A Theology of Praise - Thanks Be to God by Jon Foreman

 Today I wanted to look into a song that is not only rooted directly in Scripture, but also timeless in its message.   It is also a song that worship leaders can use to remind us all of our depravity and sin and helplessness apart from the kindness of God in Christ Jesus.   It also is a wonderful praise of thanksgiving to He who delivers us! 

The song is, "Thanks Be to God", by Jon Foreman of the band Switchfoot.   It is a honest song and he takes the lyrics directly from Romans chapter 7 where the Apostle Paul is wrestling with understanding why he is not doing what he knows he should and is doing the very opposite.   I think everyone, everywhere can relate to this struggle and the chorus gives the worshippers a united focus of praise as, "Thanks be to God who delivers me!"

Verse 1

I want to do good but I can't stay right
The wrong in me came out tonight
Waging war against the law of my mind
I'm a wretched man in a losing fight

The first verse begins with confession.   We want to to good but cannot for some reason.    The wrong came out in me tonight is a powerful admission that we even as believers can be so ugly.   Admitting this is the first step in understanding who we are apart from Christ.   Then the author shares where the battle lies, in the law of my mind.   He confesses this is a fight he is going to lose.  Our mind is the battlefield for those in Christ and the enemy in Satan.   How we think and what we dwell our minds on leads us to our actions that carry us into dangerous territories.   The Apostle Paul shares this reality in Romans chapter 7 after his confession of not being able to do the good he wants.  "But I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.  Wretched man that I am!  Who will deliver me from the body of death?"  Romans 7:23-24

This is a shocking and humbling confession to Paul as well to each one of us.  Why?  Because this battle occurs after we have already been saved and redeemed by the blood of Jesus.   The battle begins anew after salvation and we have to understand that although the victory is won we are at war.    

I love the the truth, I've seen the light
But the shadow inside is still alive
I am the battlefield, I am the fight
Who will heal me from these wounds I hide?

The second verse affirms what we just shared, "I love the truth, I've seen the light."  These are the words of those of us who have already known His saving grace.   But...there is a shadow inside and a battle.   Where?  Inside each of us who are in Christ and we hurt and do things we wish we did not do and there is damage everywhere.   Wounds that we try to hide because of our shame but that we know deep down we cannot hide from God who is our life.  Is there a way for us to be healed?   That answer is found in the chorus of the song.

Chorus

Thanks be to God who delivers me
Thanks be to God who delivers me
Christ, Christ alone come and set me free
Thanks be to God who delivers me

The song's chorus simply shares what the Apostle Paul writes as he wrestles with the battle.   "Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!  So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind but with the flesh I serve the law of sin."  Romans 7:25

I see this in my own life clearly each and every day.   We all fall so short our our best intentions and the reality is that our mind has to dwell on who we are in Christ continually.  Why?  Because our actions of the flesh do not reflect this at all times.   The chorus is the people of God declaring a praise of thanks that we are not what we do.   Every time we sin it is not who we are in Christ.  It is our old, sinful, fleshly nature coming out in opposition to the law of our mind and the law of the Spirit.    Romans 8:1 continues this wonderful truth, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."   The law of the Spirit has set us free from the law of sin and death.  Thanks be to God!

The song concludes with the chorus being repeated and resonates the good news of Christ over and over and reminds me that all praise goes to Jesus and Him alone.  We cannot as believer in any way, shape or form boast in our actions and lives.   We fall so short of being able to glorify our own deeds as our wrong continue to outweigh our rights.  However, thanks be to God who delivers me!   Delivers, not just delivered.    This song and the Scripture it is rooted in is that reminder - that God continues to deliver us each day in the magnificent love of Christ.  

I cannot think of a praise song written directly out of Romans 7 that is more honest and effective than this particular song and churches will be blessed to use this as a song of response or a song of intimacy and honesty in our own human failures compared to the amazing love of Christ.   It also has a timeless Irish hymn quality that should not age or grow to be outdated and the Church can continue to use this song to teach this truth.   Christ alone sets us free and delivers us - thanks be to God!

In Him,

Rev. Dwight Hedges

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Theology of Praise - The Goodness of God

Today we will be sharing about the song, "The Goodness of God" by Bethel Music.   My hope and prayer for these blogs is not to focus on where they came from or what is behind the scenes but on the words themselves.   Do these lyrics adhere to biblical truths and is there enough soundness and depth in doctrine for worship leaders to use these songs to lead their congregations into His Word. This particular song I am sharing as we recently completed a study on the book of Titus, and shared about what the goodness of God is and how it is tied to good doctrine and good deeds. Verse 1 I love you Lord, for Your mercy never fails me All my days I've been held in Your hands From the moment that I wake up until I lay my head I will sing of the goodness of God The simplicity and hope found in this first verse certainly does lead worshippers into a desire to sing of the goodness of God. Why do we love the Lord?  Because His mercy never fails us.   Ephesians 2:4-5...
Read more

Jesus Changes Everything

 Resurgence Weekly Devotion Today:  Jesus Changes Relationships  Read Matthew 12:46-50 46 While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. 47 Someone said to Him, “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You.”[a] 48 But [b]Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” 49 And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold My mother and My brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.” Jesus has a way of changing the way we look at things around us.   He gives us a perspective that sometimes can be difficult or even confusing.   In this passage today Jesus uses a teaching tool that He often uses to bring an important truth to His followers and those around Him.  While He was in the middle of the crowds His mot...
Read more

Resurgence Beginnings

Image
Resurgence Baptist Church ....who are we & what is this all about? For many years I have served on staff in local churches, and have been blessed with experience in every aspect of ministry. * Student Ministry * Education / Discipleship * Worship Leadership * Missions / Mobilization * Children's Ministry * Preaching * Recreation Ministry and so much more.... One of the blessings of being completely involved in every aspect of church ministry life has been the understanding of how God works in so many different ways in the local church.   Years and years of prayers and preparations has allowed God to nudge me (or push me) into starting a local church from scratch.   And that is what God is doing with Resurgence. Why Resurgence? Because now, more than ever, the church needs to have a resurgence of His Word, His Spirit, His ways and His truth.   Jesus is desperately needed in every facet of our world, but churches often lose sight of how we are the serve H...
Read more