Listen to the Hammer Ring!

The first time my choir is given this song to practice I'm thinking, "Oh no!" how can we sing of this? I read ahead and tears brim my eyes, then our director begins to sing in his pure tenor voice, and the scene comes alive. In the background, the hammer is ringing and the sound;  startling and harsh, yet it is as though angels were clicking wings of iron as they bow and cover their faces and heads, before almighty God, as His Son becomes sin and death for us; He willingly gives all. There is a depth of clarity as the clang of metal tears through bone, and jams into to wood; are heaven's foundations quaking with the ferocity of it?  How dare the  hand of earth be the instrument to touch the holy One in anger, in punishment, in awesome desperation?


As I pause in reflection, overwhelmed by the music and the words prayerfully and powerfully offered to a living God, in my heart, I knew this was not just man wielding a crucifying hand, but God's plan and  Jesus' purpose; there was no other way. Purity was wounded, spilled blood was demanded. As His heart stopped, the gateway to heaven was thrown open wide, and if I wanted, I was free to enter in, my admission had been paid. In that moment, He became my offering, my covering, with repentance in my heart and because of my desire, I was gifted with permission to come into His presence and face a forgiving Father. The bloody hammer forged  my salvation, and who am I to deny Jesus that moment, suspended through all eternity, to do His Father's bidding. The practice melody ends, the words all sung, but I continue to stand amazed as I...

Listen  to the Hammer Ring!

Listen to the hammer
as it rings on Calvary
The nails that held Him captive
They liberated me
~
Now You might say I'm callused
When you see this joy in me
But every blow was planned by God
And taken willingly
~
So listen to the hammer ring, and rejoice
Listen to the hammer ring, and thank Jesus
Listen to the hammer ring, for He's taken everything
That was against us, and nailed it to His cross
~
Precious hands of Jesus
that healed the sick and the lame
His touch was oh so tender
Now those hands are maimed
~
And those feet to travel
over rough and dusty roads
Now are bloodied by the nails
that my Jesus chose
~
So listen to the hammer ring, and rejoice
Listen to the hammer ring, and thank Jesus
Listen to the hammer ring, for He's taken everything
That was against us, and nailed it to His cross