Exegeting the Hymns #48 - Death Was Arrested

Death Was Arrested
w/m - Ryan Heath Balltzglier, Adam Kersh, Paul Taylor Smith, Brandon Coker

Alone in my sorrow and dead in my sin
Lost without hope with no place to begin
Your love Made a way to let mercy come in
When death was arrested and my life began

Ash was redeemed only beauty remains
My orphan heart was given a name
My mourning grew quiet my feet rose to dance
When death was arrested and my life began

Oh, Your grace so free
Washes over me
You have made me new
Now life begins with You
It's your endless love
Pouring down on us
You have made us new
Now life begins with You

Released from my chains I'm a prisoner no more
My shame was a ransom He faithfully bore
He cancelled my debt and He called me His friend
When death was arrested and my life began

Our Savior displayed on a criminal's cross
Darkness rejoiced as though heaven had lost
But then Jesus arose with our freedom in hand
That's when death was arrested and my life began

Oh, we're free, free, forever we're free
Come join the song of all the redeemed

Some songs are straightforward in their lyrics, and others, more poetic. This one falls in the middle. The lyrics are well crafted yet the message is clear. Musically, the song crescendos well with the pictures painted in the verses. Alone in my sorrow and dead in my sin, lost without hope with no place to begin. Actually, this is a great place to begin. When giving a testimony of the gospel’s changing power in one’s life, the obvious place to start is one’s own depravity. Ephesians 2 says we are dead in our sins and without Christ, we have no hope. We can’t even begin the process, for no one can come to Jesus unless the Father draws him (John 6:44).

Your love made a way to let mercy come in when death was arrested and my life began. The act of love on the cross was what redeemed God’s people from their sins. It truly was an act of mercy, for it is not something we deserved. The term “arrested” is not one we use a lot, unless we are speaking of being hauled off to jail. However, this is a different meaning. The word “arrested” here, means to stop or suspend. When Jesus died and rose again, he defeated death. 1 Corinthians 15 says, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  

Ash was redeemed only beauty remains. The curse and power of sin that leads us all to the grave is conquered for the believer. The old is passed away, the new has come. My orphan heart was given a name. Revelation 2:17 and 3:12 speak of a new name we will be given, and Ephesians 1:5 speaks of our adoption as sons when it says, “He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will”. 

My mourning grew quiet my feet rose to dance when death was arrested and my life began. When we make peace with God, available to us becomes the peace of God. The world cannot know this peace for it is only available to those who are indwelled by the Holy Spirit. Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Oh, Your grace so free washes over me. You have made me new now life begins with You. It’s your endless love pouring down on us. You have made us new now life begins with You. This song takes the pattern of the old hymns and teaches doctrine in the verses, then culminates with an outpouring of praise, for what God has done, in the chorus.

Released from my chains I'm a prisoner no more. My shame was a ransom He faithfully bore. Before we are saved, we are bound in the chains of our sin. We serve sin, but when Jesus breaks those chains, we no longer are under the guilt and shame associated with those chains. We are free.  He cancelled my debt and He called me His friend when death was arrested and my life began. We no longer have to worry about paying a debt we could never pay. Jesus’s blood covers all of our sins. Our account is paid in full.

Our Savior displayed on a criminal's cross. Darkness rejoiced as though heaven had lost, but then Jesus arose with our freedom in hand, that's when death was arrested and my life began. The death Jesus died was not one He deserved. It is one we, in our sin, should have died. Jesus was not a criminal, not a sinner, but He was crucified between two thieves. When He was raised from the dead, He became the first of many. His resurrection assures ours. We are truly free, forever free!

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