Lord, Forgive Us ( We have not known You as)

“Lord, Forgive Us” is a solemn and searching hymn written to guide believers into honest confession before God, especially within the context of congregational worship. Drawing upon both historic hymnody and contemporary pastoral concern, this song brings together the nineteenth century devotional sensitivity of Thomas Pollock with the modern church awareness of David L. Ward. The result is a hymn that does not allow worshipers to hide behind vague admissions of sin, but gently presses the heart toward thoughtful repentance.

The hymn addresses a common spiritual weakness among believers, namely the tendency to confess sin in broad and general terms while avoiding specific self examination. Scripture teaches that forgiveness is promised when sin is confessed, yet confession in the Bible is more than a casual acknowledgment of failure. Psalm 32:5 speaks of acknowledging sin without hiding iniquity, and this hymn seeks to give voice to that kind of transparent prayer. It recognizes that believers often allow worldly concerns to crowd their thoughts, diminish reverence for God, and cool their love for His presence.

Each verse exposes areas where spiritual neglect often goes unnoticed. The hymn confesses misplaced priorities, unfulfilled obedience, and a lack of heartfelt awe before God. It does so not to crush the believer, but to awaken the conscience. The language is corporate, reminding the church that repentance is not only an individual discipline but also a shared responsibility within the body of Christ. When sung together, it becomes a unified prayer that aligns the congregation with the spirit of the Lord’s Prayer, especially the petition, “Forgive us our trespasses.”

The chorus centers the hope of forgiveness firmly at the cross. Rather than leaving the singer in despair, it points upward to the grace that flows from Christ’s sacrifice. Forgiveness is not earned by sorrow alone, but granted by God through the mighty work of Christ. The prayer for broken hearts is paired with a plea for strength, acknowledging that repentance must lead to renewed obedience and spiritual resolve.

“Lord, Forgive Us” serves as a corrective to shallow worship by calling believers to thoughtful reflection, Spirit led conviction, and grateful dependence on divine mercy. It reminds the church that repentance is not a one time act at conversion, but a continuing posture of the Christian life. When sung with sincerity, this hymn becomes both confession and supplication, teaching the church to seek forgiveness with humility, clarity, and hope rooted in grace.