{SCRLLC14} Scripture Lesson #7, How Deep the Father's Love for Us

Today I am bringing you a modern hymn. It is called "How Deep the Father's Love for Us," and I had never heard this hymn until September of last year. It was published in 1995 and is in about eight different hymnals at this time. It was written by Stuart Townend, and he was brought up in West Yorkshire, England. To listen to Selah sing this hymn, click here. It is at a slower tempo than I am used to singing it but it is still so very beautiful. The words are below the video but you may have to click "show more" to see them. And click here to listen to Stuart Townend explain the story behind this hymn. You can also read more about him on his website by clicking here. I am sure you will know some of the other songs he has written also!

So, what do the words of this hymn have for us? Let's look at each verse.

Verse 1
How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

As a Holy and loving God, we cannot approach Him because of our sin. He created us, He owns us, and He bought us back because of His deep love for us! Out of that deep love for us, He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for our sins. He paid the price for you and for me. And because He paid that price, we should live as His possession. Are you living as a purchased possession of Christ?

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Romans 10:9-10 "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved."

Verse 2
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory

When He became sin for us, He became wretched and detestable, and the Father could not look at Him because God cannot look at sin. Sin cannot co-habitate with Him. He Himself endured the wrath and separation from His Father for us!

Psalm 22:1 (prophecy) "My God, my God, why have you forsaken Me? Why are you so far from saving Me, so far from my cries of anguish?"

Matthew 27:45-46 (prophecy fulfilled) "From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?' (which means 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?')."

2 Corinthians 5:21 "God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."

Verse 3
Behold the Man upon the cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed to hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers

Because it was the time of Passover, there were thousands of visitors to the city. He endured their mocking and torment for you and for me. He was patient and marked with self control. He knew what was going on and was fully in control obeying His Father's will.

Psalm 22:6-8 (prophecy) "But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people. All who see Me mock Me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads. 'He trusts in the Lord,' they say, 'let the Lord rescue Him. Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him."

Matthew 27:39-41 (prophecy fulfilled) "Those who passed by hurled insults at Him, shaking their heads and saying, 'You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!' In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked Him."

Verse 4
It was my sin that kept Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

Psalm 22:15 (prophecy) "My mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and My tongue sticks to the roof of My mouth; You lay me in the dust of death."

John 19:28-30 (prophecy fulfilled) "Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, 'I am thirsty.' A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When He had received the drink, Jesus said, 'It is finished.' With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit."

Verse 5
I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

His work rescues us. He died to purchase us back! Do people recognize that in your life? How are you boasting about Him?

Romans 5:11 "Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation."

Galatians 6:14 "May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."

Verse 6
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart 
His wounds have paid my ransom.

He bore your sin on the cross. Have you accepted His gift of salvation? If you have, who can you share with this Holy Week and as we celebrate Easter on Sunday? Who do know that has not accepted His gift? If you have not, will you accept His gift today?

1 Peter 2:24 "He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; 'by His wounds you have been healed.'"

For my 6x6 page today, I used the 1 Peter 2:24 verse above. It was perfect for this hymn. I wanted to use the color purple because in this season of Lent, it can symbolize pain, suffering, and therefore mourning and penitence. The torn paper with the title of this hymn symbolizes His torn body for our salvation. I also used sketch #110 from Sketchabilities. And the chipboard I used is the Blue Fern Studios Mini Ring Things.

Papers: Riddersholm Design Fall Flee Market, Bazzill cs 
Stamp Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink seedless preserves 
Blue Fern Studios chipboard: Mini Ring Things (painted with Shimmerz Dazzelerz spun sugar)
Embellishments: Petaloo Botanica Blooms lav/purple and ivory faux dried minis, Tim Holtz splatters template with Art Anthology mardi gras paint, Pink Paislee photo tab, Hobby Lobby doily, misc. wood veneers, sewing machine

Remember to use Keyword SCRLLC14 when posting your creations in any online galleries. Also, please leave a link to your creation here using Inlinkz! To see all of the information regarding this challenge and the previous studies, please see this post here. May your Easter be one of praise and worship for the King who gave His life for you!!! Blessings,