Song Study 12: Meekness and Majesty

 

SONG STUDY (22) AND CAN IT BE

Charles Wesley

     

And can it be that I should gain

An interest in the Saviour’s blood?

Died He for me, who caused His pain?

For me, who Him to death pursued?

Amazing love! how can it be

That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

 

’Tis mystery all! The Immortal dies:

Who can explore His strange design?

In vain the first-born seraph tries

To sound the depths of love divine!

’Tis mercy all! let earth adore,

Let angel minds inquire no more.

 

 He left His Father’s throne above,

So free, so infinite His grace;

Emptied Himself of all but love,

And bled for Adam’s helpless race.

‘Tis mercy all, immense and free;

For, O my God, it found out me.

 

Long my imprisoned spirit lay

Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;

Thine eye diffused a quickening ray,

I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;

My chains fell off, my heart was free;

I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

 

No condemnation now I dread;

Jesus, and all in Him, is mine!

Alive in Him, my living Head,

And clothed in righteousness divine,

Bold I approach the eternal throne,

And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

 Video to watch:     And Can it Be

 This song of Charles Wesley is very much about his own experience of Christ. Note the use of “I’, “me”, “my” and “mine” throughout. There isn’t a “you” in the hymn!

1. Understanding the words: interest, mystery, immortal, design, in vain, seraph, sound, fast, diffused, quickening, dungeon, condemnation, dread.
2. Where does the Bible speak about our relationship with Christ being a personal one (as opposed to Scriptures like “God so loved the world", which are impersonal?
3. See John 7:37-38, Galatians 2:20, 1 Timothy 1:15-16, Revelation 3:20.
4. In what way are we responsible for his pain and pursuing him to death?
5. In verse 2 the writer asks a difficult question. What is it and is there an answer?
6. What does he mean by “the first-born seraph”? See Luke 2:8-14. What about the “angel minds”? See Hebrews 1:13-14, 2:5-8.
7. Verse 3 is based on Philippians 2:5-11. Why is “Adam’s race” “helpless”? See 1 Corinthians 15:20-23.
8. Verse 4 is based on Acts 12:6-10. Why is this such a good example of what Christ has done for us individually?
9. Why is there now no condemnation? See Romans 8:1-4.
10. What is “clothed in righteousness divine” all about” See Galatians 3:26-27 and Romans 3:21-24.
11. Why are we able to boldly approach the eternal throne? See Hebrews 4:14-16.
12. What crown? See 1 Corinthians 9:25, 2 Timothy 4:6-8, James 1:12 and 
13. 1 Peter 5:4.                               
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