Before The Throne Of God Above

Selah performs “Before The Throne Of God Above,” the hymn written by Charitie Lees Bancroft in 1863, with a melody added later by Vikki Cook. Bancroft was an Irish hymn writer, and the words are a clear statement about how a believer stands before God.

The first verse says the singer has a strong and perfect plea in a great High Priest whose name is Love, who ever lives and pleads for him. The second verse says his name is graven on the Lord's hands and written on his heart, and that no tongue can bid him depart. The third verse is for the moments when Satan tempts to despair and speaks of the guilt within. Then the singer looks upward and sees the one who made an end to all his sin. The fourth verse explains why, saying that because the sinless Savior died, his sinful soul is counted free, for God the Just is satisfied to look on him and pardon him. The last verses behold the risen Lamb as perfect, spotless righteousness, the unchangeable I Am and King of glory and grace. Being one with Christ, the singer cannot die, his soul is purchased by blood and his life is hid with Christ on high. Selah's version is slow and uses a piano and strings, and it has been used at communion services, funerals and baptisms.

Christ living to intercede is Hebrews 7:25. A name engraved on his hands is Isaiah 49:16, and no one condemning the elect is Romans 8:33-34.