Exegeting the Hymns #46 - Before the Throne of God Above

Before the Throne of God Above
w/m - Charitie Lees Bancroft

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 on His heart 
I know that while in heav’n 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 of 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 
To 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 

These words were written in the 1800’s and contain so much good theology, not just for our understanding of God, but for living a life that trusts in His works. Before the throne of God above I have a strong and perfect plea. If the song ended there, this would be one of the most false statements I’ve ever read. Before the throne of the thrice Holy God, our unrighteousness cannot stand. Our pleas would be too late. Sin must be punished, and our deserving end would be eternal hell. However, the song continues… A great High Priest whose name is love, Who ever lives and pleads for me. Our sins separate us from God, but the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, that once for all pays for our sins, stands in the way of God’s wrath. He paid the debt He did not owe and intercedes in our behalf before the Father.  

My name is graven on His hands. My name is written on His heart. I know that while in heaven He stands no tongue can bid me thence depart. The torture and death that Jesus bore on our behalf, having the nails driven in His hands and feet, not to mention the wrath of God being poured out on Him, was not for His own sins, but ours. He went to the cross, and was the sacrifice for us. The Good Shepherd laid down His life for His sheep (John 10:11). When He cried, “It is finished”, the work was done. It can’t be undone. Eternal life is… eternal. Jesus, our Prophet, Priest and King reigns from heaven. His Kingdom will know no end.

When Satan tempts me to despair and tells me of the guilt within. How many times have we looked at our past sin, and rather than being assured because of the work of Christ, we become distressed because we dwell on our failures. Yes, our failures are real, our transgressions against the Creator serious, and our disobedience to Christ traitorous, but “Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more” (Romans 5:20). Upward I look and see Him there Who made an end of all my sin. If we confess our sin, God forgives us (1 John 1:9). God can do that, not because He turns a blind eye to sin. He would be a terrible judge, and justice would not be served if that were the case. Instead, God looks at us and sees the clean record, not of us, but of Christ. Christ put an end to our sin at the cross. It truly was finished. Sin was paid for. Because the sinless Savior died, my sinful soul is counted free, for God the Just is satisfied to look on Him and pardon me.

Behold Him there, the risen Lamb, my perfect, spotless Righteousness. Our righteousness adds nothing to our salvation, for they are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). God views us as spotless because Christ was spotless. God looks at the Lamb who took our sin, and gave us His perfect life. The great unchangeable I AM, the King of glory and of grace. Yes, Jesus claimed several times to be God in the flesh, even referring to Himself as the “I Am”, a name reserved for the Creator God.  

One with Himself, I cannot die. My soul is purchased by His blood. We have security, not in our own works or power, but because of Jesus’ works and power. We are His, He bought us, owns us, commands us, and will see us safely home. My life is hid with Christ on high, with Christ my Savior and my God. What a blessed thought, that our eternity is guaranteed, eternal life, before the throne of God above.

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