English songwriter, musician, and worship leader Stuart Townend started his career in 1995, with the release of his first album Classical Praise Piano: Come Holy Spirit. Since then, he released thirteen other albums, including:
- Say the Word(1997)
- Personal Worship(2001)
- Lord of Every Heart(2002)
- Monument to Mercy(2006)
- The Best of Stuart Townend Live(2007)
- There is a Hope(live) (2008)
- Creation Sings(2009)
- The Journey(2011)
- Ultimate Collection(2012)
- The Paths of Grace(2014)
- The Best of Stuart Townend Live, Volume 2(2015)
- In Christ Alone: Songs of Stuart Townend & Keith Getty(2016)
- Courage(2018)
Townend is most famous for his hit songs In Christ Alone (co-written with Keith And Kristyn Getty), Beautiful Saviour, and How Deep the Father’s Love for Us (sometimes shortened as How Deep the Father’s Love).
In June 2017, Townend received the Cranmer Award for Worship by the Archbishop of Canterbury “for his outstanding contribution to contemporary worship music”. I know of no other awards for his work.
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1. What message does the song communicate?
The Father loves us so much that He sent the Son to pay the penalty for our lawbreaking. The depth, height, and width of it are immeasurable. This selfless act of Jesus brings about the forgiveness of sins; favor with God that is undeserved. We are unworthy, partially responsible for placing Jesus up there. In response, we do not boast in anything except Christ and His Gospel.
Townend states that the Father abandoned the Son on the cross. I disagree with this statement and will talk more about why in section 2. This has little impact on Townend’s overall message.
Side Note: There is very little repetition in verbatim, existing only within the last few lines of Verse 3. Rather, Townend chose the route of the Apostle Paul and King Solomon: repackaging the same ideas in different words to drill home their points. This is a more creative approach to repetition!
Score: 9/10
2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?
Most of it agrees with Scripture; However, I take exception with Townend’s statement that the Father abandoned Jesus in Verse 1, lines 5 and 6.
Lyrics posted with permission.*
[Verse 1]
How deep the Father’s love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He would give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
Both the Father and the Son show how much they love the world, by the Father’s sacrifice, by offering His only, begotten Son, and the Son, for offering Himself up for us in payment for our sins (John 3:16 and Romans 5:6-8).
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
This is a popular statement that is at odds with Psalm 22:1-31. Some believe that Jesus was abandoned by the Father due to the first statement within this Psalm that Jesus quoted in Matthew 27:46. However, when I examine Psalm 22 in context, this is what I see.
The Psalm starts with the quote Jesus gave, as previously mentioned. The Psalmist, King David, prays to the Father without a response. David feels abandoned by the Father. As does Jesus, when He quotes from it. Verse 3 acknowledges the holiness and majesty of the Father. Verse 4 and 5 describe past acts of the Father, where David’s ancestors trusted Him and were delivered.
David contrasts this with his scenario in Verses 6-8, calling himself a “worm” and a “reproach” due to the taunts of others. The Father rescued these people, why not David? This too is prophetic as Jesus was also insulted, asked “if you are God, save yourself” (Matthew 27:40 and Luke 23:3). Thus far, the parallels between the feelings and thoughts of Jesus hold true.
In Verses 9 and 10, David acknowledges that he trusts the Father since birth. As does Jesus, when we examine his life throughout all four Gospels.
In Verse 11, David asks the Father to “be not far from me” because he has nobody else. Verses 12-18 are yet more parallels between David and Jesus. The difference is that David is describing how he feels, but for Jesus, much of it is quite literal. Nouns such as “dogs” and “bulls” are figurative in both cases. While David feels poured out, Jesus’ blood was literally drained (Matthew 26:26 and Luke 22:20). Both are literally zapped of strength. While David feels pierced, Jesus experienced the anguish of crucifixion, pierced literally within his hands and feet (John 20:25). Though David feels that his enemies divided his clothes, the Roman soldiers literally gambled for His (Matthew 27:35, Mark 15:24, and Luke 23:34).
Verses 19-21 has the same prayer offered to the Father as Verse 11. Verses 22 and 23 is David’s resolve, that He will proclaim the Father to his brethren. As does Jesus throughout His entire ministry. Once again, we see multiple parallels within David’s anguish and Jesus’ crucifixion.
When we finally get to Verse 24, it says “For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Nor has He hidden His face from him; But when he cried to Him for help, He heard.”
The context of “He” is the Father based on previous verses. If this is talking about Jesus (and there is little disagreement on that point), then the Father has not despised the affliction of Jesus. He has also not hidden his face from Jesus! The rest of the Psalm is about how David will praise and serve the Father, him and his brethren.
Why, then, do some people believe the Father abandoned the Son? It is because of Habakkuk 1:13. The text says:
“Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, And You can not look on wickedness with favor. Why do You look with favor
On those who deal treacherously? Why are You silent when the wicked swallow up Those more righteous than they?”
The problem with this is that Habakkuk asks a question immediately after the bolded text. Let’s take a look at it again:
“Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, And You can not look on wickedness with favor. Why do You look with favor
On those who deal treacherously? Why are You silent when the wicked swallow up Those more righteous than they?”
The prophet Habakkuk asks these questions in a response to the words of God in Habakkuk 1:5-6:
“Look among the nations! Observe!
Be astonished! Wonder!
Because I am doing something in your days—
You would not believe if you were told.
For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans,
That fierce and impetuous people
Who march throughout the earth
To seize dwelling places which are not theirs.”
Habakkuk is asking God why He is “raising up the Chaldeans”. They are “those who deal treacherously”. Habakkuk is not making a statement that God cannot look upon sin. Rather, it says the opposite. God sees the sin that is going on and allowing them to continue in it! What is the reason? God answers this in Habakkuk 2:1-20. The Chaldeans are raised up to punish Israel for their sin.
It is for these reasons that I conclude that this line is contrary to Scripture. The Father did not turn His face away from Jesus.
As wounds which mar the chosen One
Bring many sons to glory
It is the shed blood of Jesus that washes us clean and brings about the forgiveness of sins (Ephesians 1:7, Hebrews 9:22, 1 Peter 1:2, and 1 Peter 1:18-19). As adopted sons and daughters of God, we will inherit His Kingdom in glory (Matthew 25:34, Acts 20:32, Romans 8:17, Galatians 3:29, Titus 3:7, James 2:5, and 1 Peter 1:4).
[Verse 2]
Behold the Man upon a cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Jesus paid for our lawbreaking (Isaiah 53:1-12, Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45, John 1:29, John 3:16, John 19:30, Acts 4:12, Acts 20:28, Romans 5:6-10, Romans 6:23, 1 Corinthians 1:30, 1 Corinthians 6:20, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 1:3-4, Galatians 3:13, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 2:14, 1 Timothy 2:6, Titus 2:14, Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 9:15, Hebrews 9:22, Hebrews 9:26, 1 Peter 1:17-21, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 Peter 1:18-19, 1 John 1:7, 1 John 2:1-2, and Revelation 5:9).
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
Townend acknowledges that he is partially responsible for Jesus’ crucifixion. Not historically, but he figuratively joins those who mocked Jesus when he breaks God’s laws. This is poetic license that is not contrary to Scripture.
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished
Combines verses in lines 1 and 2, the possibility of the forgiveness of sins in Verse 1, lines 7 and 8, and the statement Jesus made in John 19:30, which literally means “paid in full”. We were once dead in sin, but now Christ’s sacrifice has made it possible to become alive in Him (Romans 6:1-11, Romans 7:4-6, Galatians 2:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:11, and 1 Peter 2:24).
[Verse 3]
I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no powr, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
A great rewording of Galatians 6:14.
Why should I gain from His reward?
Townend acknowledges that God’s favor is unearned, known as “grace” (Genesis 15:6, Exodus 33:19, Psalm 32:1-2, Romans 3:21-24, Romans 4:3-8, Romans 5:1-2, Romans 5:6-8, Romans 5:15-21, Romans 6:14, Romans 8:1-4, Romans 9:14-16, Romans 11:5-6, Galatians 2:21, Galatians 3:6, Galatians 5:4, Ephesians 1:7, Ephesians 2:4-9, 2 Thessalonians 2:16, Titus 2:11, 1 Timothy 1:15-16, and James 2:23).
I cannot give an answer
I agree that there is no answer. At least, not the complete picture. King David asks a similar question in Psalm 8:4. Why does God, who is the ruler of the entire universe, care about small specks of dust like us? In part, it is because God loves us (John 3:16 and Romans 5:6-8). That is the heart of who God is (1 John 4:8). Yet, this does not fully answer the question Townend asks.
Side Note: Rather than contemplate this unanswerable question, we should be grateful for what God has done for us and behave accordingly.
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom
See Verse 2, lines 1 and 2.
Score: 9/10
3. How would an outsider interpret the song?
Townend communicates his basic Gospel message using a healthy mix of everyday language and Christianese. If unbelievers do not comprehend the uniquely Christians terms such as “sin”, “glory”, and “boast”, simpler terms like “cross”, “Jesus Christ”, and “resurrection” will make it easy for them to interpret this as uniquely Christian.
Though I took exception with the Father turning His face away, I don’t suspect that many outside the camp of Christ will contemplate on it. Still, there is always that possibility.
Score: 9/10
4. What does this song glorify?
Aside from the abandonment statement mentioned in previous sections, it glorifies God through its accurate description of the Gospel.
Score: 9/10
Closing Comments
Stuart Townend’sHow Deep the Father’s Love for Usis an excellent song. It drills home points about God’s love for us, Christ crucified, our unworthiness of it, and our inheritance in His glory. These glorify God. Unbelievers will have a much easier time interpreting this song as uniquely Christian, given the redundancy of simple and complex wording that makes the same points.
I think that the Father’s abandonment of the Son is not Scriptural. To those who disagree or think it’s not that big of a deal, consider adding this classic to your worship roster. To those who agree with me, if you still want to use this song, consider a slight rewording. Perhaps “The Father did not look away“.
Final Score: 9/10
Artist Info
Track: How Deep the Father’s Love for Us (listen to the song)
Artist: Stuart Townend
Album: Say the Word
Genre: Hymn
Release Year: 1997
Duration: 3:34
Agree? Disagree? Don’t be shy or have a cow! Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.
*Copyright © 1995 Thankyou Music (PRS) (adm. worldwide at CapitolCMGPublishing.com excluding Europe which is adm. by Integrity Music, part of the David C Cook family. Songs@integritymusic.com) All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Updates:
05/06/2021 – Corrected an error in section 1, where my original article stated Jesus’ love is selfish. Thanks to Robin Newton for catching it!
03/25/2021 – Updated perrepetition announcement. I moved my commentary to a side note.
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