Comments on a Hymn

‘Arise, My Soul, Arise’

This hymn is about confidence, the most important confidence, confidence before God. And it explains, in striking ways, why it is that we can have this confidence. It’s because of Jesus. He is our ‘bleeding sacrifice’. He lives ‘to intercede’. His death pleads for us, ‘Forgive’. As a result, we can say, ‘My God is reconciled’. And out of all of this comes great boldness. ‘I can no longer fear.’ Don’t take this as some ‘religious truth’. Those only work when you’re in a religious mood, whatever that is. This confidence, this boldness, is about all of life. It will show not just during your prayers but throughout every aspect of your day. If you can be confident before God, what or whom is there to fear?

Arise, my soul, arise; shake off thy guilty fears;
The bleeding sacrifice in my behalf appears:
Before the throne my surety stands,
Before the throne my surety stands,
My name is written on His hands.

He ever lives above, for me to intercede;
His all redeeming love, His precious blood, to plead:
His blood atoned for all our race,
His blood atoned for all our race,
And sprinkles now the throne of grace.

Five bleeding wounds He bears; received on Calvary;
They pour effectual prayers; they strongly plead for me:
"Forgive him, O forgive," they cry,
"Forgive him, O forgive," they cry,
"Nor let that ransomed sinner die!"

My God is reconciled; His pardoning voice I hear;
He owns me for His child; I can no longer fear:
With confidence I now draw nigh,
With confidence I now draw nigh,
And "Father, Abba, Father," cry.