215. Oh Solemn Hour! Oh Hour Alone

8,6,8,8,6,8,8.
by J.G. Deck
1
Oh solemn hour! Oh hour alone
 
In solitary might,
 
When God the Father’s only Son,
 
As man, for sinners to atone,
 
Expires — amazing sight!
 
The Lord of glory crucified!
 
The Lord of life has bled and died!
“<<To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David.>> My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?” (Psalm 22:1)
“I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.” (Isaiah 63:3)
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him. Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.” (Matthew 27:46-50)
“Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” (1 Corinthians 2:8)
“And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.” (Acts 3:15)
2
Oh mystery of mysteries!
 
Of life and death the tree;
 
Center of two eternities,
 
Which look with rapt, adoring eyes,
 
Onward and back to Thee — 
 
Oh cross of Christ, where all His pain
 
And death is our eternal gain.
“For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come.” (1 Corinthians 11:26)
3
Oh how our inmost hearts do move,
 
While gazing on that cross;
 
The death of the Incarnate Love!
 
What shame, what grief, what joy we prove,
 
That He should die for us!
 
Our hearts were broken by that cry,
 
"Eli, lama sabachthani?"
4
Worthy of death, O Lord, we were;
 
That vengeance was our due;
 
In grace Thy spotless Lamb did bear
 
Himself our sins, and guilt, and shame;
 
Justice our Surety slew,
 
With Him, our Surety, we have died,
 
With Him we there were crucified.
5
Quickened with Him with life divine,
 
Raised with Him from the dead;
 
His own, and all His own are Thine,
 
Shall with Him in His glories shine,
 
His church’s living Head!
 
We, who were worthy but to die,
 
Now with Him, "Abba, Father," cry.
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