Dec 12, 2020
His Mercy Is More
Musical worship is when we should sing songs with biblical and theologically sound lyrics during a corporate worship service. In most congregants' minds, these musical moments are merely songs connecting us to the story of God. I agree that our worship songs are connection places between God and man, but I want to expand our thinking surrounding this idea.
Church musical leadership needs always remember that we are not called to tickle the ears of preference or stir emotions. Our greatest calling is to prepare the way of the Lord. We do this by consistently connecting our congregations to the vision of our churches. Another way we prepare the way of the Lord is by teaching. We teach our people the story of Christ. We show how they fit into the narrative and how we respond to His holiness in every season of life. Lastly, we protect. We make sure they are fed appropriately. We establish a theological vision for our people through musical worship in response to God. Through the songs that we sing, the prayers, and the exhortation we raise, we provide our congregations with the words that they will potentially extend toward God in their moments of worship and reflection throughout the days and weeks to come. This is why song selection and the method of selecting these songs are crucially important.
When we choose music to be a part of our church's worship vocabulary, we must seek the Holy Spirit's direction and wisdom. We must personally engage and be willing to set our preferences on the sidelines to deepen the church's voice in worship. Many singable and moving songs are readily available to set the tone for a more profound revelation of Christ. A great example of one of these newer theologically based songs is His Mercy Is More by Matt Boswell and Matt Papa.
Written with a very singable melody and profound biblical imagery, His Mercy Is More illuminates the attribute of a God rich in mercy as seen throughout The Bible. Time and time again, He deals mercifully with his people. God delights in showing mercy. Micah 7:18 tells us: "Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy." God's mercy is an attribute that illuminates who God is and what He has done; this revelation of God's character ignites a response from his people. The response is our unified singing — his mercy is more.
As worship leaders and pastors, we should ask four initial questions when looking at new songs for corporate worship: Who is the song to? What is the song about? Who is the proposed singer? Is The Song Biblically Sound?
Let's break these down together:
1. Who is the song to?
His Mercy Is More is a song written to the believer. It is a call to recount and faithfully admonish each other in the personal and historical testimony revolving around the truth that God's mercy is more. Psalm 145:9 — The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.
2. What is the song about?
The song, His Mercy Is More, is about the gratitude in our hearts for the mercy God has extended to us through the person and work of Jesus Christ. He saved us, not because of works are done by us in righteousness, but according to his mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit. — Titus 3:5
3. Who is the proposed singer?
The proposed singer is the body of Christ. His Mercy is More is a song for Christians. Our proclamation is to God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. — Ephesians 2:4–5.
4. Is The Song Biblically Sound?
VERSE 1
What love could remember no wrongs we have done? (Hebrews 8:12)
Omniscient, all-knowing, He counts not their sum. (Romans 4:8)
Thrown into a sea without bottom or shore. (Micah 7:18)
Our sins they are many; His mercy is more.
Verse one has several scriptural references. Hebrew 8:12 — For I will forgive their wrongdoing, and I will never again remember their sins. Romans 4:8 — Blessed is the person the Lord will never charge with sin, and Micah 7:18
VERSE 2
What patience would wait as we constantly roam? (2 Peter 3:9)
What father, so tender, is calling us home? (John 10:3)
He welcomes the weakest, the vilest, the poor. (Romans 5:6)
Our sins they are many; His mercy is more.
Verse two continues with a biblical narrative centering on 2 Peter 3:9 — The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. John 10:3 — The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. Romans 5:6 — For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly.
VERSE 3
What riches of kindness He lavished on us. (Romans 2:4)
His blood was the payment; his life was the cost. (Romans 6:23)
We stood 'neath a debt we could never afford (Ephesians 2:1–5)
Our sins they are many; His mercy is more.
Verse three begins centered on a passage found in Romans 2:4 — do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you to repentance? Romans 6:23 — for the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Ephesians 2:1–5 — And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We, too, all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!
CHORUS
Praise the Lord
His mercy is more
Stronger than darkness, new every morn
Our sings they are many; His mercy is more.
The chorus is also rooted in scripture. Psalm 145:9 — The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. Jude 1:2 — May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you and Lamentations 3:22–23 — The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
We can quickly note that His Mercy Is More is an excellent song for a corporate time of worship by asking these four questions. The ever-present corporate pronouns we, our, and us solidify that the song is our story — the church's story. The lyrics point to the person and work of Christ, and the lyrics are understandable. His Mercy Is More is genuinely an excellent piece for corporate worship.
If you're unfamiliar with the song, listen here, and I urge you to consider adding this song to your weekly rotation:
