Used to be the smiter came Struck my cheek and I cursed his name Used to be my fist was drawn My heart was stone and its mercy gone I was wrong to breath Any words but these
Peace and mercy Invade every soul that hurts me, I pray Peace and mercy Invade every soul that hurts me Love my enemy Love my enemy Like you loved me
Used to be I rolled the dice Held the spear and I broke your side Water, blood and mercy ran Turning foes to forgiven friends I'd be wrong to give Any less than this
Peace and mercy Invade every soul that hurts me, I pray Peace and mercy Invade every soul that hurts me Love my enemy Change my enemy Forgive my enemy Love my enemy Like you loved me
Story Behind The Song: MATTHEW 5:9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God."
Then Jesus tells the gathering of Jews, forever under the thumb of violent oppressors and abusers, "Blessed are those who make peace." Later in the Sermon on the Mount He elaborates, adding that we should pray for our accusers, meet their needs, carry their load farther than they've commanded us to, not punch them back, and allow them to strike and humiliate us without end if we can't get away. And for three centuries after these words were spoken, the Church believed Jesus meant it. They believed and taught that this command to be nonviolent and even kind to those who harm us and hate us applied as much to the treatment of an irritating next door neighbor or schoolyard bully as it did to Roman soldiers intent on raping, torturing and killing the innocent.
Jesus has the audacity today and in his day to remind His battered and oppressed followers to love their enemies as we were loved by God. He reminds us that those who live by the sword die by the sword, and He promises a day when lions will lay down with lambs, there will be no more flags to wave, when eternal peace breaks out. Until that day He teaches us to pray for and serve the backstabber in the office, the smart-mouthed teenager in our house and the candidate from the other side of the aisle. I was an enemy of God deserving to be punished with death, but instead He met my greatest need and calls me His friend. Doing the same, when I want to hate and hurt, is righteousness crucial to following Jesus.
