Of Wrath and Love

 Like all of us, I guess, I get earworms. Sometimes they’re songs or tunes which I’ve always thought were dreadful, and the instant they worm (intended pun) their annoying way into my head, I shudder and try to think or sing over them. Other times, I love the music and words, or at least they’re OK, but perhaps they’ve worn out their welcome after playing on loop. An aural invertebrate like that wriggled in yesterday. It wasn’t the music, but the words of one of the song’s verses which made me happy because they displaced troubling lyrics from a song from Friday. First, that Friday song.

I was at an event organised to enthuse a Christian denomination’s ministers, active and retired, in the “Regions”, ie not the big smoke. We are thought to be more depressed and in need of self-care than our metropolitan sistren and brethren. It’s my experience in my particular region, that we’re a jolly sight happier and more cohesive than the poor folk in the smoke, but maybe that’s just me. We kicked off opening worship with a couple of songs. The second was played and sung to a variety of concurrent tunes and times, none of which matched the score. So I was already not exactly in the spirit on the (couple of days before) Lord’s Day. And then we reached the verse which runs - you’ll know which song this is:

And on that cross, where Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied.

I always sing forte before that line, so that shutting up for it might be noticeable to my neigbours. I do the same with the filioque in the creed. Stuart Townend refuses to give permission for the line to be changed to, this is just one example, “And on that cross where Jesus died, the love of God was magnified." You see the difference in understanding of what is the triumph of the Cross.

Now back to my earworm. I’m not sure what summoned it from childhood memory.

I am so glad that our Father in heaven

Tells of his love in the book he has given.

Wonderful things in the bible I see,

This is the dearest that Jesus loves me.

I am so glad that Jesus loves me …
Jesus loves even me.

Here’s the kicker:

Jesus loves me, and I know I love Him;
Love brought Him down my poor soul to redeem;
Yes, it was love made Him die on the tree;
Oh, I am certain that Jesus loves me!