Former members include Derek Webb (guitar, vocals; left the band in 2003 to pursue a solo career), Aaron Tate (songwriting duties), Aric Nitzberg (bass guitar), and Randy Holsapple (hammond organ).
Recently Derek Webb rejoined the band.
Mystery Of Mercy
Caedmon's Call Lyrics
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I am the scattered seed that fell along the path
And I am the son that ran away
And I am the bitter son who stayed
[Chorus]
My God, my God, why hast thou accepted me
When all my love was vinegar to a thirsty king
It's a Mystery of mercy and of song
The song I sing
I am the angry man who came to stone the lover
I am the woman there ashamed before the crowd
And I am the leper that gave thanks
And I am the night that never came
[Chorus]
You made the seed that made the tree
That made the cross that saved me
You give me hope when there was none
You gave e your only son
[Chorus]
In these lyrics, the singer identifies with various characters from biblical stories, both positive and negative, to convey the idea of the universality of sin and the redemption available through faith. The mention of the woman at the well and the harlot alludes to the story in John 4 where Jesus offers living water to the woman at the well who has had five husbands and is currently living with a man who is not her husband. The scattered seed refers to the parable of the sower in Matthew 13, where the seed represents the word of God and is sown in different kinds of soil, including along the path where it is snatched away by birds. The sons that ran away and stayed refer to the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15, where the younger son asks for his inheritance early, squanders it all in a far country, and returns home to a loving father who celebrates his return, while the elder son resents the attention given to his wayward brother.
The chorus asks the question of why God would accept someone like the singer, whose love is like vinegar to a thirsty king, a metaphor for Jesus on the cross who asked for vinegar to drink. The mystery of mercy is the idea that God's forgiveness and acceptance are available to even the most undeserving sinners. The final stanza acknowledges God as the creator of all things, from the seed that grew into the tree that became the cross on which Jesus died, to the giver of hope and the sacrificer of his only son.
Line by Line Meaning
I am the woman at the well, I am a harlet
I am the sinner, the one who has gone astray, and lived a life full of bad deeds.
I am the scattered seed that fell along the path
I am the person who once was lost and the truth could not find me, no matter how much it tried reaching out to me.
And I am the son that ran away
I am the one who has turned my back on God, and chose to go my own way.
And I am the bitter son who stayed
I am the person who is a faithful servant to God, and when things don't go my way, I judge and question Him.
My God, my God, why hast thou accepted me
I am in awe of how God has accepted me, despite all my wrongdoings and shortcomings.
When all my love was vinegar to a thirsty king
My best efforts, which were full of flaws, wouldn't have been enough to earn God's love, mercy, and forgiveness. Nevertheless, God gave it to me freely.
It's a Mystery of mercy and of song
The love and mercy God shows us are mysterious and beautiful, something that we can only describe through song or poetry.
The song I sing
In response to God's grace, I express my gratitude through prayer and worship.
I am the angry man who came to stone the lover
Once I was not just a sinner, but one who was ready to cast judgment on others who had also gone astray. I was not extending to others the mercy that I had so freely received.
I am the woman there ashamed before the crowd
Similar to the woman who was caught in adultery and faced public shaming, I too have had moments where I felt ashamed before the world due to my shortcomings.
And I am the leper that gave thanks
I am the person who, despite being outcast and rejected by society or those around me, still recognized the goodness of God and gave Him thanks.
And I am the night that never came
Like the darkness that stays and obscures light from the world, I too have times where I felt lost or stuck in a funk, almost as if life can never get brighter again.
You made the seed that made the tree
God is the one who created all things, and everything that exists can be traced back to Him.
That made the cross that saved me
It was through Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross that I have been given the opportunity of salvation.
You give me hope when there was none
God has given me hope, which I didn't have before, and the reassurance that there is more to life than what meets the eye.
You gave me your only son
God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for me, and has given me the gift of eternal life.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP
Written by: ANDREW PETERSON, RANDALL KILPATRICK GOODGAME
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind