The hymn of the day, I Lay My Sins on Jesus (LSB #606), is a hymn of great comfort, as we
sing of our confession of all our sins—laying them on Jesus—and also as we sing
of our absolution, our forgiveness—He bears them all and frees us from the accursed load. What a relief our forgiveness in Christ
is! What Good News that God forgives us for Jesus’ sake and receives us into
His kingdom.
This hymn was originally written by Horatius
Bonar, who has been called the prince of the Scottish hymn writers. In it we
are reminded of how God invites us to bring our sins to Jesus not just
initially when we come to Christ for justification, but repeatedly as we
continue to become trapped in the guilt and shame of our remaining sin. This
hymn explores why we can bring our sins to Jesus, giving us peaceful trust that
He is willing, able, and ready to forgive and restore sweet communion with
Himself to us when we ask.
Horatius Bonar was born at Edinburgh, in
1808. His education was obtained at the High School, and the University of his
native city. He was ordained to the ministry, in 1837, and since then was
pastor at Kelso. In 1843, he joined the Free Church of Scotland. His reputation
as a religious writer was first gained on the publication of the "Kelso
Tracts," of which he was the author. He has also written many other prose
works, some of which have had a very large circulation. Nor is he less favorably
known as a religious poet and hymn-writer. The three series of "Hymns of
Faith and Hope," have passed through several editions. --Annotations of
the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A. 1872[1]
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