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Compassion Hymn

This Sunday, the Worship Minsitry wil teach us a new song entitled 'Compassion Hymn' by Stuart Townend, Keith and Kristyn Getty.

The lyrics of the song are as follows:

There is an everlasting kindness
You lavished on us
When the Radiance of heaven Came to rescue the lost;
You called the sheep without a shepherd
To leave their distress
For your streams of forgiveness
And the shade of Your rest.

And with compassion for the hurting,
You reached out Your hand
As the lame ran to meet You
And the dead breathed again;
You saw behind the eyes of sorrow
And shared in our tears,
Heard the sigh of the weary,
Let the children draw near.

CHORUS
What boundless love,
What fathomless grace
You have shown us, O God of compassion!
Each day we live
An offering of praise
As we show to the world Your compassion.

We stood beneath the cross of Calvary
And gazed on Your face
At the thorns of oppression
And the wounds of disgrace,
For surely You have borne our suffering
And carried our grief
As You pardoned the scoffer
And showed grace to the thief.

How beautiful the feet that carry
This gospel of peace
To the fields of injustice
And the valleys of need—
To be a voice of hope and healing,
To answer the cries
Of the hungry and helpless
With the mercy of Christ.

Describing his writing process together with his collaborators Keith and Kristyn Getty, songwriter Stuart Townend says,

"Good friends and co-writers Keith and Kristyn Getty have been working for a number of years with the charity “Compassion”, and it was they who suggested we write a song on the theme. As is the usual process when writing with them, Keith and I sifted through a number of his melodies before arriving at this one, then Kristyn drafted a lyric that I then worked on.

Our call to follow Christ’s example and show to others the life-changing compassion that He showed in through His life and in His death is a vital one, and not one that is explored in a great many songs. I hope this song makes a meaningful contribution to the ministry of the church to reach out to the needy among us." 

What should congregation members be thinking about as they learn these new songs that saturated with biblical truth and doctrine? What is the purpose of teaching and learning these new songs? Stuart Townend again puts it very well when he was asked the question "These days, many people get their theology more from the songs they sing than from teaching in church. Does that put a lot of pressure on you?"

He wrote in reply:

"Yes, it does make me feel a sense of responsibility both in terms of the writing of songs and what songs I choose if I’m standing in front of a congregation.

Am I really narrowing people’s understanding of who God is by always singing about a very narrow series of themes, or am I, in my worship-leading at my local church, presenting a broad picture of who God is? Am I not only talking about his love and faithfulness, but am I talking about his mercy, his justice, his compassion and his heart for the world?

I think it’s important for all of us who are involved in church music to be thinking through those things and thinking: am I presenting a fully-formed picture of who God is?"

As we learn this new song then, let us remember what the Scriptures have taught us about our God, the God who is full of compassion, and calls us to have compassion on others. As in Psalm 135, He is the eternal Lord who has compassion on His servants. In Isaiah 54, He is the covenant God who has compassion on His people. In Matthew 9, Jesus Christ is the compassion shepherd who comes to those who have no one to care for them and He loved them. In Luke 7, Jesus is the comforting voice of compassion who comes alongside to bring His peace and presence to those suffering. In Luke 10, Jesus Himself tells the story of what He has come to do - the ultimate Good Samaritan who helps and cares for those in need. Our God is a Compassionate God!

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"Your name, O Lord, endures forever, your renown, O Lord, throughout all ages. For the Lord will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants." (Psalm 135:13-14, ESV)

For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you,
and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you. (Isaiah 54:10, ESV)

And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. (Matthew 9:35-36, ESV)

And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” (Luke 7:13, ESV)

But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. (Luke 10:33, ESV)