...even into eternity...to than Him for what He did.How He was redeeming my son & how he has redeemed me & my family & all mankind with His blood. It’s a gratitude that runs deep. I so often, at certain needy times of my life, will sing this song. And I always hear my dad singing along with me.
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