Let us love and sing and wonder,
Let us praise the Savior’s name
He has hushed the law’s loud thunder,
He has quenched Mt. Sinai’s flame.

Let us love the Lord who bought us,
Pitied us when enemies,
called us by His grace and taught us,
gave us ears and gave us eyes;

He has washed us with His blood,
He has washed us with His blood,
He has washed us with His blood,
He presents our souls to God

Let us wonder; grace and justice
join and point to mercy’s store;
when through grace in Christ our trust is,
justice smiles and asks no more;

He who washed us with His blood,
He who washed us with His blood,
He who washed us with His blood,
Has secured our way to God

So let us praise and join the chorus
of the saints enthroned on high;
here they trusted Him before us,
now their praises fill the sky.

...washed us with His blood...

He who washed us with His blood,
He who washed us with His blood,
He who washed us with His blood,
Has secured our way to God

© 2005, Jars of Clay
Lyrics by John Newton


6am and wide awake at the bakeover when everyone else was fast asleep. Sitting beside the window where a light drizzle and faint murmurs of thunder kept me company. Jars of Clay did a really swell reinterpretation with this 1774 hymn. The dreamy, contemplative mood, the layering of the vocals... sits down well with lyrics. Brownie points for the inclusion of that oriental-inspired riff. And that very straight drum beat. Who said simplicity had to be boring?

Coincidentally, John Newton also composed the oft-sung Amazing Grace. Well, that's my tidbit for the day I suppose.