Approaching the throne of grace (based on Hebrews 4:14 – 5:10)

For the director of music. A psalm of Harry. To the tune of “Before the throne of God above”

Lord, your glory is high above the heavens

Your majesty is matchless

Who can compare to the glory of the Lord?

Who can enter his presence and not perish?

His rule is endless

And his throne endures forever

For God alone is the Creator

The Lord alone is uncreated

Who else can say “there was never a time when I was not”?

Who else can always say “I AM what I am”?

Without beginning or end of days

Our great God reigns

Yesterday, today and tomorrow

Past, present and future

While all human powers and dominions come and go

Rulers and kings rise and fall

Governments and authorities established and destroyed

Laws, statutes and regulations enacted and abolished

Yet the Lord, his law, his rule and his dominion

Will never see an end

Behold the throne of God!

Who can stand in his presence?

Who can bear to see him and live?

His glory and majesty, none can share

And yet there was One

With no beginning or end

The very essence of God himself

Who took on the very essence of man himself

Who stood before the throne of God above

And put before him my plea for mercy and grace

There is no other Name

By whom we can approach the throne

For there is no other who has been tempted,

And yet remained sinless

Where Adam fell, he rose to the challenge

Where we all stumbled, he continued to walk in the light

Our pleas alone cannot be heeded by a perfect God

For our pleas are tainted and warped by sin

But the plea of the Righteous One,

Our God in human flesh,

His plea alone could suffice

For his plea alone is perfect

When I failed to revere God and submit to him

Christ showed unswerving devotion

And submitted to God the Father

Saving “not my will, but yours be done”

Through his suffering he showed perfect obedience

And bore our pain that we might live

That we might approach that everlasting throne

And not have to fear his retribution

For the everlasting throne, a place for mercy

So “arise!” I say to my soul

For I know now that I need not fear

For his perfect love has driven out my fear

And his grace remains with me