I’ve been exploring some of the very modern worship songs as an old guy 😀. But now, I’ve decided to alternate between very modern hymns, old hymns, and in-between hymns, namely the worship songs from the 60s to the 90s that feature in hymnbooks such as Mission Praise. Today it’s the turn of the in-between hymns.
Today’s song is There is a Redeemer from 1977.
I first heard this one back in 1987 when I was leading a Baptist Youth Evangelism (BYE) team in Cork. The team had a little choir who sang it on various occasions throughout the week.
It’s a straightforward simple hymn about Jesus. What does it mean to redeem? In the past, people pawned items, such as watches, and redeemed them when they were able to pay. Nowadays, in everyday language, it might be used to redeem a gift card or whatever. You give something that you already have to receive something of value. In Christian terms it means that we who are separated from God by sin are forgiven because of what Jesus did and are therefore reconciled and united with Him. So, it’s God’s act of rescuing people from sin, death, and judgment by paying the price on their behalf or taking their punishment.
Here’s the chorus:
Thank you oh my father
For giving us your son
And leaving your spirit
'Til the work on earth is done.
So, all three members of the Trinity are mentioned. The song always brings me back to the summer of 1987. But it points back to the coming of Christ. But the Holy Spirit is still here. I certainly saw evidence of His work during our 1987 BYE team. And He’s still drawing people to Christ – right around the world.
Here are some other versions of the song – that last one shows clips from Ben-Hur from 1979, which I think I saw as a 7-year old around 1969.
Hibernia Gospel 