Author Archives: hymnoftheday

The Word Made Flesh

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Today’s hymn is a collaboration between theologian R C Sproul and composer Jeff Lippencott. Writing of this project, Sproul says “We glorify and enjoy the Lord most fully in worshiping Him. Our God, who is the standard of truth, goodness, and beauty, deserves the truest, best, and most beautiful worship we can offer. And as we offer such worship, we are shaped more fully into His image. Jeff Lippencott and I have produced this second collection of hymns and sacred music with the goal of helping the church offer worship that is true, good, and beautiful. We pray that these songs will bring glory to our Creator and lead His people into a greater love for Him.”1 A lovely hymn to mediate on this Advent and Christmas; enjoy!

We confess the mystery and wonder
Of God made flesh.
And rejoice in our great salvation
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
With the Father and the Holy Spirit
The Son created all things
Sustains all things
And makes all things new.
Truly God, He became truly man
Two natures in one person.
He was born of the Virgin Mary
And lived among us.
Crucified, dead, and buried
He rose on the third day.
Ascended to heaven, and will come
Again, in glory and judgement.
For us, He kept the law
Atoned for sin, and satisfied God′s wrath.
He took our filthy rags
And gave us His righteous robe.
He is our Prophet, Priest, and King
Building His church
Interceding for us
And reigning over all things.
Jesus Christ is Lord
We praise His holy Name
Forever, forever Amen!

1ligonier.org/posts/saints-zion-new-collection-sacred-music-rc-sproul-and-jeff-lippencott

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Come, Ye Disconsolate

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Today’s hymn was written by Irishman Thomas Moore (1779-1852), a friend of the famous poets Lord George Gordon Byron and Percy Shelley. Following his publication of Irish Melodies(1807-1809), Moore was dubbed the “Voice of Ireland”. In spite of the popularity of the poet, it was an American educator, choral conductor, and church musician, Thomas Hastings (1784-1872), who altered the text and added a stanza, popularising it when it was published in Spiritual Songs for Social Worship (1831)1. Enjoy!

Come, ye disconsolate, where’er you languish; 
come to the mercy seat, fervently kneel. 
Here bring your wounded hearts, here tell your anguish; 
earth has no sorrows that heaven cannot heal. 

Joy of the desolate, light of the straying, 
hope of the penitent, fadeless and pure! 
Here speaks the Comforter, in mercy saying, 
“Earth has no sorrows that heaven cannot cure.” 

Here see the bread of life; see waters flowing 
forth from the throne of God, pure from above. 
Come to the feast prepared; come, ever knowing 
earth has no sorrows but heaven can remove

1umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-come-ye-disconsolate

Jesus, The Very Thought of Thee

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Today’s hymn comes from a Latin text “Dulcis Jesus memoria” and it is generally ascribed to Bernard of Clairvaux; the earliest manuscript containing the poem dates from the turn of the 12th century, when Bernard was a child. It was later translated into English by Edward Caswall in 18491. Enjoy!

Jesus, the very thought of thee 
with sweetness fills the breast; 
but sweeter far thy face to see, 
and in thy presence rest.

O hope of every contrite heart, 
O joy of all the meek, 
to those who fall, how kind thou art! 
How good to those who seek!

But what to those who find? Ah, this 
nor tongue nor pen can show; 
the love of Jesus, what it is, 
none but his loved ones know.

Jesus, our only joy be thou, 
as thou our prize wilt be; 
Jesus, be thou our glory now, 
and through eternity.

1 https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-jesus-the-very-thought-of-thee

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See the Conqu’ror Mounts in Triumph

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Today’s hymn is focused on Christ’s Ascension. It was written by a 19th-century English bishop named Christopher Wordsworth (1807-1855), the nephew of poet William Wordsworth. Bishop Wordsworth authored many books, including The Holy Year, a book of hymns focused on various days of the Church’s liturgical calendar1. Enjoy this modern rendition!

See the Conqu’ror mounts in triumph;
See the King in royal state,
Riding on the clouds, his chariot,
To his heav’nly palace gate:
Hark! the choirs of angel voices
Joyful Alleluias sing
And the portals high are lifted
To receive their heav’nly King.

Who is this that comes in glory,
With the trump of jubilee?
Lord of battles, God of armies,
He has gained the victory;
He who on the cross did suffer,
He who from the grave arose,
He has vanquished sin and Satan,
He by death has spoiled his foes.

Thou hast raised our human nature
In the clouds to God’s right hand;
There we sit in heav’nly places,
There with thee in glory stand:
Jesus reigns, adored by angels,
Man with God is on the throne;
Mighty Lord, in thine ascension
We by faith behold our own.

1anglicancompass.com/behind-the-hymn-see-the-conqueror/

The Wexford Carol

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Today’s hymn is the Christmas carol “The Wexford Carol”. It has uncertain origins, but it likely was composed in the 15th or 16th century based on its musical and lyrical style.[ The song achieved a renewed popularity due to the work of William Grattan Flood (1859–1928), who was organist and musical director at St. Aidan’s Cathedral in Enniscorthy, Ireland. He transcribed the carol from a local singer and had it published in The Oxford Book of Carols.1 I’m sure you’ve heard many different versions of this carol; send me your favourite, I’d love to hear!

Good people all, this Christmas time,
Consider well and bear in mind
What our good God for us has done
In sending His beloved Son
With Mary holy we should pray,
To God with love this Christmas Day
In Bethlehem upon that morn,
There was a blessed Messiah born.

The night before that happy tide,
The noble virgin and her guide
Were long time seeking up and down
To find a lodging in the town.
But mark how all things came to pass
From every door repelled, alas,
As was foretold, their refuge all
Was but a humble ox’s stall.

Near Bethlehem did shepherds keep
Their flocks of lambs and feeding sheep
To whom God’s angels did appear
Which put the shepherds in great fear
Prepare and go, the angels said
To Bethlehem, be not afraid
For there you’ll find, this happy morn
A princely Babe, sweet Jesus, born.

With thankful heart and joyful mind
The shepherds went the babe to find
And as God’s angel had foretold
They did our Saviour Christ behold
Within a manger He was laid
And by his side the virgin maid
Attending on the Lord of Life
Who came on earth to end all strife.

1wikipedia.org/wiki/Wexford_Carol

O Lord of Hosts, How Lovely

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Today’s hymn is taking from the Trinity Hymnal – a collection of hymns used in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC) in America, as well as other Reformed churches. This particular hymn is based on Psalm 84. Enjoy!

O Lord of Hosts, how lovely
The place where thou dost dwell!
Thy tabernacles holy
In pleasantness excel.
My soul is longing, fainting,
Jehovah’s courts to see;
My heart and flesh are crying,
O living God, for thee.

Blest who thy house inhabit,
They ever give thee praise;
Blest all whom thou dost strengthen,
Who love the sacred ways.
So they from strength unwearied
Go forward unto strength,
Till they appear in Zion
Before the Lord at length.

O hear, Lord God of Jacob,
To me an answer yield;
The face of thine Anointed,
Behold, O God, our shield.
One day excels a thousand
If spent thy courts within;
I’ll choose thy threshold, rather
Than dwell in tents of sin.

Our sun and shield, Jehovah,
Will grace and glory give;
No good will he deny them
That uprightly do live.
O God of Hosts, Jehovah,
How blest is ev’ry one
Who confidence reposes
On thee, O Lord, alone.

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Teach Me To Pray, Lord, Teach Me To Pray

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Today’s hymn is written by Albert Simpson Reitz in 1925. Reitz worked for the Y.M.C.A. in Topeka, Kansas, from 1903 to 1908, and traveled as a musician with evangelist Henry Ostrom for seven years.  He attended the Moody Bible Institute at Chicago in 1917-1918 and then married Elsie May Oehmcke in 1918. After becoming a Baptist minister, Reitz was encouraged to write hymns and produced over 100 gospel songs in his life­time. This hymn was a result of a soul-stirring Day of Prayer conducted by the Evangelical Prayer Union at Reitz’s Rosehill church and first appeared that year in Gospel Solos and Duets No. 2, compiled by Herbert G. Tovey1. Enjoy!

Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray;
This is my heart-cry day unto day;
I long to know Thy will and Thy way;
Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray.

Refrain
Living in Thee, Lord, and Thou in me;
Constant abiding, this is my plea;
Grant me Thy power, boundless and free:
Power with men and power with Thee.

Power in prayer, Lord, power in prayer,
Here ‘mid earth’s sin and sorrow and care;
Men lost and dying, souls in despair;
O give me power, power in prayer!

Refrain

My weakened will, Lord, Thou canst renew;
My sinful nature Thou canst subdue;
Fill me just now with power anew,
Power to pray and power to do!

Refrain

Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray;
Thou art my Pattern, day unto day;
Thou art my Surety, now and for aye;
Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray.

1https://hymnstudiesblog.wordpress.com/2023/05/27/teach-me-to-pray/

O Fountain of Never-Ceasing Grace

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Todays hymn is by Augustus Toplady, author of the other well/loved hymn “Rock of Ages”. Below is the tune for you to sing to and enjoy this Lord’s Day.

O fountain of never-ceasing grace,
your saints’ exhaustless theme,
great object of immortal praise,
essentially supreme,
we bless you for the glorious fruits
your incarnation gives,
the righteousness which grace imputes,
and faith alone receives.

In you we have a righteousness
by God himself approved;
our rock, our sure foundation this,
which never can be moved.
Our ransom by your death was paid,
for all your people giv’n,
the law you perfectly obeyed,
that they might enter heav’n.

As all, when Adam sinned alone,
in his transgression died,
so by the righteousness of one
are sinners justified;
we to your merit, gracious Lord,
with humblest joy submit,
again to paradise restored,
in you alone complete.

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Father All Holy

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Todayks hymn is from Eliza Edmunds Hewitt (1851-1920; pseudonym Li­die H. Ed­munds). She was born in Philadelphia and educated in the public schools; after graduation from high school she became a teacher. However, she developed a spinal malady which cut short her career and made her a shut-in for many years. During her convalescence, she studied English literature. She felt a need to be useful to her church and began writing poems for the primary department. she went on to teach Sunday school, take an active part in the Philadelphia Elementary Union and become Superintendent of the primary department of Calvin Presbyterian Church1. Enjoy!

Father all holy, bend we so lowly,
Glowing with love’s tender flame,
Father in heaven, praises be given,
Hallowed forever thy Name.
Telling the story, spreading thy glory,
Send forth thy people, we pray,
Till every nation know thy salvation,
Under thy kingdom’s full sway.

Angels adore thee, waiting before thee,
Swift thy commands to fulfil:
Grant us, we pray thee, grace to obey thee,
Choosing and serving thy will.
Father, now lead us, day by day feed us,
Ever provide and defend;
Trespass confessing, seeking thy blessing,
Pardon and peace without end.

From sin deliver, keep us forever,
Kingdom and glory are thine,
Thine, too, the power, hear us this hour,
Father, our Father divine!
Jesus is pleading, still interceding
For his redeemed ones again,
For his sake hear us, in his name cheer us,
He is the faithful “Amen.”

1hymnary.org/person/Hewitt_EE

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Rejoice

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Today’s song is vintage Sovereign Grace, going back to 2006! I hope you’re also able to rejoice in God today. Enjoy!

All the earth rejoice
Your Creator reigns
As the only awesome God
The Alpha and the Omega
Who was, is, and is to come
Let the oceans roar and the mountains sing
He provides for all He has made
So be comforted as He rules with grace
Rejoice, all the earth, rejoice

All the world rejoice
For the baby comes
As a humble prince in the night
The Word made flesh, Emmanuel
The Everlasting Light
Let the warmth of heaven reach the coldest heart
With the gospel of His grace
For His heel will bruise the serpent’s head
Rejoice, all the world, rejoice

All the church rejoice
For your King returns
On a white horse wearing a crown
He will break the sky with the angel’s shout
Descending from the clouds
Then the dead will rise from the land and sea
All His people will ascend
We will reign with Him for eternity
Rejoice, all the church, rejoice

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