Truth in Music 3: "Show Pity Lord"

Yet again, I find myself drawn to write about the words of a hymn that has been on my long list of favorites for a very long time.

Further, I can't help but notice that the words for this one were also written by Issac Watts; hymn writer and logician extraordinaire.

The words of this hymn may not be familiar to many. Though this was written almost 300 years ago; some of the ideas expressed within them has fallen out of favor in recent generations because it expresses a sense of guilt and guiltiness that makes people uncomfortable. However, in order to really understand the mercy of God; we must first understand how much we need mercy.

The fact that you are a child of God does not erase your nature or prevent you from further issues.

Show Pity Lord

By Isaac Watts

Show pity, Lord, O Lord, forgive,
Let a repenting rebel live:
Are not Thy mercies large and free?
May not a sinner trust in Thee?

• This song is a heartfelt request for mercy. There is a weight of rebellion and sin that weighs upon the author and upon us all.
• Immediately the status of Lord and King is recognized. Rebels from real kings fear just punishment and the plea for mercy is one for life itself, because of that rebellion.
• There is no reliance or trust in anything that the sinner himself as done. All of the hope for the request is found in the character of that Lord. He has mercies, and they are incredible. He is worthy of trust. Those things alone support the cry.

My crimes are great, but don't surpass
The power and glory of Thy grace:
Great God, Thy nature hath no bound,
So let Thy pardoning love be found.

•  For someone really seeking mercy from God, we see part of their heart expressed. There is no excusing their sins. They acknowledge that they have great crimes against Him.
• Again, reliance on God's nature and His goodness is what is looked to and nothing else.
• God's grace is sufficient for the deepest of crimes, and His infinite being is capable of pardon beyond comprehension. All that limits His love is His choice to cleanse and give that love.

Should sudden vengeance seize my breath,
I must pronounce Thee just in death;
And if my soul were sent to hell,
Thy righteous law approves it well.

• True repentance and seeking God's forgiveness also comes with acceptance of what the penalty should be. The penalties for sin are both death and Hell; and those are the completely just consequences.
• These words are some terribly hard ones for many people. They don't like the idea of that kind of God or divine justice. Many reject the concept of Hell or a God that could send someone there. There are even many who cannot accept the justice of a God that is able to end life at the time that He appoints.
• Sin has consequence. Because we are sinners we deserve any penalty that He assesses. Denial of that truth denies the need for God to save. Why would he save someone who doesn't think the penalties for that sin is just?
• Some may ask; "What about my good deeds and life for Christ." Without Him and His choice for you, it means nothing. His righteous law condemns one and all without Him.

Yet save a trembling sinner, Lord,
Whose hope, still hovering round Thy Word,
Would light on some sweet promise there,
Some sure support against despair.

• You should expect nothing less from Watts, but we have the conclusion of an argument that has been building the whole song. Here he makes his final case for God's requested mercy.
•  Up to this point he has demonstrated his confession of guilt, his acceptance of the just penalty, and his sole hope for help being in God alone. Now he pulls all of that together with his desire for the future and where he draws his strength from.
• Note that he doesn't look for hope from anywhere but the word of God. In it alone is found the truth of all of the points made before.
• He makes clear his fear before God because of his state before God's justice. He is not content to just quake in fear though; he throws himself into scripture to look for a light of hope from God.
• He finishes by returning to the nature of his Lord and glorifying it while throwing himself upon that character. He knows and praises the certain and unmoving protection that God reveals in his word for His people and asks to be given that.

I share these works of other children of God and dissect their phrases because I want to bless the hearts of others with their messages in the same way that they have blessed me over the course of my life.
Perhaps these words are new to you. Perhaps some of the concepts are foreign. They are all biblical.
Can you humble yourself to the level described here and own your sins in the way that is described? Can you acknowledge the depth of penalty that is due to you (and all of us) for our sins? Do you think there is anything inherent or that you have done (whether in belief or action) that makes you somehow worthy of different treatment from anyone else?
Throw yourself on the mercy of God alone and live the way that he commands; and know the sure support he offers.