February 16, 2020—
Though we frequently focus on Jesus’s resurrection and triumph over death, more rarely do we contemplate the pain and sorrow of His crucifixion and death. Today’s song by Andrew Peterson is an appropriate reflection on Jesus’s darkest moments on the cross, and gives a new look at the depths of His sacrifice: “Well Done, Good and Faithful.”
Why, oh why, my God?
For the joy set before Him, He endured
And is seated at the right hand of the Father
Well done, good and faithful, well done
Today, let us pray for silence and solemnity to contemplate Jesus’s death—and for the comfort of our infinitely understanding God in the trials of our own lives.
Thanks for listening today.
Here are the lyrics in full:
"Why has my God my soul forsook
Nor will a smile afford"
Thus David once in anguish spoke
And thus our dying Lord
Oh, it's Your chief delight to dwell
Among Your praising saints
And yet You hear us groan as well
And pity our complaints
Our fathers trusted in Your name
And great deliverance found
But He's a worm despised of men
And trod into the ground
Men shake their heads and pass Him by
And laugh His soul to scorn
In vain He trusts in God they cry
Neglected and forlorn
But You are He who formed His flesh
By Your almighty word
And since He hung upon the breast
His hope was in the Lord
Why would His Father hide His face
When foes stand threatening 'round
In His dark hour of deep distress
And not a helper found
Why, oh why, my God?
Why, oh why, my God?
For the joy set before Him, He endured
And is seated at the right hand of the Father
Well done, good and faithful, well done
Well done, good and faithful One
Behold Your dear One left among the cruel and the proud
As mighty bulls so fierce and strong
As lions roaring loud
For mirth and hell and sorrows meet
To multiply the pain
They nail His hands
They pierce His feet
And mock Him yet again
Yet if Your sovereign hand let loose
The rage of earth and hell
Why would my heavenly Father bruise
The Son He loved so well
He prayed in dark Gethsemane
"Withhold this bitter cup"
But He resigned His will to thee
And drank the sorrows up
Our Savior cried with David's grief,
"In groans I waste My breath
Thy hand has brought Me down beneath
The bitter dust of death"
And then He gave His spirit up
To trust it in Your hand
His dying flesh reposed in hope
To rise at Your command
Why, oh why, my God?
Why, oh why, my God?
For the joy set before Him, He endured
And is seated at the right hand of the Father
Well done, good and faithful, well done
Well done, good and faithful, well done
Well done, good and faithful One