Expensive Expectation

“The reproaches of them that reproached Thee are fallen upon Me... Reproach hath broken My heart… They gave Me also gall for My meat; and in My thirst they gave Me vinegar to drink” (Psalm 69:9-21).  “Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life” (Proverbs 13:12).  “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jeremiah 29:11).

How sure the expectation is

Of all who are redeemed by Christ,
But oh, that great expense was His
When Christ for us was sacrificed. 

The great reproaches of our sins

Were all on Christ our Savior poured.
Our expectation here begins  
And flows forever from our Lord.

Our Savior knew what it would cost  

To give us this expected end.  
He bore the judgment of the lost;
He came to be our dearest Friend.

Upon the cross they gave Him gall

And bitter vinegar to drink,
Yet in return He gave His all,  
A price beyond what we can think.

His heart was broken in the strife

As He was fighting there for us.
His cross became a tree of life;
His love displayed was marvelous!

O Lord, our Captain of salvation,

You came to stand in our defense
To give us such an expectation
Procured at such a great expense!

Lord, words are not enough to thank

And give You praise for all Your love.
It was our cup of wrath You drank
That we might dwell with You above.

Until we see You face to face

(Our expectation, paid in full!),
Lord, help us show Your truth, Your grace,
And Your expense to save our soul.