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O Come And Look Awhile On Him

from Holy Week by The Singing Company and Families

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about

O Come And Look Awhile On Him
(Eric Himes)

Sometimes God does His most beautiful work in the midst of despair. This is symbolic for His atoning sacrifice on Good Friday and in the song that accompanies it on Holy Week.

“O Come And Look Awhile On Him” came at a personal low point in the Holy Week project. For months both bands had worked in earnest to write and arrange, believing that we would get the necessary support to eventually produce this album. But we had come to a crossroads in our preparation; either scrap everything or continue to press on in faith. At the time this song was written it felt like we were very close to giving up.

I was also suffering from writer’s block with our assignment to compose a song for Good Friday. We had already produced an epic song about the crucifixion on the last album (called “Behold The Lamb”) and I wasn’t interested in returning to that emotional space for this new Good Friday song. I was convinced that it needed to be subtle, beautiful and haunting. But I didn’t know how to get there either.

As I often do, I looked to the Salvation Army Song Book for inspiration on the subject. There were a number of songs that I greatly admired, but Frederick W. Faber’s hymn—SASB #121—stood out from the rest. I love the way he eloquently depicts the humility of Christ (“His willing hands and feet are bound.”) and His heroic battle with sin on the cross (“O love of God! O sin of man! In this dread act your strength is tried.”). These are truly beautiful lyrics, written over 160 years ago.


After being deeply moved and inspired by this hymn we chose to continue our work on Holy Week. Kirsten Gorton, Brett Tolcher and I met one evening to refine the melody I was working on. After a few hours we adapted Faber’s old lyrics to a new melody. I am still moved by the way the Lord worked through the struggle and gave new hope through this beautiful song.

lyrics

O Come And Look Awhile On Him
Words by: Frederick W. Faber and Eric Himes; Music by: Eric Himes, Kirsten Gorton and Brett Tolcher

VERSE 1:
O come and look awhile on Him,
Whom we have pierced, who for us died;
Together let us look,
This Son whom God forsook.

VERSE 2:
His willing hands and feet are bound;
His gracious lips with thirst are dried;
His pitying eye is dimmed;
This Lamb, who takes our sin.

CHORUS:
O love of God! O sin of man!
In this dread act your strength is tried;
And victory’s sealed with love,
For He, our Lord, is crucified.

VERSE 3:
Shall we refuse to hear Him speak?
Dare we neglect to hear His cry?
“O Father, please forgive.
They don’t know what they did.”

VERSE 4:
His cross of shame is all our hope;
The fountain opened in His side
Shall purge our deepest stains;
Till not a spot remains.

FINAL CHORUS:
O love of God! O sin of man!
In this dread act your strength is tried;
And victory’s sealed with love,
For He, our Lord, is crucified.
A broken and a contrite heart
To none who ask will be denied;
Each broken heart will be
A temple of the crucified.

credits

from Holy Week, released April 8, 2011
Words by: Frederick W. Faber and Eric Himes; Music by: Eric Himes, Kirsten Gorton and Brett Tolcher

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The Singing Company Chicago, Illinois

Encouraging the Church through worship. Chicago, IL. Since 2005.

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