The soothing musical feel is just one of the many attractions to savor about this ambient and introspective worship album. I'm drawn to all of the songs' sincerity, gorgeous musical beds, and profound songwriting on Plans.
The album tells David's story of wrestling through heartache, depression, confusion, and redemption with his family and with God. This is the most spine-tingling and ambient worship project I've experienced this past year, and all of these songs are completely anointed, Spirit-led, and emotionally captivating. There are no weak songs, and this album is truly a masterpiece.
David has followed that album with his single, "By His Wounds." I'm engaged by David Leonard's distinctive and emotive vocals and the deep, prayerful, and vertical lyrics throughout this song. I had the chance to speak with David about "By His Wounds."
Please tell me the personal story behind this song.
I originally wrote the song for Zach Williams. A lot of the song was originally tied to his story, and there were lyrics that we changed to connect it with my story. It formed into a song that tells the truth about how we are saved and shares the truth about Jesus, like the old rugged cross. When I sing it in concert, people identify with this song and find it sacred. Up to this point, people haven't really heard this song as much from streaming services and radio. We would love for more people to hear this song.
Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?
Psalm 40:1 (NIV): "I waited patiently for the LORD; He turned to me and heard my cry."
Isaiah 40:31 (VOICE): "But those who trust in the Eternal One will regain their strength. They will soar on wings as eagles. They will run--never winded, never weary. They will walk--never tired, never faint."
Isaiah 53:5 (NIV): "But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed."
1 Peter 2:24 (NIV): "He himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; By His wounds you have been healed."
1 Peter 5:6-7 (NIV): "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."
Psalm 91:1-2 (NKJV): "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust."
Psalm 23:1 (VOICE): "The Eternal is my Shepherd, He cares for me always."
Psalm 55:22 (NIV): "Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken."
Hebrews 4:15-16 (NKJV): "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us, therefore, come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
What is the takeaway message?
All the music I've been involved in writing, singing, and worship leading at church that has gone well--from All Sons and Daughters to everything that happened in my thirties--was around the church and the band. Then all of that was gone when our pastor resigned. Everything fell apart. That caused me to have a crisis of faith as I worried about everything that I believed being gone, including my relationship with God.
The first lines of the song are about what I was struggling with at the time: "When I couldn't find redemption or revival/When I couldn't find salvation in a song/When everything I had hit rock bottom, and everyone I knew was gone"--that's my story. You take all that away, all the All Sons & Daughters success I had, and all of a sudden, that was gone. It was a really weird time. This song is a faith statement, filled with descriptions of who God is and what He has done for us. I sing these lyrics because they mean everything to me. I need forgiveness from God. This is real for me.
Lyrics
When I couldn't find redemption or revival
When I couldn't find salvation in a song
When everything I had had hit rock bottom
And everyone I ever knew was gone
There was mercy waiting for me in the shadows
It was binding up this bruised and broken soul
He said leave behind that man of constant sorrow
Then He wrote my name in the greatest story told
And on that old rugged cross, where my Savior bore my scars
Perfect love destroyed my fears
An eternity of failures have been swallowed up forever
'Cause by His wounds all of mine are healed
My debt's been paid in full there's no more ransom
There's forgiveness flowing freely from His hands
By His torn up flesh and bone He is redeeming
And a sinner is no longer who I am
And on that old rugged cross, where my Savior bore my scars
Perfect love destroyed my fears
An eternity of failures have been swallowed up forever
'Cause by His wounds all of mine are healed
There's no looking back now
The grave's been emptied out
The son of God defeated death and made a way
You can run to Him now
Go on and run to Him now
Child of God born again to bear His name
On that old rugged cross, where my Savior bore my scars
Perfect love destroyed my fears
Hey
An eternity of failures have been swallowed up forever
'Cause by His wounds all of mine are healed
By His wounds all of mine are healed
Oh, they're healed
Closing Thoughts
"By His Wounds" connects with me as a believer, husband, and father in sharing David's sentiments behind the song. You can hear the songwriter's vertical expressions of relying on God for His breath and the Holy Spirit to sustain him. I love his intentionality and complete focus on God's provision in his life. The song has become one of my daily devotional prayers of thankfulness to Him for showing me grace and forgiveness despite my failures. We serve a loving and merciful God who accepts us as we are, not who we pretend to be.
Even when you're saved, you still might beat yourself up about failure. You might feel unworthy of God's love. That's the point: you aren't worthy. You can't earn grace. It's a gift of unmerited favor from God to His children. Romans 5:8 tells us, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Despite your sins, God still thinks of you as His child: a son or daughter. Only Jesus can give you your identity. What a powerful expression of what it means to accept that God never leaves or forsakes us. He's all we need.
Have joy and worship loudly about the love of God in your life. His grace takes away anxiety, guilt, and shame. Know that being His is enough. This song celebrates the freedom we're promised in God's Holy Word. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." You're a new creation on the inside. The Holy Spirit has given you a new life. You're born again.
This song has an important message: there is always hope. Breathe it in like oxygen, and God will turn whatever you're going through into something different for His glory. I hope you feel the same joy and hope in Christ expressed in this song. Remember these truths, "On that old rugged cross, where my Savior bore my scars/Perfect love destroyed my fears."
Gratefully accept God's love. It's something you can freely receive from accepting Him as your Savior. This song gives words to express gratitude. It's a reminder to sing to God: "My debt's been paid in full there's no more ransom/There's forgiveness flowing freely from His hands/By His torn-up flesh and bone He is redeeming/And a sinner is no longer who I am." Amen to that.
NRT lead contributor Kevin Davis is a long-time Christian music fan and an avid collector. He credits the message of Christian music for leading him to Christ. He lives in Pennsylvania with his wife and three daughters.
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