I'm Gonna Lay Me Down
Redemption's Embrace: Finding Shelter in the Rock of AgesLyrics
Rock of ages cleft for me
Expresses a desire for refuge and safety in a divine entity symbolized as the "Rock of Ages."
Let me hide myself in Thee
Continues the theme of seeking shelter and protection in the divine.
Let the water and the blood
Refers to the sacrificial elements of water and blood, possibly alluding to Christian imagery and the atonement of sins.
From thy riven side which flowed
Highlights the source of the water and blood as flowing from the side of a divine figure, emphasizing the spiritual significance.
Be of sin the double cure
Describes the dual effect of cleansing from both the guilt and power of sin.
Cleanse me from its guilt and power
Requests purification from the effects of sin, both internally (guilt) and externally (power).
Not the labors of my hands
Acknowledges human limitations and inability to fulfill the requirements of divine law through personal efforts.
Can fulfill thy law’s demands
Emphasizes the inadequacy of human labor in meeting the demands of divine law.
Could my zeal no respite know
Explores the idea of unceasing devotion and dedication, even if zeal could not provide respite.
Could my tears forever flow
Contemplates the idea of perpetual sorrow through tears, acknowledging that human efforts alone cannot atone for sin.
All for sin could not atone
Asserts the insufficiency of all human actions to atone for sin; salvation is dependent on a higher power.
Thou must save, and thou alone
Declares the sole capability of the divine to save, emphasizing dependence on the higher power for redemption.
Nothing in my hand I bring
Rejects reliance on personal achievements and contributions, underscoring a humble approach to salvation.
Simply to Thy cross I cling
Expresses a simple reliance on the cross, symbolizing the crucifixion, as the source of salvation.
Naked, come to Thee for dress
Portrays a vulnerable state of being exposed, seeking divine intervention for spiritual clothing.
Helpless, look to Thee for grace
Acknowledges helplessness and turns to the divine for grace, highlighting the need for divine assistance in spiritual matters.
Vile, I to the fountain fly
Describes a state of moral degradation, seeking cleansing from a divine source, represented by a fountain.
Wash me, Savior, or I die
Pleads for cleansing and salvation from the Savior, recognizing the consequence of spiritual death without divine intervention.
When my heels be made to close
Anticipates a moment of reckoning or judgment, emphasizing the inevitability of facing the consequences of one's actions.
Into all they lust upon
Reflects on the potential consequences of yielding to sinful desires and actions.
When I soar to worlds unknown
Contemplates the unknown aspects of the afterlife and the encounter with divine judgment.
See thee on thy judgement throne
Envisions standing before a judgment throne, possibly representing accountability for one's life.
Rock of Ages, cleft for me
Reiterates the theme of finding refuge in the divine, emphasizing the safety provided by the "Rock of Ages."
Let me hide myself in thee
Echoes the sentiment of seeking shelter and protection in the divine presence.
When my heels be made to close
Repeats the anticipation of facing consequences and emphasizes the need for divine intervention.
Into all they lust upon
Reiterates the reflection on the potential consequences of yielding to sinful desires and actions.
When I soar to worlds unknown
Revisits the contemplation of the unknown aspects of the afterlife and divine judgment.
See thee on thy judgment throne
Restates the image of standing before a judgment throne, emphasizing the gravity of facing divine judgment.
Rock of Ages, cleft for me
Recalls the central theme of finding refuge and safety in the divine, reiterating the metaphor of the "Rock of Ages."
Let me hide myself in thee
Concludes with a repetition of the desire to hide in the divine, reinforcing the overarching theme of seeking divine protection.
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