By Kevin Lorow, Cuyahoga Valley Church Worship Arts Assistant
Song of the Week: Mercy Ran – Evergreen
“For when justice called for payment mercy ran to die for me.
Come and praise the name of Jesus, the Lamb for sinners slain.”
Over this past year, Mercy Ran has grown to become one of more treasured worship songs that we use here at Cuyahoga Valley Church. This can seem a little surprising when listening to the song. The verses are very hymn-like, and the energy of the song doesn’t really rise until 4 minutes in (some songs are over within 4 minutes)! But the heart of this song is found in the lyrics of the bridge… “when justice called for payment, mercy ran to die for me.”
The verses of Mercy Ran tell us the story of the Gospel. We were once “orphans of the shadow” (Ephesians 5:8) that we were “bound by sin and darkness” (Romans 6:20) but set free by grace (Ephesians 1:7)! Now that we have been saved, this life is not our own. It is meant to be lived for the glory of Him who saved us! (Romans 14:8)
Mercy Ran‘s chorus tells of the wonder of considering that God Almighty would take the penalty of our sins through His glorious love (2 Corinthians 5). We should be amazed at the fact that God was willing to sacrifice Himself to pay the penalty that we deserved for rejecting Him!
And finally the bridge of Mercy Ran… “When Justice called for payment, mercy ran to die for me.” Because of our sins against God, His just nature demanded payment (Romans 6:23) – this payment being death! We stood condemned by God for sinning against Him. In His divine and just nature, a payment had to be made. But God being rich in mercy, made a way for us through graciously giving us His Son. (Ephesians 2) Romans 8 tells us this “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”
God has spared nothing in His plan to bring us salvation and extend redemption. He has spared nothing! He even offered up His own Son’s life. He has graciously given everything so that we could know Him and be spared the wrathful judgment that we deserve.
What an incredible reminder… To know that God held nothing back from redeeming and ransoming you from your self-inflicted sinful death sentence should be nothing short of life-altering. Singing these lyrics breaks my heart every time I sing it. Knowing that God didn’t hold back but through His justice, love, and mercy, died on a cross in my place.
“Praise the Lamb for sinners slain” because “Hallelujah. Jesus saves.”
