Be a Lamp

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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.

1https://www.sbts.edu/bgs/biblical-worship/norton-hall-band/

Jesus, Thou Joy of Loving Hearts

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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.

1sermonwriter.com/hymn-stories/jesusthou-joy-loving-hearts/
2gotquestions.org/Bernard-of-Clairvaux.html

God Moves in a Mysterious Way

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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 Love Of God is Greater Far

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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.

Refrain

1hymnstudiesblog.wordpress.com/2017/11/20/the-love-of-god-is-greater-far/
2barryshymns.blogspot.com/2011/01/love-of-god.html

All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name

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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.

1hymnary.org/text/all_hail_the_power_of_jesus_name_let
2hymnologyarchive.com/all-hail-the-power-of-jesus-name

Here We Stand

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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

1emumusic.com/collections/what-we-do

Hallelujah! What a Saviour!

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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

There Is One Gospel

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This modern hymn is written by CityAlight, a music ministry from St Paul’s church in Sydney, Australia. They have come to be loved over the years for their vision – to write songs with biblically rich lyrics and simple melodies for Christian churches to sing1. This song taken from their latest album with the same name is one I’m sure you’ll be singing over and over.

There is one Gospel on which I stand
For all eternity
It is my story, my Father’s plan
The Son has rescued me
Oh what a Gospel, Oh what a peace
My highest joy and my deepest need
Now and forever He is my light
I stand in the Gospel of Jesus Christ

There is one Gospel to which I cling
All else I count as loss
For there, where justice and mercy meet
He saved me on the cross
No more I boast in what I can bring
No more I carry the weight of sin
For He has brought me from death to life
I stand in the Gospel of Jesus Christ

There is one Gospel where hope is found
The empty tomb still speaks
For death could not keep my Saviour down
He lives and I am free
Now on my Saviour, I fix my eyes
My life is His and His hope is mine!
For He has promised I, too, will rise
I stand in the Gospel of Jesus Christ

And in this Gospel the church is one
We do not walk alone
We have His Spirit as we press on
To lead us safely home
And when in glory still I will sing
Of this old story that rescued me
Praise to my Saviour, the King of life
I stand in the Gospel of Jesus Christ

1cityalight.com/about/

Jesus, Lover of My Soul

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Originally published under the title “In Temptation,” this hymn has as its theme the sufficiency of Christ to give comfort, power, and grace in any circumstance. It is a plea that Jesus will provide sanctuary to the tempted (st. 1), because there is no other refuge (st. 2). Christ is declared to be the sole desire of the Christian, who is undeserving (st. 3), while Christ’s grace is declared sufficient to cleanse the Christian from all his vile sins (st. 4)1. There is no particular occasion linked to the writing of the hymn “Jesus, Lover of My Soul.” We know from the heading in its original publication (“In Temptation”) that it was apparently meant to be a help in fighting sin. Whether it was written during a time of temptation in Charles’ own life, though, we cannot say2.

Jesus, lover of my soul,
let me to thy bosom fly,
while the nearer waters roll,
while the tempest still is high;
hide me, O my Saviour, hide,
till the storm of life is past;
safe into the haven guide,
O receive my soul at last!

Other refuge have I none;
hangs my helpless soul on thee;
leave, ah! leave me not alone,
still support and comfort me.
All my trust on thee is stayed,
all my help from thee I bring;
cover my defenseless head
with the shadow of thy wing.

Thou, O Christ, art all I want,
More than all in Thee I find;
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint,
Heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is Thy Name,
Source of all true righteousness;
Thou art evermore the same,
Thou art full of truth and grace.

Plenteous grace with thee is found,
grace to cover all my sin;
let the healing streams abound;
make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art;
freely let me take of thee;
spring thou up within my heart,
rise to all eternity.

1hymnary.org/text/jesus_lover_of_my_soul_let_me_to_thy_bos
2https://www.challies.com/articles/hymn-stories-jesus-lover-of-my-soul/