Verse 1
Fate, holds nothing on the providence I know
No longer bound to things of wood and stone
When all I had to offer was my worst
You saw my heavy heart and loved me first
Your beauty staring down my brokenness
You chose to throw Your heart into the mess
Compassion crashing down upon my debt
You were there
Pre-Chorus 1
All this time
Like a river running through my failure
You carried me all this time
Like the splinters buried in Your shoulders
You carry me now
Chorus 1
Hallelujah
If ever now my heart cries Hallelujah
If ever now in the wonder of Your grace
A thousand times, a thousand years my soul
Will say
Verse 2
Grace, You saw the crushing weight my flesh deserved
You kneeled and wrote forgiveness in the dirt
And one by one the stones fell where they lay
'Cause one by one my accusers walked away
With nothing left to throw they made a cross
And knowing only love could count the cost
You were there
Pre-Chorus 2
All this time
Like a river running through my failure
You carried me all this time
Like the splinters buried in Your shoulders
Your love carried all my shame
Jesus, how my soul will praise You
You carried me all this way
Like a diamond in the scars upon Your crown
You carry me now
Chorus 2
Hallelujah
If ever now my heart cries Hallelujah
If ever now in the wonder of Your grace
A thousand times, a thousand years my soul
Will say
Hallelujah
Forever now in the greatness of my Saviour
Forever now in the brightness of Your name
Jesus on this rock I'll sing Your praise
SPLINTERS & STONES - Acoustic - Hillsong UNITED
Splinters and Stones Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration
Hillsong UNITED's song "Splinters and Stones," particularly in its moving Acoustic version released on April 14, 2020, offers a profound reflection on grace, forgiveness, and the depth of divine love. The song opens by contrasting human fate and reliance on material things ("wood and stone") with the steadfast reality of God's providence. It speaks to a journey from a state of brokenness and offering only one's "worst" to encountering a love that sees beyond the flaws and actively enters the "mess." The initial verses paint a picture of God's relentless compassion overwhelming human debt and failure, illustrating a constant presence and carrying power like a persistent river. The poignant image of "splinters buried in Your shoulders" immediately brings to mind suffering endured on behalf of another, suggesting the sacrificial carrying of burdens.
The recurring chorus serves as the soul's response to this overwhelming grace. The cry of "Hallelujah" is presented not just as an occasional expression but as a deep, necessary response whenever the heart truly grasps the wonder of divine favor. It is portrayed as an eternal anthem, meant to be sung "a thousand times, a thousand years," highlighting the everlasting nature of God's grace and the soul's perpetual call to worship in its light.
Verse two delves further into the theme of forgiveness, depicting a scene where grace confronts the weight of deserved judgment. The imagery of kneeling and writing forgiveness in the dirt directly echoes a powerful biblical account of condemnation disarmed by divine intervention. As the stones of accusation fall away and the accusers depart with nothing left to throw, the song draws a direct line to the ultimate act of love on the cross. It emphasizes that only love could bear the immense cost of this redemption, affirming Christ's presence and sacrifice at the pivotal moment of salvation.
The second pre-chorus reinforces the continuous carrying theme, explicitly naming Jesus as the one who bore all shame. It powerfully revisits the journey, acknowledging that He carried the soul "all this way." The introduction of a new, striking image – "Like a diamond in the scars upon Your crown" – transforms the symbols of suffering (thorns, scars) into emblems of glory and enduring value, signifying that the pain endured resulted in ultimate victory and exaltation.
The final chorus reiterates the central theme of Hallelujah, expanding it to celebrate the "greatness of my Saviour" and the brightness of His name. It anchors faith and praise firmly in Christ, declaring, "Jesus on this rock I'll sing Your praise." This anchors the song's message in the unshakeable foundation of Jesus Himself, portraying praise as a steadfast response built upon His identity and finished work. "Splinters and Stones" thus becomes a powerful narrative of redemption, moving from brokenness and condemnation to forgiveness, carrying, and eternal worship grounded in the sacrificial love and victorious presence of Jesus Christ.
