Today this watchman asked some spiritual questions and then waited to receive answers from the words of God. But the answers came in hymns instead. They speak to our souls. O Christians, Rejoice, rejoice, lift up your voice and sing eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ, the King The Hope of all who seek Him, the Help of all who find None other is so loving, so good and kind!
The following hymns are selected at random, by various singers.
(1) At the Cross – from The Hymns Project (Lyric Video): Author: Isaac Watts (1707)
https://youtu.be/WmXLJGmTLV8?si=TPlLMwOWpVW5C4s0
My favorite stanza: But drops of tears can ne’er repay the debt of love I owe. Here, Lord, I give myself away; ’tis all that I can do.
“The first two stanzas of this hymn address the same paradox that Paul wrote about in Romans: “For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:7-8 ESV) Isaac Watts shows the contrast very powerfully: “When Christ, the mighty Maker, died for man, the creature’s sin.”
The only appropriate response to the realization that such selfless sacrifice on the part of a perfect God was for the sake of the imperfect, selfish creatures we know ourselves to be is total surrender. We know we can never repay our debt of gratitude, so we sing: “Here, Lord, I give myself away; ’tis all that I can do.”” (Quoted from: https://hymnary.org/text/alas_and_did_my_savior_bleed)
(2) Amazing Grace (1779) – Traditional Hymn and Lyrics: Author: John Newton (1779)
https://youtu.be/XjcfQZtgwAI?si=2XKRCbO_H6Sfkh2b
Several factors contributed to Newton’s conversion: a near-drowning in 1748, the piety of his friend Mary Catlett, (whom he married in 1750), and his reading of Thomas à Kempis’ Imitation of Christ. In 1754 he gave up the slave trade and, in association with William Wilberforce, eventually became an ardent abolitionist. (Quoted from: https://hymnary.org/text/amazing_grace_how_sweet_the_sound )
A grace hymn that brought me to tears: Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come: ’tis grace has brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.
(3) The Old Rugged Cross [Lyrics Video]:
https://youtu.be/Dwk6Aic5XBw?si=7noGSlMoE5_2T74x
George Bennard (1873-1958) wrote words and tune for his best known hymn “The Old Rugged Cross” in 1913. The cross is seen as “the emblem of suffering and shame” in the first stanza, yet it has “a wondrous attraction” in the second and “a wondrous beauty” in the third. Why is such symbol of shame found so attractive? Because it is there that “Jesus suffered and died to pardon and sanctify me.” The joy that is found in contemplating the cross is not found in the shame, but in the promise that someday the saints will exchange the labor of sanctification for the crown of life (James 1:12, Rev. 2:10). (Quoted from: https://hymnary.org/text/on_a_hill_far_away_stood_an_old_rugged )
(4) Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross (Hymn Charts with Lyrics, Contemporary): Author: Fanny Crosby
https://youtu.be/Xrmlv806bGM?si=e5jU3KNDMLz4aVLR
The refrain of this hymn echoes the words of the apostle Paul, “But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Galatians 6:14 ESV) The stanzas are a prayer that the Christian would always remember the redemptive work of Christ on the cross, and live faithfully in that memory. (Quoted from: https://hymnary.org/text/jesus_keep_me_near_the_cross )
My favorite refrain:
In the cross, in the cross
Be my glory ever,
Till my ransomed soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.
(5) What a Friend we have in Jesus with lyrics | new version: Author: Joseph Medlicott Scriven (1855)
As a new Christian I loved to sing this hymn with others like me. We were awed by the promise of an ideal friendship with Jesus. This is a friend who will never fail us or betray us. What more can we ask?
Can we find a friend so faithful
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
take it to the Lord in prayer!
(6) Don Moen – As The Deer [with lyrics]: (This a hymn for meditation. )
https://youtu.be/no9StppmvGA?si=coFiO5-sxyGkJe7T
You alone are my strength my shield, to you alone may my spirit yield…
TIS SO SWEET TO TRUST IN JESUS: Author: Louisa M. R. Stead (1882)
https://youtu.be/-DdgkvnsHjM?si=WRVr4cEDpmF5qtfF
I wanted to taste the sweetness of Jesus for myself too.
O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
just to trust his cleansing blood;
and in simple faith to plunge me
neath the healing, cleansing flood!
(7) BE THOU MY VISION — My Favorite Irish Hymn! : Translator: Mary E. Byrne; Versifier: Eleanor H. Hull
When I was a young I longed to have a vision. This hymn immediately touched my heart. Jesus is the best vision anyone could have!
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
be all else but naught to me, save that Thou art;
be Thou my best thought in the day and the night,
both waking and sleeping, Thy presence my light.
High King of heaven, Thou heaven’s bright Sun,
O grant me its joys, after vict’ry is won;
Great Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
still be Thou my Vision, O Ruler of all.
(8) David Phelps – He Lives from Hymnal (Official Music Video): This rendition is new to me. It is selected as a variation to the overall more classical presentations usually at Easter.
This hymn impacted me significantly for decades. What matters to every Christian is Jesus still lives! He lives! He lives. So shall we all! We serve a risen Savour!
Lyrics from 1st and last stanzas: I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today I know that He is living, whatever men may say I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer And just the time I need Him He’s always near Chorus: He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today He walks with me and talks with me Along life’s narrow way He lives, He lives, Salvation to impart You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian lift up your voice and sing Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ, the King The Hope of all who seek Him, the Help of all who find None other is so loving, so good and kind
(9) I Know Whom I Have Believed | Songs and Everlasting Joy: Author: D. W. Whittle (1883)
I always find my eyes wet with tears when I sing this hymn. I really know little about my Lord, but I know that I can entrust Him my loved ones, and that when He comes for me, I shall be ready.
The text contrasts the “I know not” stanzas with the certainty of the “I know” refrain We cannot understand God’s saving grace to us (st. 1); we cannot explain our spiritual birth (st. 2); we are unable to comprehend the work of God’s Spirit (st. 3); and we do not perceive clearly the future of our earthly lives (st. 4). But we do know by faith that God is true to his word! (quoted from: https://hymnary.org/text/i_know_not_why_gods_wondrous_grace_to_me )
1 I know not why God’s wondrous grace to me is daily shown, nor why, with mercy, Christ in love redeemed me for his own.
Refrain: But “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I’ve committed unto him against that day.”
2 I know not how this saving faith to me he did impart, nor how believing in his word wrought peace within my heart. [Refrain]
3 I know not how the Spirit moves, convincing us of sin, revealing Jesus through the Word, creating faith in him. [Refrain]
4 I know not when my Lord may come, at night or noon-day fair, nor if I’ll walk the vale with him, or meet him in the air. [Refrain]
(10) O To be like Thee: Author: Thomas O. Chisholm (1897)
https://youtu.be/KrYhiK2nQBg?si=8s69VIy_hORbmz0J
The author’s goal was to incorporate as many scriptures as possible. Scriptural references for this hymn are:
- Exodus 15:11 (hymns)
- Romans 8:19 (hymns)
- Romans 8:29 (hymns)
- 1 Corinthians 11:1 (hymns)
- Philippians 1:20 (hymns)
- Philippians 2:5 (hymns)
- 1 John 3:3 (hymns)
Oh! to be like Thee, while I am pleading,
Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love,
Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
Fit me for life and Heaven above.
(11) How Great Thou Art: Author: Carl Gustav Boberg; Translator: Stuart K. Hine (1949)
Another all-time favorite hymn of mine. After I was first Spirit filled, I often wept whenever I tried to sing the chorus.
The author Stuart K. Hine was born in 1899 in Great Britain. In much of Stuart’s earlier years he and his wife were missionaries in the Western Ukraine of Russia, where they evangelized as Christian workers and singers. His most popular composition is “How Great Thou Art,” which is recognized in many polls as the number one Hymn in America.
When Christ shall come, With shouts of acclamation, And take me home, What joy shall fill my heart! Then I shall bow In humble adoration And there proclaim, “My God, how great Thou art!”
End Notes from this watchman:
The above hymns were chosen at random as there are too many in my memories. My best friend and I used to take a bi-lingual hymn book each and sat in her sitting room for hours just singing hymns in both languages from the first page down to as many pages as we knew. The hymn book was organized into themes. So we could pick hymns from each theme/topic. Topics include: God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, the birth of Jesus, His crucifixion, salvation, resurrection, and His return and many more During the last six months of her life on earth, the hymn we often sang was “Blessed Assurance”.
Blessed Assurance – Jeremy Riddle | Worship Circle Hymns (Lyrics): Author: Fanny Crosby
1 Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.
Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.
2 Perfect communion, perfect delight,
visions of rapture now burst on my sight.
Angels descending bring from above
echoes of mercy, whispers of love. [Refrain]
3 Perfect submission, all is at rest.
I in my Savior am happy and bless’d,
watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with his goodness, lost in his love. [Refrain]
2024-05-05 (Updated)
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