Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light

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Today’s hymn is a Christmas hymn written by German Johann Rist (1607-1667), and inspired by Isaiah 9:2-7 and Luke 2. wrote a twelve-stanza hymn on the incarnation of Christ. It was later translated by John Troutbeck. I hope you all have a blessed Christmas, meditating on the coming of our Saviour!

Break forth, O beauteous heav’nly light,
and usher in the morning.
O shepherds, shrink not with affright,
but hear the angel’s warning:
this child, now weak in infancy,
our confidence and joy shall be,
the pow’r of Satan breaking,
our peace eternal making.

Break forth, O beauteous heav’nly light,
to herald our salvation.
He stoops to earth, the God of might,
our hope and expectation.
He comes in human flesh to dwell,
our God with us, Immanuel,
the night of darkness ending,
our fallen race befriending.

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In The Valley

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Today’s song is by Sovereign Grace and is based on the Valley of Vision prayer by Arthur Bennett, found in the collection of Puritan prayers by the same name. The truths of this song are truths that eventually all of us as Christians will experience. And although it may be painful to live through, it’s necessary in order that we may become more and more like our Saviour, to the praise of God’s glory. Enjoy!

When You lead me to the valley of vision
I can see You in the heights
And though my humbling wouldn’t be my decision
It’s here Your glory shines so bright
So let me learn that the cross precedes the crown
To be low is to be high
That the valley’s where You make me more like Christ

Let me find Your grace in the valley
Let me find Your life in my death
Let me find Your joy in my sorrow
Your wealth in my need
That You’re near with every breath
In the valley

In the daytime there are stars in the heavens
But they only shine at night
And the deeper that I go into darkness
The more I see their radiant light
So let me learn that my losses are my gain
To be broken is to heal
That the valley’s where Your power is revealed

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The Rest of Faith

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Today’s hymn comes from Charles Wesley, arguably the greatest hymn writer of all time. No doubt this hymn was based on Hebrews 4:9 and the Sabbath rest that still remains for God’s people. As with a lot of hymns written in this time period, it originally had 15 stanzas, but is known by the below five. I hope this can be your prayer today. Enjoy!

Lord, I believe a rest remains,
To all Thy people known,
A rest where pure enjoyment reigns,
And Thou art loved alone:

A rest, where all our soul’s desire
Is fixed on things above;
Where fear, and sin, and grief expire,
Cast out by perfect love.

O that I now the rest might know,
Believe, and enter in!
Now, Saviour, now the power bestow,
And let me cease from sin.

Remove this hardness from my heart,
This unbelief remove;
To me the rest of faith impart,
The Sabbath of Thy love.

I would be Thine, Thou know’st I would,
And have Thee all my own;
Thee, O my all-sufficient Good!
I want, and Thee alone.

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Love of Christ

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Today’s song comes from Carmel Worship. and they are from North Carolina’s Carmel Baptist Church. The songs they share are based on scripture, and have grown up within the life of the singing local congregation. This particular song has been taken from Ephesians 3:14-19. I’m sure you’ll enjoy this one!

Refrain
God would you give to us the strength
To comprehend together with all the saints
What is the breadth and length and height and depth
And to know the love of Christ

I bow the knee before the Father
From whom each family is named
That by the riches of His glory
He may give you power and strength [Refrain]

Through His Spirit, Christ is living
Within our hearts, He dwells through faith
Thus being rooted, and established
Being grounded in His love [Refrain]

And to know Christ’s love
Surpassing all we know
That He may fill us all
With all the fullness of God [Refrain]

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He the Pearly Gates Will Open

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Today’s hymn is written by Fredrick Arvid Blom (1867-1927) near Enköpking, Sweden, where he received his certificate as a “chief mate” sailor.  After emigrating to America in the 1890’s, Blom joined the Salvation Army in Chicago, Illinois.  Afterward, he attended North Park College and Seminary, and served as a minister in the Evangelical Covenant Church. However, he fell away from the Gospe and turned from Godl, ending up in jail for drunkenness.  He later said he became embittered with himself and the world.  After leaving jail, Blom underwent a spiritual revival, and wrote the hymn “He the Pearly Gates Will Open” in 1917 to describe his rebirth. The hymn was translated from Swedish to English by Nathaniel Carlson in 19351. Enjoy this rendition by Red Mountain

Love divine, so great and wondrous, 
Deep and mighty, pure, sublime, 
Coming from the heart of Jesus, 
Just the same through tests of time!

Refrain
He the pearly gates will open, 
So that I may enter in; 
For He purchased my redemption 
And forgave me all my sin.

Like a dove when hunted, frightened, 
As a wounded fawn was I; 
Brokenhearted, yet He healed me. 
He will heed the sinner’s cry. [Refrain] 

Love divine, so great and wondrous! 
All my sins He then forgave; 
I will sing His praise forever, 
For His blood, His power to save. [Refrain] 

In life’s eventide, at twilight,  
At His door I’ll knock and wait; 
By the precious love of Jesus, 
I shall enter heaven’s gate. [Refrain]

1hymnstudiesblog.wordpress.com/2023/08/19/he-the-pearly-gates-will-open/

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As With Gladness Men of Old 

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Today’s hymn is an Epiphany hymn written by Englishman William C. Dix (1837-1898). Trained in the business world, he became the manager of a marine insurance company in Glasgow, Scotland. Dix published various volumes of his hymns, such as Hymns of Love and Joy (1861) and Altar Songs: Verses on the Holy Eucharist (1867). A number of his texts were first published in Hymns Ancient and Modern (1861)1. Enjoy!

As with gladness men of old 
did the guiding star behold; 
as with joy they hailed its light, 
leading onward, beaming bright; 
so, most gracious God, may we 
evermore be led to Thee.

As with joyful steps they sped 
to that lowly cradle-bed, 
there to bend the knee before 
Him whom heav’n and earth adore; 
so may we with willing feet 
ever seek Thy mercy-seat.

As they offered gifts most rare 
at that cradle rude and bare; 
so may we with holy joy, 
pure, and free from sin’s alloy, 
all our costliest treasures bring, 
Christ, to Thee, our heav’nly King.

Holy Jesus, every day
keep us in the narrow way;
and, when earthly things are past,
bring our ransomed lives at last
where they need no star to guide,
where no clouds Thy glory hide.

In that heav’nly country bright 
need they no created light; 
Thou its Light, its Joy, its Crown, 
Thou its Sun which goes not down; 
there for ever may we sing 
alleluias to our King.

1wikipedia.org/wiki/As_with_Gladness_Men_of_Old

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The Strife Is O’er, The Battle Done

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The hymn ‘The Strife is O’er, the Battle Done’ started life as the 17th century Latin hymn “Finita iam sunt proelia”, which was then composed into English by hymn writer and Anglican priest Francis Pott in 1861. Pott also wrote a number of other hymns, including ‘Angel Voices, Ever Singing’, ‘Christ’s foe becomes his soldier’ and ‘The Shepherd now was smitten’.1 Enjoy!

The strife is o’er, the battle done;
the victory of life is won;
the song of triumph has begun.
Alleluia!

The powers of death have done their worst,
but Christ their legions has dispersed.
Let shouts of holy joy outburst.
Alleluia!

The three sad days are quickly sped;
he rises glorious from the dead.
All glory to our risen Head.
Alleluia!

He closed the yawning gates of hell;
the bars from heaven’s high portals fell.
Let hymns of praise his triumph tell.
Alleluia!

Lord, by the stripes which wounded thee,
from death’s dread sting thy servants free,
that we may live and sing to thee.
Alleluia!

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! 

1http://www.classical-music.com/articles/the-strife-is-the-battle-done-lyrics

Ivory Palaces

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Today’s hymn is from Henry Barraclough. From 1911-13, he was secretary to Member of Parliament George Scott Robertson. He then joined the Chapman-Alexander evangelistic team as a pianist, and traveled with them to America and remained there. He fought in World War I, rising to the rank of sergeant major, then became secretary, and later an administrator, of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (1919-611. Barraclough has said his inspiration came to write this hymn when he was a young man and heard a sermon on Philippians 2:6-8, and Christ emptying himself. Enjoy!

My Lord has garments so wondrous fine,
and myrrh their texture fills;
its fragrance reached to this heart of mine,
with joy my being thrills.

Refrain
Out of the ivory palaces
into a world of woe,
only his great eternal love
made my Saviour go.

His life had also its sorrows sore,
for aloes had a part;
and when I think of the cross he bore,
my eyes with teardrops start.

His garments, too, were in cassia dipped,
with healing in a touch;
each time my feet in some sin have slipped,
he took me from its clutch.

In garments glorious he will come,
to open wide the door;
and I shall enter my heavenly home,
to dwell forevermore.

1hymnary.org/text/my_lord_has_garments_so_wondrous_fine

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