Author Archives: hymnoftheday

How Deep the Father’s Love For Us

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Stuart Townend has been writing since he was 22 and includes much beloved songs such as “Christ Alone”, “The Power of the Cross” and “Speak O Lord”. Writing this hymn, he says “The danger now is that we are so focused on the experience our worship can become self-seeking and self-serving. When all of our songs are about how we feel and what we need, we’re missing the point. There is a wonderful, omnipotent God who deserves our highest praise, and how we feel about it is in many ways irrelevant! I want to encourage the expression of joy, passion, and adoration, but I want those things to be the by-product of focusing on God – I don’t want them to become the subject matter. I’m trying to write songs that refer to us as little as possible, and to Him as much as possible!1“

How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss –
The Father turns His face away,
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.

Behold the man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders;
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished;
His dying breath has brought me life –
I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything,
No gifts, no power, no wisdom;
But I will boast in Jesus Christ,
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer;
But this I know with all my heart –
His wounds have paid my ransom.

1https://www.stuarttownend.co.uk/song/how-deep-the-fathers-love-for-us/

We Will Feast In the House of Zion

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This song written by Sandra McCracken features on her ‘Psalms‘ album. The song includes allusions to Psalm 126:1–3: “When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad.”, as well as Isaiah 25:6-9: “On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined. And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken. It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”

Refrain
We will feast in the house of Zion,
We will sing with our hearts restored;
“He has done great things”, we will say together,
We will feast and weep no more.

We will not be burned by the fire,
He is the Lord our God.
We are not consumed by the flood,
Upheld, protected, gathered up.

Refrain

In the dark of night before the dawn,
My soul, be not afraid.
For the promised morning, oh how long?
Oh, God of Jacob, be my strength.

Refrain

Every vow we’ve broken and betrayed,
You are the faithful One.
And from the garden to the grave,
Bind us together, bring shalom.

Refrain

Trust and Obey

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Popular in Sunday School classes, worship services, revival meetings and other gatherings of the church, this hymn was inspired in 1886 when the composer of the music, Daniel B. Towner (1850-1919), was the music leader during one of Dwight L. Moody’s famous revivals. Towner provided the following account cited by Moody’s musical partner, Ira D. Sankey, in his biography, My Life and the Story of the Gospel Hymns: “One night a young man rose in a testimony meeting and said, ‘I am not quite sure—but I am going to trust, and I am going to obey.’ I just jotted that sentence down, and sent it with a little story to the Rev. J. H. Sammis, a Presbyterian minister. He wrote the hymn, and the tune was born.” Sammis is said to have composed the lines of the refrain upon receiving the letter: “Trust and obey—for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”1

When we walk with the Lord
In the light of his word,
What a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Not a burden we bear,
Not a sorrow we share,
But our toil he doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss,
Not a frown or a cross,
But is blest if we trust and obey.

Refrain

But we never can prove
The delights of his love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor he shows,
For the joy he bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.

Refrain

Then in fellowship sweet
We will sit at his feet,
Or we’ll walk by his side in the way;
What he says we will do,
Where he sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.

Refrain

1umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-trust-and-obey

O Great God

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This hymn written by Bob Kauflin of Sovereign Grace is based on a prayer from The Valley of Visions: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions called ‘Regeneration’. The prayer asks God to occupy and reign supreme in the heart, to lay low every rebel power, and to let no vile passion resist His holy war. Speaking of this hymn, Kauflin writes “I wanted to set that prayer to music because of how often I’m asking God to do whatever He needs to do to make me love and glorify Him more”1.

O great God of highest heaven
Occupy my lowly heart
Own it all and reign supreme
Conquer every rebel power
Let no vice or sin remain
That resists Your holy war
You have loved and purchased me
Make me Yours forevermore

I was blinded by my sin
Had no ears to hear Your voice
Did not know Your love within
Had no taste for heaven’s joys
Then Your Spirit gave me life
Opened up Your Word to me
Through the gospel of Your Son
Gave me endless hope and peace

Help me now to live a life
That’s dependent on Your grace
Keep my heart and guard my soul
From the evils that I face
You are worthy to be praised
With my every thought and deed
O great God of highest heaven
Glorify Your Name through me

1page 254 – Leeman, D. and Leeman, B., 2022. Our Hymns, Our Heritage: A Student Guide to Songs of the Church

His Robes for Mine

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This hymn I heard a few months ago at a friend’s wedding and loved the words as soon as I heard it. I then recently listened to a podcast where the author of the hymn, Chris Anderson, talks about his book “Theology That Sticks – The Life Changing Power of Exceptional Hymns”. He discusses the importance of singing songs that are sound in theology, honouring to God and edifying for us. He’s a former pastor of 25 years and author of several well-known hymns, including this one1; I’m sure you’ll enjoy either of these versions this Lord’s Day!

His robes for mine: O wonderful exchange!
Clothed in my sin, Christ suffered ‘neath God’s rage.
Draped in His righteousness, I’m justified.
In Christ I live, for in my place He died.

Refrain
I cling to Christ, and marvel at the cost:
Jesus forsaken, God estranged from God.
Bought by such love, my life is not my own.
My praise—my all—shall be for Christ alone.

His robes for mine: what cause have I for dread?
God’s daunting Law Christ mastered in my stead.
Faultless I stand with righteous works not mine,
Saved by my Lord’s vicarious death and life.

Refrain

His robes for mine: God’s justice is appeased.
Jesus is crushed, and thus the Father’s pleased.
Christ drank God’s wrath on sin, then cried, “’Tis done!”
Sin’s wage is paid; propitiation won.

Refrain

His robes for mine: such anguish none can know.
Christ, God’s beloved, condemned as though His foe.
He, as though I, accursed and left alone;
I, as though He, embraced and welcomed home!

Refrain

1thechristianworldview.org/topic-principles-for-selecting-christian-music-part-1-of-2/

Jesus, Lord of Life and Glory (By Thy Mercy)

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Written by James John Cummins, this hymn is a sweet and musical litany, which appeared in his Poetical Meditations and Hymns, 1839, in 7 stanzas of 4 lines, with the refrain, “By Thy mercy, 0 deliver us, Good Lord.” In 1819, it was reprinted in his Hymns, Meditations, and Other Poems in 18391. Enjoy the below version 🙂

Jesus, Lord of life and glory,
bend from heav’n thy gracious ear;
while our waiting souls adore thee,
Friend of helpless sinners, hear:

Refrain:
By thy mercy, O deliver us, good Lord.

From the depth of nature’s blindness,
from the hard’ning pow’r of sin,
from all malice and unkindness,
from the pride that lurks within.

Refrain

When temptation sorely presses,
In the day of Satan’s pow’r,
In our times of deep distresses,
In each dark and trying hour.

Refrain

When the world around is smiling,
in the time of wealth and ease,
earthly joys our hearts beguiling,
in the day of health and peace.

Refrain

In our weary hours of sickness,
in our times of grief and pain,
when we feel our mortal weakness,
when the creature’s help is vain.

Refrain

In the solemn hour of dying,
in the awful Judgment Day,
may our souls, on thee relying,
find thee still our rock and stay:

Refrain

1https://hymnary.org/text/jesus_lord_of_life_and_glory_bend_from_h

Nothing But The Blood of Jesus

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Robert Lowry (1826-1899) has provided us with many of the most venerable nineteenth-century texts and tunes from the United States. The Philadelphia-born author and composer of this hymn was a popular Baptist preacher and educator who served churches in Pennsylvania, New York City, Brooklyn, and Plainfield, New Jersey. He became known for his gospel songs while ministering in Brooklyn, collaborating often with William H. Doane in producing some of the most popular Sunday school song collections of his day. Traditionally sung as a call and response, Lowry adapts a call-response pattern in the stanzas that immediately engages the singer. Stanza one begins with a question: “What can wash away my sin?” The answer is resounding and definitive: “Nothing but the blood of Jesus.” This is followed by a second question: “What can make me whole again?” Once more, the answer is unequivocal, “Nothing but the blood of Jesus.” This call-response pattern, along with the sturdy, almost martial rhythms of the music, gives the effect of cheerleading1.

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Refrain:
Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

For my pardon, this I see,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
For my cleansing this my plea,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Refrain

Nothing can for sin atone,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of good that I have done,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Refrain

This is all my hope and peace,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Refrain

Now by this I’ll overcome—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Now by this I’ll reach my home—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Refrain

Glory! Glory! This I sing—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
All my praise for this I bring—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Refrain

1umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-nothing-but-the-blood

This Is My Father’s World

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This wonderful hymn was sent through as a suggestion on the contact page, and for good reason. This is My Father’s World” was written by Maltbie Davenport Babcock and was published after his death in 1901. It was originally written as a poem containing sixteen verses of four lines each. Franklin L. Sheppard set the poem to music in 1915 and selected three verses for the final hymn. Babcock, who was a minister from Lockport, New York, would often take walks overlooking a cliff, where he would enjoy the view of beautiful Lake Ontario and the upstate New York scenery. As he prepared to leave for his walks he would often tell his wife that he was “going out to see my Father’s world.”1 Don’t forgot you too can suggest a hymn for me to post via the “Suggest A Hymn Page”!.

This is my Father’s world,
And to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world:
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas–
His hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father’s world:
The birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white,
Declare their Maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world:
He shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass,
He speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father’s world:
O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the Ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world:
Why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King: let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let earth be glad!

1thetabernaclechoir.org/articles/this-is-my-fathers-world.html#:~:text=Babcock%2C%20who%20was%20a%20minister,to%20see%20my%20Father’s%20world.%E2%80%9D

Hear Our Prayer

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This song by Emu Music is based on a prayer by Love M. Whitcomb Willis. Not much is known about her other than she was born 9 June 1824 and died on 26 November 1908. She was the daughter of a Unitarian minister and married Frederick Llewellyn Hovey Willis. Enjoy this simple prayer.

Hear our prayer, God above
As we come to you and seek your patient love;
Hear our hearts, hear our minds
Hear the echoes of the words we cannot find

Be our hope, be our guide
In our wanderings of weakness break our pride;
Not for ease shall we pray,
But for strength that we may walk with you this day.

Refrain
So we pray in faith, your will be done
As we long to see your kingdom come
We ask with one voice
Through Jesus Christ our Lord

Hear our prayer, faithful one
Shape our yearnings to the gospel of your Son;
Free our hearts, free our minds
From the war that sin will wage till you arrive.

Be our joy, be our stay
Give us eyes to see you answer prayer this day;
Hear us praise all you’ve done
We rejoice as we receive the victory won.

His Be the Victor’s Name

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Samuel Whitelock Gandy is the original writer of this hymn; he was the Vicar of a church in Kingston-on-Thames with Richmond from Jan. 1817 to his death, Dec. 24, 1851. As well as this hymn, his other more popular hymn was “What tho’ the Accuser roar” (Victory through Jesus) found in the Plymouth Brethren “Hymns for the Poor of the Flock“, 1838. Some of his Sermons were published posthumously in 18591. This version has been slightly tweaked by Zac Hicks, but is wonderful nonetheless.

His be the Victor’s Name
Who fought the fight alone;
Triumphant saints no honour claim;
Their conquest was His own.

By weakness and defeat
He won the glorious crown;
Trod all His foes beneath His feet
By being trodden down.

Refrain
What though the vile accuser roar
Of sins that I have done;
I know them well, and thousands more;
My God, He knoweth none

He hell in hell laid low;
Made sin, He sin o’erthrew;
Bowed to the grave, destroyed it so,
And death, by dying, slew.

Refrain

Bless, bless the Conqueror slain,
Slain by divine decree!
Who lived, who died, who lives again,
For thee, my soul, for thee.

Refrain

My sin is cast into the sea
Of God’s forgotten memory
No more to haunt accusingly
For Christ has lived and died for me

1https://hymnary.org/text/his_be_the_victors_name