“These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word. 

“Hear the word of the Lord, you who tremble at his word.“ 

Isaiah 66: 2, 5

Sing along with me.

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Oh!  Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?

Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?

Oh!  Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.

Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?

Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?

Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?

Oh!  Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.

Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?

Were you there when he rose up from the dead?

Were you there when he rose up from the dead? 

Oh!  Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.

Were you there when he rose up from the dead? 

The author of this profound hymn is unknown.  In my mind’s eye I see African slaves gathering for worship somewhere in the American south.  They love Jesus and are thinking of what it cost Him to open the door of full salvation.

Come, they sing, ponder once again the most amazing work of God.  Move in close, open your eyes, Jesus is being crucified.  They are nailing Him to the Cross.  They lay him in the tomb.  You are there.  Then, just stand or kneel and tremble, tremble, tremble!

To be honest, I do not know how to “tremble.” The person who wrote this song knew how. I think it was a mixture of awe, of thanksgiving, of mystery, of looking upon a broken Jesus and then falling down in worship and admiration with unbelievable thanksgiving. That is trembling!!

The Prophet Isaiah, 700 or so years before Christ, trembled! When he was overwhelmed by the “word” of God’s redemption he simply trembled.  He wrote to “tremblers.”  Am I one of them? Or am I undone by the love of God in Jesus, one of those who simply bows in adoration at the Cross of Jesus?

Help me, Lord, to tremble!!