Recently, our church has been doing a song called, “Not What My Hands Have Done.” The original hymn is by Horatius Bonar, and Aaron Keyes has added a chorus and some additional lyrics. It wonderfully captures the work of grace in our lives through the cross of Christ. The chorus combines the dual identity that we have as sinner and saint: how true it is that when we worship we both raise “these guilty hands,” but also, “these holy hands.” This is imputed righteousness expressed through poetry.
Here are the lyrics to the song for your edification, and you can hear a full recording of it at Aaron’s website: http://www.aaronkeyes.com/.
Not what my hands have done,
Can save my guilty soul
Not what my toiling flesh has borne,
Can make my spirit whole
Not what I feel or do,
Can give me peace with God
Not all my prayers and sighs and tears,
Can bear my awful load
These guilty hands are raised
Filthy rags are all I bring
And I have come to hide beneath your wings
These holy hands are raised
Washed in the fountain of your grace
And now I wear your righteousness
Thy work alone, O Christ,
Can ease this weight of sin
Thy blood alone, O Lamb of God,
Can give me peace within
Thy love, to me, O God,
Not mine, O Lord, to Thee
Can rid me of this dark unrest,
And set my spirit free
Thy grace alone, O God,
To me can pardon speak
Thy power, O Lamb of God,
Can this sore bondage break
No other works save Thine,
No other blood will do
The strength of God which is divine,
Can bear me safely through
These guilty hands are raised
Filthy rags are all I bring
And I have come to hide beneath your wings
These holy hands are raised
Washed in the fountain of your grace
Thanks!
Daniel
