Helen Baylor - The Sea of Forgetfullness Lyrics
Lyrics
I stand before you guilty and unworthy
How can I be forgiven and holy
And I know I break your heart
But you promised I could start all over
And all the things I've done
You've placed them each and every one
Chorus
Into the sea of forgetfulness
You've placed all of my sins
For I'm the one who keeps reminding you
Over and over again
Into the sea of forgetfulness
As far as the east from the west
Seventy times seven
You've forgiven me
And you keep cleansing me
And placing my sins
Into the sea of forgetfulness
You welcome me with open arms of mercy
In spite of all I've done
You still keep loving me
And I only need to ask
And you erase all my past forever
My debts have all been paid
And they've all been washed away...
Chorus
Its you're unfailing love that covers me
And all my mulititude of sins
Its your steadfast love
That keeps reminding me that I'm forgiven
Chorus
Placing my sins into the sea of forgetfulness
Video
Helen Baylor- The Sea Of Forgetfulnes
Meaning & Inspiration
Helen Baylor's powerful declaration, "The Sea of Forgetfulness," released in 1993 on her album *Start All Over*, is more than just a song; it's a profound musical testament to the boundless mercy and redemptive power found in divine forgiveness. The song grapples with the universal human struggle of guilt and unworthiness, a feeling that often leads us to believe we are beyond hope or reconciliation. Baylor poignantly articulates the internal conflict of recognizing one's failings and the deep-seated fear that those transgressions are indelible. Yet, woven throughout the narrative is the unwavering promise of a new beginning, a chance to "start all over," a concept deeply rooted in biblical themes of repentance and restoration.
The lyrical narrative delves into the core of this spiritual journey, painting a vivid picture of a soul standing before a loving Creator, acknowledging its brokenness and the pain it has inflicted. The profound realization that the Divine sees all these transgressions, all the ways we've stumbled and fallen, is met not with condemnation, but with an astounding act of grace. This is where the central metaphor of "The Sea of Forgetfulness" truly resonates. It’s not about the individual *forgetting* their sins, which can be a dangerous path of denial, but about the Divine *sovereignly and completely removing* them. This act of casting sins into a vast, immeasurable sea symbolizes a total obliteration, a removal so complete that it is beyond our ability to retrieve or recall. This imagery directly echoes Micah 7:19, "He will again have compassion on us, and will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea." The song further emphasizes the persistence of our own internal reminders, the way we can bring our past failures back to mind, making it all the more miraculous that God's forgiveness is not conditional on our perfect memory or lack of self-recrimination.
The chorus is a vibrant expression of this divine disposition. The promise that our sins are cast "as far as the east is from the west" is a direct allusion to Psalm 103:12, "as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." This is not a minor adjustment or a partial pardon; it is a complete and utter separation, a cosmic distance established by God’s love. Furthermore, the phrase "seventy times seven" is a direct quote from Jesus's teaching in Matthew 18:22, where Peter asks if he should forgive his brother seven times, and Jesus responds with an unlimited quantity, signifying the perpetual nature of God's forgiveness. Baylor's assertion that God "keeps cleansing me" underscores the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in the believer's life, constantly purifying and renewing them. This ceaseless washing away of sin, this repeated act of placing transgressions into the sea of forgetfulness, highlights the complete and utter sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice, as spoken of in Hebrews 10:10: "And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."
The bridge of the song beautifully articulates the unmerited nature of this divine love. The "open arms of mercy" welcomed despite all that has been done speaks to the boundless grace described in Ephesians 2:8-9: "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." The understanding that a simple asking is enough to erase the past, that debts are paid and washed away, points to the finished work of Christ on the cross. His sacrifice is the ultimate atonement, wiping the slate clean for all who believe. The unfailing and steadfast love mentioned is the very essence of God’s covenant faithfulness, a love that perseveres even when we falter. This is the love that, as 1 Corinthians 13:7 says, "bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." Helen Baylor’s "The Sea of Forgetfulness" is a powerful and inspiring reminder that in God's economy, no sin is too great, no past too stained to be washed clean and cast into an ocean of perfect oblivion, allowing us to truly "start all over."