I had heard the song before as it has come across my path through social media. It always struck me as beautiful but the depth of meaning didn’t hit as deeply until we sang it in corporate worship, and upon seeing the lyrics displayed.

“Behold the Lamb
The story of redemption written on His hands
Jesus, You will reign forevermore
The victory is Yours
We sing Your praise
Endless hallelujah to Your holy name
Jesus, You will reign forevermore
The victory is Yours.”

(from Behold the Lamb, Passion Conferences)

One line moved me to tears …

“The story of redemption written on His hands.”

My name, your name, written on His hands, and the Scripture comes flooding into my memory:

“See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.” (Isaiah 49:16a, NLT)

The image of my name – Joanne – permanently engraved on the palm of God’s hand flashed through my mind. I knew this was something I had to search out more deeply, not letting familiarity steal the significance from my heart.

In the early morning light, I pull out my commentary and begin to read:

“This is not a tattoo on the back of his hand, and it is not something written with weak ink that can fade or be erased, this is permanently carved into his metaphorical flesh.”

(from The New American Commentary, Volume 15b, page 365)

God wanted to assure His people they could never be forgotten. He reminds them that much the way a mother cannot forget her nursing baby, or not have compassion on their child, He also would never forget or forsake His own.

People tend to have names tattooed on their bodies of those with whom they have a meaningful, and permanent, relationship. Once tattooed, it would be hard to overlook or not continually think upon. And to think, it is now our names which cannot be erased.

This brings my thoughts back to the song …

“The story of redemption written on His hands.”

It is the story of my redemption, your redemption,
which is written on His hands.