Musical Notes

Hello OCBC family,

“3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:3-5).

This passage is one of my favorites to read during this time of the year, remembering the death of my Savior, the Christ, the Messiah, the Suffering Servant. This passage, this prophecy teaches us about a powerful doctrine, the doctrine of substitution. Christ died in our place. The Servant suffered not for His own sin, because He is sinless, but he is the substitute for sinners. These verses are the basis of the hymn “Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted.”

“Stricken, smitten, and afflicted,
see Him dying on the tree!
'Tis the Christ by man rejected;
yes, my soul, 'tis He, 'tis He!
'Tis the long-expected Prophet,
David's Son, yet David's Lord;
by His Son God now has spoken;
'tis the true and faithful Word.”

The author of this hymn was an Irish clergyman, Thomas Kelly, born on July 13, 1769, Dublin, Ireland. He was, also an evangelical preacher and hymn writer. Because of his earnest preaching, the Archbishop of Ireland prohibited him to preach in the city. His sermons were about salvation by faith, and that is why the religious authorities were against him. He had to look for independent chapels so he could continue with his ministry.

“Ye who think of sin but lightly,
nor suppose the evil great,
here may view its nature rightly,
here its guilt may estimate.
Mark the sacrifice appointed;
see who bears the awful load;
'tis the Word, the Lord's Anointed,
Son of Man and Son of God.”

Being a clergyman, a pastor, a theologian, he was able to write several hymns with a deep theology, like this one. Thomas Kelly in this hymn, teaches us about Christ’s suffering, Substitutionary Atonement, Human Sinfulness, and a Call to reflection and repentance.

The melody, in a minor key, is a very somber and meditative one, which reinforces the gravity of the text. With the connection of the lyrics and the melody, this hymn sound like a funeral tune, which is not far from the truth, because with this hymn we remember the death of our Lord.

“Here we have a firm foundation,
here the refuge of the lost:
Christ the Rock of our salvation,
His the name of which we boast.
Lamb of God, for sinners wounded,
Sacrifice to cancel guilt!
None shall ever be confounded
who on Him their hope have built.”

Please, use this hymn as a meditation during your quiet time, and think about the sacrifice of our Savior on the cross for our sins.
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In His service,
Israel