Arise My Soul
Rise Beyond Guilt: Embracing Redemption in Already Not Yet's Anthem
Lyrics
Arise, my soul, arise,
Invocation for the soul to awaken and rise.
shake off your guilty fears;
Encouragement to cast away feelings of guilt.
the bleeding Sacrifice
Reference to the sacrificial death of Christ.
in my behalf appears:
Christ's sacrifice on behalf of the speaker.
before the throne my Surety stands,
Emphasizes the intercessory role of Christ before God.
before the throne my Surety stands,
Reiteration of Christ's intercessory stance.
my name is written on his hands.
Symbolic assurance of the speaker's identity being secured by Christ.
He ever lives above,
Declaration of Christ's eternal existence.
for me to intercede,
Christ's ongoing role as an intercessor for the speaker.
his all-redeeming love,
Emphasis on Christ's redeeming love and sacrificial blood.
his precious blood to plead;
Reference to the plea made with Christ's precious blood.
his blood atoned for ev'ry race,
Universal atonement through Christ's blood for all races.
his blood atoned for ev'ry race,
Reiteration of Christ's atonement for all races.
and sprinkles now the throne of grace.
Symbolic portrayal of Christ's blood now reaching the throne of grace.
Five bleeding wounds he bears,
Depiction of Christ's wounds received during the crucifixion.
received on Calvary;
Specifically mentioning the wounds from Calvary.
they pour effectual prayers,
Characterizing the wounds as prayers that plead effectively.
they strongly plead for me.
Continuation of the wounds' intercessory role.
"Forgive him, O forgive," they cry,
Quoting the wounds' cry for forgiveness.
"forgive him, O forgive," they cry,
Repetition of the wounds' plea for forgiveness.
"nor let that ransomed sinner die!"
Further plea to spare the redeemed sinner from death.
My God is reconciled;
Assertion of God's reconciliation with the speaker.
his pard'ning voice I hear;
Personal experience of hearing God's pardoning voice.
he owns me for his child,
Claiming the status of being recognized as God's child.
I can no longer fear;
Freedom from fear due to God's acceptance.
with confidence I now draw nigh,
Confident approach to God enabled by reconciliation.
with confidence I now draw nigh,
Reiteration of the newfound confidence in approaching God.
and "Father, Abba, Father!" cry.
Addressing God with an intimate and familial term, "Abba."
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