Amanda Lindsey Cook – Mercy

Amanda Lindsey Cook is a Canadian Contemporary Christian artist and songwriter.  She began her career as Amanda Falk in 2003, changing her stage name to match her married name in 2011.  In 2020, she changed stage names again to Falcon.  She has been part of the Bethel Music network since 2010.

Between all three names, she released seven albums, including:

• Amanda Falk (as Amanda Falk, 2006)
• Beautiful (as Amanda Falk, 2007)
• In Between the Now & Then (as Amanda Falk, 2010)
• Brave New World (as Amanda Lindsey Cook, 2015)
• House on a Hill (as Amanda Lindsey Cook, 2019)
• Nova (as Falcon, 2020)
• Nova (Piano Sessions) (as Falcon, 2021)

She won numerous awards, including eight GMA Covenant, one Juno, one Shai, one Western Canadian Music, and one GMA Dove.

Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/Amanda-lindsey-cook-mercy-lyrics.

Note to new users: This is a different kind of review site!  Read About the Berean Test and Evaluation Criteria prior to reading this review.   I strongly encourage you to consider the potential blessings and dangers of this artist‘s theology by visiting Resources.

1. What message does the song communicate?

God forgave Cook’s past transgressions because His mercy is better than judgment.  Cook was elected by God as a vessel based on His foreknowledge and wisdom.  In response, Cook shows gratitude and affection towards God, recognizing that He makes all things wonderful on His timetable.

Side Note: To those sensitive to massive repetition, Bridge repeats the same four lines four times in a row.

Score: 10/10

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

Much of this song quotes from portions of Scripture, with the rest borrowing from it.  Her exegesis is correct.

[Verse 1]

Line 1: This is not saying that God loves Cook’s sin.  Rather, Jesus became sin on Cook’s behalf (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Line 2: Cook’s lawbreaking was pardoned (Matthew 26:28, Act 2:38, Act 5:31, Act 10:43, Romans 4:7, Romans 5:6-8, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 1:14, Colossians 2:13-14, James 5:15, James 5:19-20, 1 John 2:1-2, and 1 John 2:12).

Lines 3 and 4: Cook was formerly dead in sin.  She is presently alive in Christ (Romans 6:1-11, Romans 7:4-6, Galatians 2:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:11, and 1 Peter 2:24).

[Chorus]

Line 1: A slight rewording of the last part of Micah 7:18.

Line 2: Quotes from the last part of James 2:13.

Lines 3 and 4: Repeats/essentially repeats lines 1 and 2.

[Verse 2]

Lines 1 and 2: This is so, because God’s perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18).

Lines 3 and 4: This is so, because God is omniscient (1 Kings 8:39, 1 Chronicles 28:9, Psalm 44:21, Psalm 139:4, Psalm 147:4-5, Isaiah 40:28, Matthew 10:30, John 16:30, John 21:17, Acts 1:24, Hebrews 4:13, and 1 John 3:20) and wise (Job 12:13, Proverbs 3:19, Isaiah 55:9, and Romans 16:27).  It also alludes to election (Exodus 33:19, Deuteronomy 7:7-8, Deuteronomy 9:4-6, Isaiah 65:1, Matthew 22:1-14, John 15:16-17, Romans 8:29-39, Romans 9:10-24, Romans 11:1-6, 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, Ephesians 1:3-14, Colossians 3:12-14, 1 Thessalonians 1:2-5, 2 Thessalonians 2:13-15, 2 Timothy 1:8-9, 2 Timothy 2:10 James 2:5, and 2 Peter 1:3-11).

[Bridge]

Lines 1-3: Cook intends to love God because He resurrected her spiritually (see Scripture in Verse 1, lines 3 and 4).

Line 4: That is, God makes all things beautiful on His timing (Ecclesiastes 3:11).  Though Cook doesn’t explicitly state anything about God’s timing, we can conclude this based on God’s knowledge and understanding alluded to in Verse 2, lines 3 and 4.

Lines 5-16: Repeats lines 1-4.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Unbelievers will see that God is merciful to Cook, which is better than judgment.  No, it doesn’t explain that Cook had to receive it, that judgment awaits those who don’t embrace His grace, or that her loving God requires dying to self, a cost too great for some.

There is potential that those outside Christ will hear these lyrics and think that, to receive God’s mercy, all they have to do is love God, thinking that sin is merely error and not breaking God’s laws.  Yet, the word “sin” is the unbeliever’s biggest clue that it’s a Christian song.  It lacks proper nouns associated with God.

Score: 6/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies God that Cook loves Him because He showed her grace.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Amanda Lindsey Cook’s Mercy is great for Christians.  It exemplifies God’s mercy over judgment, that He chooses for Himself vessels of grace that will love and embrace Him.  As one of his chosen ones, Cook loves God for His lovingkindness, bringing glory to God.  Unbelievers will see God’s kindness on display, though perhaps misunderstanding that embracing Christ is more than just showing affection towards God.

I recommend this for corporate worship.  Seeker-sensitive churches should explain the cost of following Jesus before worshipping with this song.  Luke 14:25-33 is a great place to start.

Final Score: 9/10

Artist Info

Track: Mercy (listen to the song)

Artist: Amanda Lindsey Cook

Album: Brave New World

Genre: Pop

Release Year: 2015

Duration: 4:04

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