There Are A Thousand Tongues

"O for a thousand tongues to sing my dear Redeemer's praise"
Sang out the bard of yesteryear; I felt just yesterday
Another facet of that jewel (Christ's death upon the cross);
I caught a glimpse – how precious that – it's absence had great cost.

He spoke those words – perceptive ones – but turned it all around;
I'd heard his shtick – it's helpful was – but in these words I found
A fresh perspective for my life which lifted off some freight,
A burden-lifter from my soul, dissolver of such weight.

Perceiver-types personify one aspect of our pain,
Judgmental they, and blunt they are, and ever they'll remain;
It's just the flip-side of their strength, two figures on one coin,
They have it most, though it's a part of all of with whom we join.

Encouragers feed off the fruit perceivers grow each year,
They see a thousand ways to do the precious things they hear;
Then they pass on a gem or two, once corners are knocked off;
Administrators pick these up – into their plans they're locked.

But mining ore from seams of gold is not without its cost,
Like falling rock within the mine – which happens when we talk;
Encouragers, who need the ore, press on despite the pain;
It all works out, it all resolves, in time we're friends again.

But pushing through repeatedly wears out capacity
To live with zest, maintain one's hope, and live in liberty;
For me, ’till now, I wrote it off – the cost of doing biz –
But then I heard, within his words, what resolution is:

Perceiver types – obsessed with guilt far more than many folks,
View Jesus' death upon the cross as lifting off that yoke;
And that is good, but that's not all – for us, not even most –
Oppressor’s load upon our backs – that turns our lives to toast.

But there it was – he turned it ’round, showed how it also fit
Our problem too, and now I sing with joy because of it –
No more must I press through the pain to reach that pleasant land,
Where fellowship's restored once more – for now I understand.

Christ's turned things ’round, resolved them out, they're fixed right from the start,
So we can carry on our work freed from the ugly part;
"That stuff you dumped on me, my friend, from which I now cry out,
For that I want to see you squirm, and when you don't, I pout" –

That's how I viewed my life before, the bad along with good;
It worked I guess, but toll was high each time I under-stood;
But now I see, you "get it" friend – full force, right to the top –
That "justice-hit", (my "vengeance-lust") – exactly what you've got.

So we don't have to wait till then – for justice by and by,
For punishment went out that day – was taken by that guy
Who hung up on that cross for all, absorbed their hits for us,
Which frees us up to carry on with you, without the fuss.

Perceiver types, amazed at that, (but from oppressor's side,
See Christ absorb what they deserve, through nails and pierce-ed side)
Don't emphasize the good to us – the ones who clobbered were;
But now I see – Christ took their hit – and now of that I'm sure.

And I don't have to wait until "God gets them in the end"
He's done it – now – Christ took their hit – good news of that I'll send;
For now I can just walk ahead, for justice was supplied –
Amazed I am at just how much Christ took that day he died.

Not "took for me" – I'd seen that part – but took for you, my friend –
He took your hit, which frees me up – and to my work attend;
Perhaps we'll walk a few more miles as we go down this road,
Or not – whatever – it's resolved – and gone from me, my load.

There are "A thousand tongues which sing our dear Redeemer's praise"
Each one sees part of what He did way back in Calvary's days;
A thousand facets of that work, or more, who cares? It's great
That all our needs are met in Him – are met for Goodness' sake.

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