This song by Sovereign Grace is a prayer that we would all do well to pray to God – structured to draw near to God during the morning, the day and the night, this song will stir your heart to see our daily need for God.
As morning dawns and day awakes, To You I bring my need. O gracious God, my source of strength, In You I live and breathe. Each hour is Yours by wisdom planned, Each deed empowered by sovereign hands. Renew my spirit, help me stand; Be glorified today
As day unfolds, I seek Your will In all of life’s demands. And though the tempter tries me still, I cling to Your commands. Let every effort of my life Display the matchless worth of Christ. Make me a living sacrifice; Be glorified today.
As sun gives way to darkest night Your Spirit still is here. And though my strength fades like the light New mercies will appear. I rest in You; abide with me Until our trials and suffering – Give way to final victory; Be glorified, today; be glorified, I pray
Not much is known about the author John Stocker, other than he lived in Honitan, Devonshire. He is considered a friend of A. M. Toplady (who wrote “Rock of Ages”) and Stocker contributed nine hymns to “The Gospel Magazine” in 1776-17771. This hymn, included in Spurgeon’s Own Hymn Book, is a personal favourite of mine.
Thy mercy, my God, is the theme of my song, The joy of my heart. and the boast of my tongue; Thy free grace alone, from the first to the last, Hath won my affections, and bound my soul fast.
Without Thy sweet mercy I could not live here; Sin would reduce me to utter despair; But, through Thy free goodness, my spirits revive, And He that first made me still keeps me alive.
Thy mercy is more than a match for my heart, Which wonders to feel its own hardness depart; Dissolved by Thy goodness, I fall to the ground, And weep to the praise of the mercy I’ve found.
Great Father of mercies, Thy goodness I own, And the covenant love of Thy crucified Son; All praise to the Spirit, Whose whisper divine Seals mercy, and pardon, and righteousness mine.
This song is written by Kha Do, Assistant Professor of Music and Worship at Boyce College. He has also spent time leading Norton Hall Band, a music ministry of Southern Seminary. Norton Hall Band’s purpose is “to lead in worship that centres around the gospel and is birthed out of the Word of God”1. I’m sure you’ll enjoy the below song and words by the band.
Be a lamp for all my days Lord Bear a torch that I might see; Through the fog of bitter pain And know Your purpose lies beneath. Oh to taste and see the gospel As I never have before; Be a lamp for all my days And I shall walk in endless joy.
As I sojourn cross this dessert Through the plains of doubtful night; Speak the words that guide my footsteps Let them shine as stars so bright. Point me northward to thy country Where my soul will find its home; Be a lamp for all my days And I shall walk in endless joy.
You’re the lamp, the light of heaven Dawn of mercy for all men; Through Your death and resurrection Sons of night are born again. What a gift so free and moving Sets ablaze my fainting soul; Be a lamp for all my days And I shall walk in endless joy.
Oh to taste and see the gospel As I never have before; Be a lamp for all my days And I shall walk in endless joy.
This hymn, attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux, was translated from the Latin in 1858 (a loose paraphrase rather than a strict translation) by Dr. Ray Palmer, a Congregational pastor from Albany, New York. It would seem almost fair to say that the hymn as we know it was written by Bernard of Clairvaux and Palmer of Albany. Dr. Palmer also wrote several hymns on his own, the best known being “My Faith Looks Up to Thee”1. Bernard of Clairvaux, born 1090, was a mystic French Catholic monk, and an influential church leader in the Middle Ages. He made statements suggestive of imputed righteousness and seemed to embrace a form of the doctrine of sole fide. His writings on these topics were used by Reformers of later centuries to support their efforts2.
Jesus, Thou joy of loving hearts, Thou fount of life, Thou light of men, From the best bliss that earth imparts, We turn unfilled to Thee again.
Thy truth unchanged hath ever stood, Thou savest those that on Thee call, To them that seek Thee, Thou art good, To them that find, Thee all in all.
We taste of Thee, O living bread, And long to feast upon Thee still, We drink of Thee the fountainhead, And thirst our souls from Thee to fill.
Our restless spirits yearn for Thee, Wherever our changeful lot is cast, Glad when Thy gracious smile we see, Blessed when our faith can hold Thee fast.
O Jesus, ever with us stay, Make all our moments calm and bright, Chase the dark night of sin away, Shed over the world Thy holy light.
Another hymn by William Cowper, this hymn has often been described as the finest hymn ever written on God’s providence. No doubt the experience of Cowper losing his mother when he was six, being shipped to boarding school not long after, and suffering sever depression most of his life, helped shape this hymn. Renowned British hymnologist Erik Routley compares this hymn text to a Rembrandt painting: its dark background sets off the bright light of truth in the foreground. Over it Cowper wrote John 13:7: “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand”1. The song version I have included below has slightly different lyrics, but is great nonetheless.
God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform He plants his footsteps on the sea And rides upon the storm; Deep in unfathomable mines Of never failing skill He treasures up His bright designs And works His sov’reign will.
You fearful saints fresh courage take The clouds you so much dread Are big with mercy, and shall break In blessings on your head; Judge not the Lord by feeble sense But trust him for his grace Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face.
His purposes will ripen fast Unfolding every hour The bud may have a bitter taste But sweet will be the flower; Blind unbelief is sure to err And scan His work in vain God is His own interpreter And He will make it plain.
1page 117 – Leeman, D. and Leeman, B., 2022. Our Hymns, Our Heritage: A Student Guide to Songs of the Church
The text of stanzas 1 and 2 and the tune (Lehman) was composed by Frederick Martin Lehman, who was born on August 7, 1868, at Mecklenburg in Schwerin, Germany. Lehman emigrated to America with his family at age four, settling in Iowa, where he lived most of his childhood. Studying for the ministry at Northwestern College in Naperville, IL, he became a Nazarene minister and served churches in Audubon, IA, and New London, IN1. Lehman wrote a pamphlet, in 1948, entitled History of the Song, The Love of God which tells about the origin of this beloved hymn “While at camp-meeting in a midwestern state, some fifty years ago in our early ministry, an evangelist climaxed his message by quoting the last stanza of this song, written nearly one thousand years ago by a Jewish songwriter.”. The profound depths of the line moved us to preserve the words for future generations. Not until we had come to California in 19172. The version I have included below includes only 2 of 3 stanzas, but still will have you singing joyfully.
The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell; it goes beyond the highest star, and reaches to the lowest hell. The guilty pair, bowed down with care, God gave His Son to win; His erring child He reconciled, And pardoned from his sin.
Refrain: O love of God, how rich and pure! How measureless and strong! It shall forevermore endure— the saints’ and angels’ song.
When ancient time shall pass away, and human thrones and kingdoms fall; when those who here refuse to pray on rocks and hills and mountains call; God’s love so sure, shall still endure, all measureless and strong; grace will resound the whole earth round— the saints’ and angels’ song.
Refrain
Could we with ink the ocean fill, and were the skies of parchment made; were ev’ry stalk on earth a quill, and ev’ryone a scribe by trade; to write the love of God above would drain the ocean dry; nor could the scroll contain the whole, though stretched from sky to sky.
Edward Perronet was the son of the Rev. Vincent Perronet, Vicar of Shoreham, Kent. For some time he was an intimate associate of the Wesleys, at Canterbury and Norwich. He afterwards became pastor of a dissenting congregation1. The original hymn, written in 1780, has gone through many alterations, including an 8 stanza version calling groups of people to worship: seraphs, morning stars, martyrs, the seed of Israel’s chosen race, heirs of David’s line, sinners, and every tribe and tongue, as well as different tunes, one of which has transformed many congregations into instant choirs2. Below is my favourite version.
All hail the power of Jesus’ name! Let angels prostrate fall. Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown him Lord of all. Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown him Lord of all!
O seed of Israel’s chosen race now ransomed from the fall, hail him who saves you by his grace, and crown him Lord of all. Hail him who saves you by his grace, and crown him Lord of all!
Let every tongue and every tribe responsive to his call, to him all majesty ascribe, and crown him Lord of all. To him all majesty ascribe, and crown him Lord of all!
Oh, that with all the sacred throng we at his feet may fall! We’ll join the everlasting song and crown him Lord of all. We’ll join the everlasting song and crown him Lord of all.
This song is taken from my favourite worship band’s forthcoming album (which is not yet released). They are a worship group who exists to encourage and equip the church in biblical, beautiful and transformative singing1. I first heard this song live at a “Night In with Emu” event in Oxford, where they explained the vision of this album was to write songs for congregations specifically about what God says about His Bride, the Church. I love this one as a reminder that we stand as God’s people, redeemed, precious in His sight, standing on the truth, waiting for our Saviour.
Here we stand the church of the redeemed Ransomed by the blood that sets us free From the darkness, brought into the light Enemies of God now his delight From the depths called to highest heights Here we stand, the church of the redeemed We are his, precious in his sight Here we stand the church of the redeemed
Here we stand contending for the faith Standing for the truth in every age We are weak, but Jesus, he is strong In the Spirit’s power we labour on And we know victory will be won! Here we stand contending for the faith And we know truth will overcome Here we stand the church of the redeemed
Here we stand but here we don’t belong Journeying toward our lasting home Now we weep with weary saints who mourn Telling all the world the hope of dawn Christ will come, all will be restored! Here we stand but here we don’t belong We will wait ready for our Lord Here we stand the church of the redeemed
Coda Every heart overflows with praise When at last we stand before the throne With our King, evermore we’ll reign Here we stand the church of the redeemed
Philip Bliss was born in 1838 to a father who loved both God and music. At the age of 22 he became an itinerant music teacher and travelled from community to community on horse back carrying a small accordion. When he was 29 he met evangelist D.L. Moody who encouraged him to become a music evangelist. He wrote dozens of hymns, including “It Is Well With My Soul”. Him and his wife tragically died when their train was crossing a bridge and collapsed, plunging the train into the river. Of this hymn, Iras Sankey, soloist of the Moody Crusades, wrote: “A few weeks before his death, Mr Bliss visited the Station prison in Michigan where after a very touching address on “The Man of Sorrows” he sung this hymn. Many prisoners dated their conversion to that day. Later, when Mr Moody and I were in Paris holding meetings, I frequently sang this hymn solo, asking the congregation to join in the single phrase “Hallelujah, what a Saviour” as “Hallelujah” is the same in all languages”1.
Man of sorrows, what a name For the Son of God, who came Ruined sinners to reclaim Hallelujah, what a Saviour!
Bearing shame and scoffing rude In my place condemned he stood Sealed my pardon with his blood Hallelujah, what a Saviour!
Guilty, helpless, lost were we Blameless Lamb of God was he Sacrificed to set us free Hallelujah, what a Saviour!
He was lifted up to die “It is finished” was his cry Now in heaven exalted high Hallelujah, what a Saviour!
When he comes, our glorious King All his ransomed home to bring Then anew this song we’ll sing Hallelujah, hallelujah Hallelujah, hallelujah
1 page 70 – Leeman, D. and Leeman, B., 2022. Our Hymns, Our Heritage: A Student Guide to Songs of the Church
Hi friends – this is a quick note to say you can now find all the songs saved to a Youtube playlist here. The playlist will be updated every Sunday evening. Enjoy!
Hymn of the Day 