What Would We Withhold?

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits… Who redeemeth thy life from destruction… He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities…. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:2-12).  “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often WOULD I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye WOULD NOT!” (Matthew 23:37).

Among the things to not forget,

Regarding benefits bestowed,
Are things WITHHELD, like judgment’s debt,
Since Jesus paid the price we owed.

The Lord WITHHOLDS His holy wrath;

He died to grant us this exemption.
Though we were on destruction’s path,
He gave Himself for our redemption. 

He has WITHHELD the due reward

For sins which called for endless loss,
Since Christ our Savior and our Lord
Removed transgressions by His cross.   

The cup of wrath filled to the brim

That Jesus would WITHHOLD from all,
Was surely NOT withheld from Him
Who bore the cross and drank its gall. 

We hear our Savior’s great lament:

“Jerusalem!  Jerusalem!”
They killed the prophets to them sent
By which He WOULD have gathered them. 

“I WOULD,” He said, but you “WOULD NOT,”

And this indictment to them told
Shall be the charge that shall be brought
With judgment He shall NOT WITHHOLD.

O Lord, we thank You for Your plan

To gather us beneath Your wings. 
You tasted death for every man,
WITHHOLDING wrath that judgment brings.

We praise You, Lord!  Though we rebelled,

You stooped to pay for our salvation,
So that Your wrath could be WITHHELD
Because You bore our condemnation! 

Lord, WHAT WOULD WE WITHHOLD from You?

O find us joyful in submission,
Constrained by love in all we do,
And faithful in Your great commission.