Here is an arrangement of O Sacred Head Now Wounded that I wrote for string quartet. This summer, I got a quartet together and we played this as part of the Fourth of July program at Fourth Baptist Church in Plymouth, MN.
The text, attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux, expresses the sinner's sorrow mixed with joy at the thought of Jesus' amazing love demonstrated by willingly enduring unspeakable suffering for him. The last stanza rises to intense praise where no language is adequate to express love for the One who showed us what love truly is (1 John 3:16).
(Text below)
O sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down,
Now scornfully surrounded with thorns, Thine only crown;
O sacred Head, what glory, what bliss till now was Thine!
Yet, though despised and gory, I joy to call Thee mine.
What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered, was all for sinners’ gain;
Mine, mine was the transgression, but Thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior! ’Tis I deserve Thy place;
Look on me with Thy favor, vouchsafe to me Thy grace.
What language shall I borrow to thank Thee, dearest friend,
For this Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end?
O make me Thine forever, and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to Thee.
"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends." John 15:13
I greatly enjoyed listening to this arrangement and meditating on the words as well. What a precious hymn of the gospel we as Christians should be meditating on every day! Thank you for taking the time to post this. It encouraged my heart!
ReplyDeleteHey Steve! Just found your blog, after reading your comments about mine on the Missionary Blog Watch. Thanks for the good word! I have added your blog to my reader, so I can keep track of it.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work!