This song penetrates my soul each time we sing it in service. I am reminded of my unbelief and unfaithfulness to God, and yet - He loves with a love that endures. He keeps His promises to His children. He is faithful and unfailing. All of this, despite my adulteress heart.
The following is from C. Spurgeon's "Morning and Evening".
"Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands." Isa. 49:16
No doubt a part of the wonder which is concentrated in the word "Behold",
is excited by the unbelieving lamentation of the preceding sentence.
Zion said, "The Lord hath forsaken me, and my God hath forgotten me."
How amazed the divine mind seems to be at this wicked unbelief!
What can be more astounding that the unfounded doubts and fears
of God's favoured people? The Lord's loving word of rebuke should
make us blush; He cries, "How can I have forgotten thee, when I
have graven thee upon the palms of my hands? How darest thou
doubt my constant remembrance, when the memorial is set upon
my very flesh?" O unbelief, how strange a marvel thou art!
We know not which most to wonder at, the faithfulness of God
or the unbelief of His people. He keeps His promise a thousand times,
and yet the next trial makes us doubt Him. He never faileth;
He is never a dry well; He is never as a setting sun, a passing meteor,
or a melting vapour; and yet we are as continually vexed with anxieties,
molested with suspicions, and disturbed with fears, as if our God
were the mirage of the desert.
"Behold," is a word intended to excite admiration. Here, indeed,
we have a theme for marveling. Heaven and earth may well be
astonished that rebels should obtain so great a nearness to the heart
of infinite love as to be written upon the heart upon the palms of
His hands. "I have graven thee." It does not say, "Thy name."
The name is there, but that is not all: "I have graven thee."
See the fullness of this! I have graven thy person, thine image,
thy case, thy circumstances, thy sins, thy temptations,
thy weaknesses, thy wants, thy works; I have graven thee,
everything about thee, all that concerns thee; I have put they altogether
there. Wilt thou ever say again that thy God hath forsaken thee when
He has graven thee upon His own palms?
No doubt a part of the wonder which is concentrated in the word "Behold",
is excited by the unbelieving lamentation of the preceding sentence.
Zion said, "The Lord hath forsaken me, and my God hath forgotten me."
How amazed the divine mind seems to be at this wicked unbelief!
What can be more astounding that the unfounded doubts and fears
of God's favoured people? The Lord's loving word of rebuke should
make us blush; He cries, "How can I have forgotten thee, when I
have graven thee upon the palms of my hands? How darest thou
doubt my constant remembrance, when the memorial is set upon
my very flesh?" O unbelief, how strange a marvel thou art!
We know not which most to wonder at, the faithfulness of God
or the unbelief of His people. He keeps His promise a thousand times,
and yet the next trial makes us doubt Him. He never faileth;
He is never a dry well; He is never as a setting sun, a passing meteor,
or a melting vapour; and yet we are as continually vexed with anxieties,
molested with suspicions, and disturbed with fears, as if our God
were the mirage of the desert.
"Behold," is a word intended to excite admiration. Here, indeed,
we have a theme for marveling. Heaven and earth may well be
astonished that rebels should obtain so great a nearness to the heart
of infinite love as to be written upon the heart upon the palms of
His hands. "I have graven thee." It does not say, "Thy name."
The name is there, but that is not all: "I have graven thee."
See the fullness of this! I have graven thy person, thine image,
thy case, thy circumstances, thy sins, thy temptations,
thy weaknesses, thy wants, thy works; I have graven thee,
everything about thee, all that concerns thee; I have put they altogether
there. Wilt thou ever say again that thy God hath forsaken thee when
He has graven thee upon His own palms?
Here's the song in it's entirety:
Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea.
A great high Priest whose Name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written in His heart.
I know that while in heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart.
No tongue can bid me thence depart.
When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end to all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me T
o look on Him and pardon me.
Behold Him there the risen Lamb,
My perfect spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
The King of glory and of grace,
One with Himself I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by His blood,
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ my Savior and my God!
With Christ my Savior and my God!
One with Himself I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by His blood,
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ my Savior and my God!
With Christ my Savior and my God!
