Monthly Archives: Oct 2023

God, Our Father, We Adore Thee

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George W. Frazer, author of the first, second, and fourth stanzas published a total of sixteen hymns in his lifetime. Born in Ireland in 1840 as the son of a police investigator, Frazer later began working in the banking industry. At about age twenty, he was urged by his brother to hear the evangelist Grattan Guinnes in Dublin. Because of the crowds attending the meeting, Frazer and his brother were unable to enter the hall so they climbed the building to perch in an open window where they heard the message of the gospel. As a result of this evangelistic meeting and his subsequent conversion, Frazer eventually left his employment at the bank to commit his full attention to evangelism. A third stanza focusing on the work of the Holy Spirit appeared later and was written by Alfred S. Loizeaux (1877–1962)1. Enjoy this Trinitarian hymn!

God, our Father, we adore Thee!
We, Thy children, bless Thy name!
Chosen in the Christ before Thee,
we are “holy, without blame.”
We adore Thee! we adore Thee!
Abba’s praises we proclaim!
We adore Thee! we adore Thee!
Abba’s praises we proclaim!

Son Eternal, we adore Thee!
Lamb upon the throne on high!
Lamb of God, we bow before Thee,
Thou hast brought Thy people nigh!
We adore Thee! we adore Thee!
Son of God, who came to die!
We adore Thee! we adore Thee!
Son of God, who came to die!

Holy Spirit, we adore Thee!
Paraclete and heavenly guest!
Sent from God and from the Savior,
Thou hast led us into rest.
We adore Thee! we adore Thee!
by Thy grace forever blest.
We adore Thee! we adore Thee!
by Thy grace forever blest.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
Three in One! we give Thee praise!
For the riches we inherit,
heart and voice to Thee we raise!
We adore Thee! we adore Thee!
Thee we bless through endless days!
We adore Thee! we adore Thee!
Thee we bless through endless days!

1medium.com/congregational-song/hymn-reflection-god-our-father-we-adore-thee-c5f6fdc12585

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Voices

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Today’s song is called Voices from 20schemes. The writer of the song explains the intention of the song is “to try and embed a few of the key principles that we learn from the book of Proverbs. While reading through Proverbs around a table, with a mix of mature believers, unbelievers, and new believers who had just recently come to faith but had no background knowledge whatsoever of the Bible, one of the things I was aware of was how this book could easily be misread or misunderstood. Without a thorough grounding of the free work of grace, the gospel, what Jesus accomplished on the cross and in His resurrection, Proverbs could easily be made into a kind of spiritual self-help book. In short, an unbeliever can easily take some vague ‘good advice’ from the book of Proverbs.1” I hope you enjoy this one!

All authority above
And on earth belong to Him
Fount of wisdom, truth and love;
Christ, our refuge from our sin

As we walk this narrow way
Speak O Lord with clarity
We are prone to go astray
Give us hearts that cling to Thee

Give us wisdom, understanding
Give us hearts of reverent fear
In our weakness walk beside
In Your mercy draw us near

When the voice of folly speaks
With her charm and vanity
Though seductive her deceit
Give us hearts that run to Thee

When the voice of wisdom speaks
In her calm and purity
Welcome simple hearts that seek
Life eternal found in Thee

Give us wisdom, understanding,
Make the danger clear to see
Mute the voices of this world
Guide our wandering hearts to Thee

When the tempters voice is strong
Raise our eyes to Calvary
Now the chains that bound are gone
Hallelujah! Praise to Thee!

You are worthy! You are worthy!
You have won the victory!
In our weakness walk beside
Now our souls find rest in Thee.

1https://20schemesequip.com/voices-the-book-of-proverbs/

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Give Us The Wings of Faith To Rise

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Today’s hymn is written by the father of British hymnody, Isaac Watts, in 1709. It was first published in his Hymns and Spiritual Songs in the same year.  Philip Doddridge, himself a hymn writer best remembered for O Happy Day, wrote to Watts: “I was preaching in a barn last Wednesday, to a company of plain country people. After a sermon from Hebrews, we sang one of your hymns, ‘Give Us The Wings Of Faith To Rise’ and had the satisfaction to see tears in the eyes of several of the auditory. After the service some of them told me they were not able to sing, so deeply were their minds affected with it; and the clerk in particular told me he could hardly utter the words of it”1. Enjoy reading this one!

Give us the wings of faith to rise
within the veil, and see
the saints above, how great their joys,
how bright their glories be.

Once they were mourning here below,
their couch was wet with tears;
they wrestled hard, as we do now,
with sins and doubts and fears.

We ask them whence their victory came:
they, with united breath,
ascribe their conquest to the Lamb,
their triumph to his death.

They marked the footsteps that he trod,
his zeal inspired their breast,
and, following their incarnate God,
possess the promised rest.

Our glorious Leader claims our praise
for his own pattern given;
while the long cloud of witnesses
show the same path to heaven.

1hymnstudiesblog.wordpress.com/2011/01/03/give-me-the-wings-of-faith/

Lord Teach Us How To Pray

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Todays hymn writer John Samuel Bewley Monsell (1811-1875) was educated at Trinity College in Dublin and served as a chaplain and rector of several churches in Ireland after his ordination in 1835. Transferred to England in 1853, he became rector of Egham in Surrey and was rector of St. Nicholas Church in Guilford from 1870 until his death (caused by a construction accident at his church). His three hundred hymns, many celebrating the seasons of the church year, were issued in collections such as Hymns and Miscellaneous Poems (1837), Spiritual Songs (1857), Hymns of Love and Praise (1863), and The Parish Hymnal (1873). Enjoy turning this hymn into your prayer.

When cold our hearts, and far from Thee
Our wandering spirits stray,
And thoughts and lips move heavily,
Lord, teach us how to pray.

Too vile to venture near Thy throne,
Too poor to turn away;
Our only voice,–Thy Spirit’s groan,–
Lord, teach us how to pray.

We know not how to seek Thy face,
Unless Thou lead the way;
We have no words, unless Thy grace,
Lord, teach us how to pray.

Here every thought and fond desire
We on Thine altar lay;
And when our souls have caught Thy fire,
Lord, teach us how to pray.

All Glory, Laud and Honour

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Today’s hymn is from Theodulph of Orleans, written roughly 820. Charlemagne brought him from Spain to help him build schools and reform the clergy, where he also started to write hymns. Theodulph got caught up in a family dispute between Charlemagne’s son King Louis and Louis’s nephew King Bernard of Italy, where Louis thought he was conspiring with Bernard. He was then thrown into prison where he wrote the 78(!) verses of this hymn. It is said that King Louis freed Theodulph upon hearing him sing this hymn from outside the prison window. This hymn was then translated from Latin to English by John Mason Neale in 1854, who became part of a moment that researched Roman liturgy and hymnody for English use. Other hymns he translated were “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”, “Of the Father’s Love Begotten”, and “Good Christian Men, Rejoice”1. Enjoy!

All glory, laud, and honour
To Thee, Redeemer, King!
To Whom the lips of children
Made sweet Hosannas ring,

Thou art the King of Israel
Thou David’s Royal Son,
Who in the LORD’S name comest,`
The King and Blessèd One.

The people of the Hebrews
With palms before Thee went
Our praise and prayers and anthems
Before Thee we present.

To Thee before Thy Passion
They sang their hymns of praise;
To Thee now high exalted
Our melody we raise.

Thou didst accept their praises;
Accept the praise we bring,
Who in all good delightest,
Thou good and gracious King.

1 page 79 – Leeman, D. and Leeman, B., 2022. Our Hymns, Our Heritage: A Student Guide to Songs of the Church

All Sufficient Merit

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Today’s post is a modern song from The Worship Initiative, Initially founded by Shane & Shane as an online equipping resource for worship leaders and churches. It has since grown into a thriving community of singers, musicians, songwriters, and theologians seeking to help the Church worship God with music that is artistically compelling and scripturally sound. I really love this song that simply tells of the work that Christ did on the cross, sufficient to pay the debt we owed because of our sin – praise the Lord! Enjoy this one.

All sufficient merit
Shining like the sun
A fortune I inherit
By no work I have done
My righteousness I forfeit
At my Savior’s cross
Where all sufficient merit
Did what I could not

In love He condescended
Eternal now in time
A life without a blemish
The Maker made to die
The law could never save us
Our lawlessness had won
Until the pure and spotless
Lamb had finally come

Refrain
It is done it is finished
No more debt I owe
Paid in full all sufficient
Merit now my own

I lay down my garments
Any empty boasts
Good works all corrupted
By the sinful host
Dressed in my Lord Jesus
A crimson robe made white
No more fear of judgement
His righteousness is mine

Refrain

All sufficient merit
Firm in life and death
The joy of my salvation
Shall be my final breath
When I stand accepted
Before the throne of God
I’ll gaze upon my Jesus
And thank Him for the cross

Refrain

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According To Thy Gracious Word

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Today’s hymn comes from James Montgomery and was published in six stanzas in The Christian Psalmist in 1825 under the subtitle ‘This do in remembrance of me,” Jesus’ words from Luke 22:19. Reflective and meditative, the text focuses on the memorial aspect of the Lord’s Supper–each stanza concludes with the word remember1. Enjoy this version by The New Scottish Hymns Band.

According to thy gracious word,
in meek humility,
this will I do, my dying Lord,
I will remember thee.

Thy body, broken for my sake,
my bread from heav’n shall be;
thy testamental cup I take,
and thus remember thee.

Gethsemane can I forget?
Or there thy conflict see,
thine agony and bloody sweat,
and not remember thee?

When to the cross I turn mine eyes,
and rest on Calvary,
O Lamb of God, my sacrifice,
I must remember thee.

Remember thee, and all thy pains,
and all thy love to me:
when thou shalt in thy kingdom come,
Jesus, remember me.

1hymnary.org/text/according_to_thy_gracious_word

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Plague Hymn

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Today’s hymn is from Swiss reformer Huldrych Zwingli. In August 1519, Zwingli was on a mineral-springs vacation when the Black Death broke out in Zurich. Though weak already from exhausting work, he hurried back to his city to minister to victims. Before long he himself caught the disease and seemed likely to perish. But his work not yet done, Zwingli recovered. His famous “plague hymn” recounts his sense of trust and then his joy at regaining health. Stanzas 1 and 2 were written as the disease first struck, stanzas 3 and 4 as his health deteriorated. Upon his recovery he finished the final 2 stanzas1. Enjoy!

Help me, O Lord,
My strength and rock;
Lo, at the door
I hear death’s knock.
Uplift thine arm,
Once pierced for me,
That conquered death.
And set me free.

Yet, if thy voice,
In life’s midday.
Recalls my soul,
Then I obey.
In faith and hope
Earth I resign.
Secure of heaven.
For I am thine.

My pains increase;
Haste to console;
For fear and woe
Seize flesh and soul.
Death is at hand.
My senses fail.
My tongue is dumb;
Now, Christ, prevail.

Lo! Satan strains
To snatch his prey;
I feel his grasp;
Must I give way?
He harms me not,
I fear no loss,
For here I lie
Beneath thy cross.

My God! My Lord!
Healed by thy hand.
Upon the earth
Once more I stand.
Let sin no more
Rule over me;
My mouth shall sing
Alone to thee.

Though now delayed,
My hour will come.
Involved, perchance.
In deeper gloom.
But, let it come;
With joy I’ll rise,
And bear my yoke
Straight to the skies.

1christianitytoday.com/history/issues/issue-4/black-death-inspires-zwinglis-plague-hymn.html

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God Your Everlasting Light

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Today’s hymn is another the Olney Hymns, first published in 1779, and is written by William Cowper. The hymn is based on the beautiful prophecy of Isaiah 60:15-20, spoken to God’s people in exile. It was noted by JR Watson that Cowper’s hymns feel like they are written by a fellow struggler, and that is true of this hymn – yet there is hope with eyes of faith. I hope you read and meditate on this one with eyes of hope today. Enjoy!

Hear what God the Lord has spoken 
“O my people, faint and few 
Comfortless, afflicted, broken 
Fair abodes I build for you 
Thorns of heartfelt tribulation 
Shall no more perplex your ways 
You shall name your walls Salvation 
And your gates shall all be Praise” 

There, like streams that feed the garden 
Pleasures without end shall flow 
For the Lord, your faith rewarding 
All His bounty shall bestow 
Still in undisturbed possession 
Peace and righteousness shall reign 
Never shall you feel oppression 
Nor hear the voice of war again 

See no more your sun’s descending 
Waning moons no more shall be 
But your griefs forever ending 
Find eternal noon in me 
God shall rise, and shining o’er you 
Change to day the gloom of night 
He, the Lord, shall be your glory 
God, your Everlasting Light

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Plant Your Word

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Today’s song is another instance of Spotify’s algorithm working in my favour. Describing themselves, they write of Grace Collective “In 2019 Matt and Joel, both worship pastors in southeastern Virginia at the time, became friends with a common passion for writing congregational worship music that blends contemporary style with theological depth.” I’ve really been enjoying the album Kingdom of Your Son, which are songs based on the Book of Colossians, which is where today’s song is from. Enjoy!

Lord plant your word deep in our hearts,
And may it richly dwell;
Make us like Jesus and less like ourselves.
Our soul sick with sin,
By your Word are made well;
Lord plant your word deep in our hearts,
And may it richly dwell.

Lord plant your word deep in our hearts,
To overflow with praise;
Grant us a new soul that sings of your faith,
Where melodies rise as we lift up your Name;
Lord plant your word deep in our hearts,
To overflow with praise.

Lord plant your word deep in our hearts,
With thankfulness renew;
For all that you are, for grace and for truth.
For your sacrifice, and our new life in you;
Lord plant your word deep in our hearts,
With thankfulness renew.

Plant your word within us Lord,
Sow a seed of faith and love;
May it grow, bear fruit and move in us,
Plant your word in us.

Our soul sick with sin,
By your Word are made well;
Lord plant your word deep in our hearts,
And may it richly dwell.

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