Lyrics
Verse 1
As Isaac laid on the altar made
So here I am willing to be changed
At the altar
at the altar
Verse 2
As a living sacrifice
Lord, I give You my whole life
Let Your fire consume of all of me
Oh, refine me Lord at the altar now
To Your altar, Lord here I come!
Chorus
So I run to the altar
The cross where the Lamb was slain
I fall down at the altar
Where forever I am changed
At the altar
At the altar
Bridge
No more need for blood
The Father gave His Son
No need for pain
I am healed in Jesus' Name
No more need for blood
The Father gave His Son
No need for pain
The perfect Lamb was slain
At the altar, at the altar
Outro
Here I am
Willing to be changed
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
At the Altar is a worship song about surrender and the sacrifice of Jesus. The first lines recall Isaac laid on the altar and say that the singer is willing to be changed, asking to be a living sacrifice and giving the whole life, with the prayer that God's fire consume everything and refine the singer at the altar. The chorus says that the singer runs to the altar, the cross where the Lamb was slain, falls down there and is changed forever.
The bridge declares that there is no more need for blood or pain, because the Father gave His Son, the perfect Lamb was slain and healing is found in Jesus' Name. The song closes with the line "Here I am, willing to be changed." The themes follow Genesis 22:9 on Isaac on the altar, Romans 12:1 on presenting the body as a living sacrifice, and Hebrews 10:10 on the offering of Christ once for all. The repeated lines and slow build give the song a humble, reverent tone.
Related Scripture
- Genesis 22:9 Abraham binds Isaac and lays him on the altar.
- Romans 12:1 Believers are urged to present their bodies as living sacrifices to God.
- Hebrews 10:10 Believers are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.