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Hymns

Am I a Soldier of the Cross?

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Words: Isaac Watts (b. July 17, 1674; d. Nov. 25, 1748)
Music: Arlington, by Thomas Augustine Arne (b. March 12, 1710; d. March 5, 1778)

Note: The Cyber Hymnal currently uses a tune by Ira Sankey for this hymn, which includes a refrain. Much more common is the use of Thomas Arne’s tune Arlington, taken from his 1762 opera Artaxerxes.

(Stanza numbers in brackets below refer to the stanza number in The Cyber Hymnal. Find the link at the bottom of the article.)

In Canada, compulsory military service (conscription) was a debated issue in both the First and Second World Wars. Some felt Canadians had no responsibility for what was happening “over there.” Nonetheless, eventually a law was passed, and Canadian citizens were compelled to serve in both wars. The United States has had conscription, known commonly as the draft, in every major conflict since the Revolutionary War.

And what of the spiritual realm? Satan’s long war against the Almighty began when he coveted the throne of God for himself (Isa. 14:12-15). Thwarted in his evil aspirations, he has focused his malice on this world, and man, the crown of the Lord’s earthly creation. He seduced our first parents in the garden of Eden (Gen. 3:1-6), and their sin has brought calamity on all who followed them.

Satan, also known as the devil, determined to enslave and destroy us all, but the Lord provided a means of deliverance. God the Son took on our humanity, and died to take upon Himself the punishment for our sins. Through faith in Christ our Saviour, we are spiritually reborn into the family of God (Jn. 1:12-13). Our sins are forgiven, and we receive the gift of eternal life (Jn. 3:16: Eph. 1:7). We’re turned “from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God” (Acts 26:18).

That is the Christian gospel (I Cor. 15:1-4). And “behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” (I Jn. 3:1). However, though the devil has lost us as his slaves, he continues to war against us. “Your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (I Pet. 5:8).

We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Eph. 6:12-13

Against the enemy we are to wield “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (vs. 17). “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword” (Heb. 4:12).

We are in a battle, a titanic struggle against a powerful enemy. To put it plainly, all believers have been conscripted into the army of the Lord.

You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

II Tim. 2:3-4

The Apostle Paul was able to say, at the end of his life, “I have fought a good fight…I have kept the faith” (II Tim. 4:7). But what about each of us who is a believer, yet is not doing our part? To use a modern term, are we draft dodgers, as far as the spiritual conflict is concerned?

In the words of pastor and hymn writer Isaac Watts, “Thou must meet this adversary [Satan] shortly, O my soul. Labour therefore daily to get courage and victory.” To accompany a sermon on First Corinthians 16:13 (“Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.”), Dr. Watts wrote the following hymn. It asks some challenging questions!

(1) Am I a soldier of the cross,
A follower of the Lamb,
And shall I fear to own His cause,
Or blush to speak His name?

(2) Must I be carried to the skies
On flowery beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize,
And sailed through bloody seas?

(3) Are there no foes for me to face?
Must I not stem the flood?
Is this vile world a friend to grace,
To help me on to God?

(4) Sure I must fight if I would reign;
Increase my courage, Lord.
I’ll bear the cross, endure the pain,
Supported by Thy Word.

Dr. Watt’s original word in line 3 of the fourth stanza was likely “cross” (as I have it) rather than “toil”–which is more common today. And using the word cross certainly ties in with his original question: “Am I a soldier of the cross.”

He also wrote two more stanzas which aren’t used today. They bring the battle on to a heavenly victory scene.

5. The saints in all this glorious war
Shall conquer though they die;
They see the triumph from afar,
And seize it with their eye.

6. When that illustrious day shall rise,
And all Thy armies shine,
In robes of vict’ry through the skies,
The glory shall by Thine.

Questions:

  1. What is your answer to the penetrating questions of this hymn?
  2. What does the line “Supported by Thy Word” mean in practical terms?

Links:

Trusting Thee More

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Words: Avis Marguerite Burgeson Christiansen (b. Oct. 11, 1895; d. Jan. 14, 1985)
Music: Wendell Phillips Loveless (b. Feb. 2, 1892; d. Oct. 3, 1987)

Note: A resident of Chicago, Avis was married to a vice president of Moody Bible Institute. She wrote hundreds of fine hymns that have been used by the Lord to bless many. Love Found a Way, It Is Glory Just to Walk with Him, Fill All My Vision, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, Jesus Has Lifted Me, Blessed Redeemer, How Can It Be? and Only One Life are some of these.

(Stanza numbers in brackets below refer to the stanza number in The Cyber Hymnal. Find the link at the bottom of the article.)

We have an expression that can mean two different things, depending on how it’s used. It’s “no doubt.”

If we were to say, “No doubt the tornado did a lot of damage,” we mean it’s certain, it happened without question. But the words are sometimes used sarcastically. To say crossly, “No doubt you’re always right,” we mean the opposite is more likely true.

An example of the latter is found in the Bible. Job’s companions insist that his painful trials are due to God punishing him for some wickedness (which was not true), and he retorts sarcastically, “No doubt you are the people [i.e. the only wise ones on earth], and wisdom will die with you!” (Job 12:2).

But if we consider the phrase as a sincere expression of certainty, we’re dealing with matters of faith. To return to the original example, because of our knowledge of tornadoes, and perhaps a personal experience of their destructive force, we can say with some confidence that we know what happened. However, tornadoes are quirky things. They can flatten one house, and leave the one beside it untouched. Or they can expend their energy safely in an open field, merely stirring up dust.

When it comes to spiritual matters, we can sometimes be even more uncertain. And the Bible gives us examples of those who struggled to trust in God when they needed to.

One day the disciples were in a boat on the Sea of Galilee when a storm arose. In their distress, the Lord Jesus came to them, walking on the sea. Impetuous Peter asked if he could do the same, and the Lord invited him to come. He began well but, as fear gripped his heart, he began to sink. “Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matt. 14:31).

Several times Christ rebuked His followers for the littleness of their faith (e.g. Matt. 6:30; 8:26). After His resurrection, He appeared to the disciples. At first, they were terrified, supposing maybe they were seeing a ghost. “And He said to them, ‘Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see’” (Lk. 24:38-39).

Many of us take some encouragement from the man who brought His demon possessed son to the Lord, saying, “If You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us” (Mk. 9:22). When Jesus asked him if he had faith, and “the father of the child cried out and said with tears, ‘Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!’” (vs. 24). Yes, we know what that’s like!

We need more faith, as the disciples also did, when the Lord told them to be forgiving of a person who wronged them over and over. They replied, “Increase our faith” (Lk. 17:4-5). May that be our prayer too.

Surely, many Christians can identify with these appeals. There will come a day when, in the presence of God, faith will be confirmed by eternal realities. But for now, “We walk by faith, not by sight” (II Cor. 5:7). And we do believe, but our limited faith is constantly being challenged by the things we go through.

This brings to mind a gospel song called Trusting Thee More, by Avis Christiansen. Published in 1934, the song says:

1. Lord, keep me trusting Thee day after day,
Trusting whatever befall on my way;
Sunshine or shadow, I take them from Thee,
Knowing Thy grace is sufficient for me.

Trusting Thee more! Trusting Thee more!
May ev’ry day find me trusting Thee more.
Cares may surround me and clouds hover o’er,
But keep me, Lord Jesus, still trusting Thee more.

3. Lord, keep me trusting, till faith lost in sight,
I shall behold Thee in endless delight;
Trusting to Thee all that lieth before,
Daily, Lord Jesus, just trusting Thee more.

Questions:

  1. In what area of your life do you need a stronger and more consistent faith in God?
  2. What have you found that God has used to strengthen your faith.

Links:

One Sweetly Solemn Thought

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Words: Phoebe Cary (b. Sept. 4, 1824; d. July 31, 1871)
Music: Dulce Domum, by Robert Steele Ambrose (b. March 7, 1824; d. March 31, 1908)

Note: Phoebe Cary was raised in a Universalist household, but she and her sister often attended Methodist, Presbyterian, and Congregationalist services and were friendly with ministers of all these denominations. Though the present 1852 hymn poem is not strong on orthodox theology, it presents truth that is in harmony with it. Hymnary.org says it can be found in over 600 hymnals. Cary was also a champion of women’s rights.

(Stanza numbers in brackets below refer to the stanza number in The Cyber Hymnal. Find the link at the bottom of the article.)

In 1850, Charles Warner wrote: “Politics makes strange bedfellows,” meaning there are times when longtime political enemies will form an uneasy alliance to achieve a goal desired by both.

It’s a sly adaptation of a line from Shakespeare. In his play The Tempest, when shipwrecked Trinculo seeks shelter, reluctantly, beside a sleeping monster, he says, “Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows. I will here shroud [cover myself] till the dregs of the storm be past.”

There can be unusual parings in other areas too. Sweet and salty snacks are quite common. And if you enjoy Chinese food, you’ve likely eaten sweet and sour chicken or pork. To our taste buds, sweetness and sourness are opposites, yet they seem to work well together. And reportedly some restaurants sell pickle-flavoured ice cream–but perhaps that’s going too far!

In daily life there are experiences that arouse conflicting feelings. For example, when a young person leaves home to attend college or take up employment in a distant place, parents may have what we could call a sad-glad reaction. Sad to realize the departing child will no longer be a daily part of the family circle, but glad that he or she is moving on to new challenges and accomplishments in life.

In the days of the early church, Christians faced a similar confliction of feelings. Before His return to heaven, the Lord Jesus had warned His followers that they would face persecution for their loyalty to Him. But He encouraged them to take the long-range view, to realize that victory and heavenly rewards would come in the end (Matt. 5:11-12; Jn. 15:18-21).

There came a day when the disciples were beaten for sharing the gospel and we read, “They departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name” (Acts 5:41). There’s nothing pleasant about being beaten, imprisoned, or martyred for your faith in Christ. But even the Lord Jesus rejoiced in what He would accomplish through His death on the cross (Heb. 12:2).

The Apostle Paul faced his own sad-glad moment (Phil. 1:21-24). When he was imprisoned for preaching the gospel, he faced the real possibility–one which eventually became a reality–that he would be executed. Sadly, this would deprive him of the opportunity to preach and teach others about the wonderful truths God was revealing through him. However, he rejoiced in the knowledge that death would mean he would “be with Christ, which is far better.”

Whether by persecution, natural causes, or something else, each of us faces the possibility of death. And every day we live brings our departure from this mortal life nearer. It’s a reality that American poet Phoebe Cary called a “sweetly solemn thought.”

Even for the Christian, this is so. The solemnity of death lies in the separation it brings for the living friends and family. If those loved ones are believers too, we can look forward to a reunion in heaven one day, but the loss of that individual is still painful. Also, with Paul, we may regret that they don’t have any more time to serve the Lord and do His work below.

However, we share with the apostle the sweet thought “to be absent from the body [means] to be present with the Lord” (II Cor. 5:8). As the Lord promised the repentant thief crucified next to Him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise” (Lk. 23:43). The sadness of death and the hope of eternal glory are indeed strange bedfellows.

Below is the poetic form of Phoebe Cary’s work. Minor changes have been made to accommodate several musical settings, including the one in the Cyber Hymnal.

(1) One sweetly solemn thought
Comes to me o’er and o’er;
Nearer my home today am I
Than e’er I’ve been before.

(2) Nearer my Father’s house,
Where many mansions be;
Nearer today, the great white throne,
Nearer the crystal sea.

(3) Nearer the bound of life
Where burdens are laid down;
Nearer to leave the heavy cross,
Nearer to gain the crown.

(4) But lying dark between,
Winding down through the night,
Is the deep and unknown stream
To be crossed ere we reach the light.

(7) Father, perfect my trust!
Strengthen my pow’r of faith!
Nor let me stand, at last, alone
Upon the shore of death.

(8) Be Thou near when my feet
Are slipping o’er the brink;
For it may be I’m nearer home,
Nearer now than I think.

Questions:

  1. What, to you, is particularly “sweet” about the coming end of your life on this earth?
  2. What are some “solemn” aspects of this?

Links:

The Gate Ajar for Me

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Words: Lydia Odell Baxter (b. Sept. 2, 1809; d. June 22, 1874)
Music: Silas Jones Vail (b. Oct. 6, 1818; d. May 20, 1883)

Note: Though invalided and bedridden most of her adult life, Lydia Baxter was a glowing Christian. Her counsel was regularly sought by Christian leaders. Mrs. Baxter also gave us the beautiful hymn Precious Name (“Take the name of Jesus with you…”)

(Stanza numbers in brackets below refer to the stanza number in The Cyber Hymnal. Find the link at the bottom of the article.)

The word “ajar” refers to a door or a gate that’s slightly open. It comes from an expression six centuries old, on char, meaning on the turn, neither wide open nor completely closed. The term has produced a childhood riddle: When is a door not a door? Answer: When it is a jar.

Puns aside, the gate ajar provides a fitting picture of opportunity. The portal is not locked and barred. It invites our entry, it implies a welcome. This is touchingly illustrated by a story told by Britain’s Lord Shaftsbury (1801-1885). With its similarity to Jesus’ parable (Lk. 15:11-24), the following incident might be labeled The Prodigal Daughter.

Many years ago, a young woman left home and wandered from her parents’ love and spiritual values. But one day, she heard the gospel of God’s love for her, and was so changed by the message she resolved to return home. On reaching the house she discovered the door unfastened and ajar. She entered and climbed the stairs, and came upon her mother. She asked her, “How was it I found the door open?” The rejoicing woman answered, “My girl, that door has never been closed since you went away. I thought that some night my poor girl would return.”

There are many welcoming summonses from the Lord in the Scriptures, to enter mercy’s gate.

“Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”

Isa. 1:18

And consider the words of the Lord Jesus Christ.

“Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Matt. 11:28

On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink”.

Jn. 7:37

This brings us to a song by hymn writer Lydia Baxter. Written about three years before her death, it expresses God’s welcoming mercy and forgiveness for all who will come to Him through faith in Christ’s sacrifice on the cross (Jn. 3:16). The refrain speaks joyously of the wonder of God’s grace.

(1) There is a gate that stands ajar,
And through its portals gleaming
A radiance from the cross afar,
The Saviour’s love revealing.

O depth of mercy! Can it be
That gate was left ajar for me?
For me! For me!
Was left ajar for me!

(2) That gate ajar stands free for all
Who seek through it salvation;
The rich and poor, the great and small,
Of every tribe and nation.

Evangelist Dwight Moody and his soloist and music director Ira Sankey were in Britain during 1873-74, and Baxter’s song was greatly used in their meetings. In one of these, held on New Year’s Eve, Maggie Lindsay, a young Scottish girl, heard it and prayed, “O heavenly Father, is it true that the gate is standing ajar for me? If it is so, I will go in.” And that evening she trusted Christ as her Saviour.

Her pastor was delighted to learn of her decision, and encouraged her to tell others at her school about it. She did so, and led several of them to faith in Christ. But less that a month after she came to Christ she was on board a train heading to her home when there was a terrible collision with another train. Several were killed, and Maggie was mortally injured. She was found with a blood-spattered song book in her hand, open to Lydia Baxter’s hymn. Carried to a nearby cottage, with her dying breath she sang the refrain, “For me! For me! / Was left ajar for me!”

Moved by the tragic event, Ira Sankey was inspired to write his first gospel song. In it he carried the symbol a step further, picturing the gate ajar as the entry into heaven.

(1) Home at last, thy labour done,
Safe and blest, the vict’ry won;
Jordan passed, from pain set free,
Angels now have welcomed thee.

Depth of mercy, oh, how sweet,
Thus to rest at Jesus’ feet,
In yon world of light afar,
Safe within the gate ajar.

Questions:

  1. What opportunity is the Lord putting before you at the present time?
  2. How will you respond to Him?

Links:

Blest Be the Tie That Binds

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Words: John Fawcett (b. Jan. 6, 1740; d. July 25, 1817)
Music: Dennis, by Hans Georg Nägeli (b. May 26, 1773; d. Dec. 26, 1836)

Note: John Fawcett was converted when a teen-ager, under the ministry of George Whitefield. He first attached himself to the Methodists, but later became a Baptist. He wrote several volumes of hymns and other poetry. Hymnary.org reports that the present hymn is found in more than 2,000 hymnals.

(Stanza numbers in brackets below refer to the stanza number in The Cyber Hymnal. Find the link at the bottom of the article.)

Unity or division–which will it be? Some politicians seem to go out of their way to create an us-versus-them polarity. While exciting their followers with grandiose promises they can’t possibly keep, they rain false accusations and cruel abuse on their rivals and any who would dare to support them.

This crippling phenomena can flow from the leadership down, spreading through society like a malignant plague. In its corrupting atmosphere meanness, name-calling and vulgarity flourish, while courtesy and civility whither and die. Decency and respect for others soon seem in short supply.

The hilarious Red Green Show graced Canadian television for fifteen years, until 2006. Steve Smith, an Order of Canada recipient, was the star and the creative genius behind the program. He had a famous catchphrase that eventually became the title of his autobiography:

“We’re all in this together.”

There’s simple wisdom in those words. Instead of driving people apart, we need to put more emphasis on things we have in common. Not that we can’t hold different opinions, and even argue them forcefully. But we should do so with grace, and a sense of respect for others that recognizes our common struggle, and those values we all share in common.

This applies as well to the church of Jesus Christ. Because we’re human, there can sometimes be strife and division in a congregation. The apostles recognized this can happen, but condemned it (I Cor. 3:3), and urged that it be resolved (Phil. 4:2).

Christians are to minister to one another in the local church, seeking “the unity of the faith” (Eph. 4:11-13), and “endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3). The Bible speaks of believers as part of the spiritual body of Christ, and urges us to act like it.

There should be no schism [division] in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honoured, all the members rejoice with it….You are the body of Christ, and members individually.

I Cor. 12:25-27

This sense of oneness among Christians is celebrated in a hymn by a pastor named John Fawcett. He served a small church in Yorkshire, England, and as his family grew, he struggled to make ends meet. Then came a call to be the pastor of a large and prestigious church, Carter’s Lane Baptist Church, in London. Their pastor had recently died, and Pastor Fawcett accepted the congregation’s invitation to fill the position.

The good man preached his farewell sermon, and loaded six or seven wagons with furniture, his books, and other things. But when packing was nearly complete he and his wife sat down on a crate and wept.

All around them, members of the congregation were in tears as well. They grieved at having to part from their beloved pastor. His wife finally cried, “Oh, John, John, I cannot bear this! I know not how to go!” “Nor I, either,” said her husband. “Nor will we go. Unload the wagons!” John Fawcett notified the Carter’s Lane church of his decision to remain where he was, and he stayed there, to the delight of his people.

It’s believed his hymn was written in response to that experience. Notice how it emphasizes the unity of believers in various experiences and feelings.

(1) Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above.

(2) Before our Father’s throne
We pour our ardent prayers;
Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one
Our comforts and our cares.

(3) We share each other’s woes,
Our mutual burdens bear;
And often for each other flows
The sympathizing tear.

(4) When we asunder part,
It gives us inward pain;
But we shall still be joined in heart,
And hope to meet again.

Questions:

  1. What are some of the things that seem to divide Christians unnecessarily?
  2. What are some basic things that should unite Christians?

Links:

Satisfied with Jesus

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Words: Baylus Benjamin McKinney (b. July 22, 1886; d. Sept. 7. 1952)
Music: Baylus Benjamin McKinney

Note: Over his adult years, Benjamin McKinney was a pastor, a music editor, a music teacher in a seminary, and a hymn writer. His life and ministry, and his songwriting, centred on the Lord Jesus Christ. He died at the age of sixty-six, in a car accident.

(Stanza numbers in brackets below refer to the stanza number in The Cyber Hymnal. Find the link at the bottom of the article.)

To be “satisfied” is to have our desires, needs, or expectations met. But we all know that can be a relative or temporary experience. Satisfaction is almost always incomplete. And nothing in life seems to carry a guarantee that those desires, needs or expectations won’t intrude themselves once more, later on.

We can be satisfied with a fine meal. But we know in a few hours we’ll likely be hungry again. There’s another problem as well. Too much can be as bad as not enough. A lovely spring shower will provide needed and satisfying moisture for growing things. But an extended torrential downpour can cause flooding and erosion, and other problems.

Wise King Solomon observed:

The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing….He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver, nor he who loves abundance with increase….All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the soul is not satisfied.

Ecc. 1:8; 5:10; 6:7

The Lord challenges us to consider, “Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy?…Incline your ear and come to Me” (Isa. 55:2, 3).

The Psalms, in particular, speak of soul satisfaction–understandably so, as the book is focused on the inner life. There, we learn the Lord offers, to those who come to Him, an enduring satisfaction that can’t be found elsewhere. “Blessed is the man You choose, and cause to approach You, that he may dwell in Your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, of Your holy temple” Ps. 107:9).

How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings. They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures. For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light.

Ps. 36:7-9

And we discover the kind of satisfaction God offers extends not only through the days of this mortal life, but on to eternity. “You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory” (Ps. 73:24). “As for me,” says David, “I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness (Ps. 17:15).“And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Ps. 23:6).

But what about the other side of the coin? Shouldn’t we also consider whether God is satisfied with us?

  • Have we responded to the gospel call, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31)?
  • And the call to live a Christlike life: “Walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us” (Eph. 5:2)?
  • And what about the call to “Serve the Lord with gladness” (Ps. 100:2)? “[Christ] gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works” (Tit. 2:14).

In McKinney’s song, Satisfied with Jesus, he rejoices in the blessings won for us on the cross of Calvary. But this causes him to reflect on his own life and service for Christ. What would the Lord say when he reached heaven? Would it be, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matt. 25:21)? Or something less pleasing? “We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ” (Rom. 14:10).

1. I am satisfied with Jesus,
He has done so much for me;
He has suffered to redeem me,
He has died on Calvary.

I am satisfied, I am satisfied,
I am satisfied with Jesus;
But the question comes to me,
As I think of Calvary,
Is my Master satisfied with me?

2. He is with me in my trials,
Best of friends of all is He;
I can always count on Jesus,
Can He always count on me?

4. When my work on earth is ended,
And I cross the mystic sea,
Oh, that I could hear Him saying,
“I am satisfied with thee.”

Questions:

  1. What measure are we to use to decide whether we are pleasing God?
  2. In what particular area do you struggle to please the Lord?

Links:

Jesus Loves Me

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Words: Anna Bartlett Warner (b. Aug. 31, 1827; d. Jan. 22, 1915)
Music: William Batchelder Bradbury (b. Oct. 6, 1816; d. Jan. 7, 1868)

Note: Susan and Anna Warner lived near the military academy at West Point, and they led regular Bible studies for the cadets. The sisters were so highly respected that, when they died, they were buried with full military honours. According to Hymnary.org, Anna Warner’s hymn has been published in 530 hymn books over the last century and a half.

(Stanza numbers in brackets below refer to the stanza number in The Cyber Hymnal. Find the link at the bottom of the article.)

Love. It’s likely a word we use often, in one way or another. I love ice cream, I love football. I love my wife. I love God. But are all of those the same thing? They’re likely different in intensity and importance. But aren’t they also distinct in their very nature?

Some form of the word love is used hundreds of times in the Bible. It’s hardly surprising, therefore, that many of our traditional hymns and gospel songs talk about it–or surprising that we’ve dealt with such songs many times in these articles.

But the one we’ll look at today may well be the most familiar children’s hymn in the English language. It was first sung by a man who never existed–to a child who never existed either! This remarkable circumstance came about as follows.

In 1860, author Susan Warner began work on a new novel. In it, a Sunday School teacher she called John Linden goes to visit one of his students named Johnnie Fax. The boy is critically ill, and dying–an all too common reality in those days. But Mr. Linden holds Johnnie gently in his arms and tries to comfort him, reminding him of the love of the Saviour. At that point, Susan wanted the teacher to sing a song they’d learned in Sunday School. But what could he sing?

She turned to her sister Anna for help. In response to Susan’s request, Anna Bartlett Warner penned the now well-known hymn, Jesus Loves Me. The text is simple, but its message is powerful.

“Jesus loves me.” That’s a wonderful truth. But the critical question is: How do I know that? How can I be certain? Is it just a myth or a legend? A wish or a maybe? No! I can be sure it’s true because the trustworthy Word of the living God says so.

All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever.

I Pet. 1:24-25

The Bible tells us God (the Father) loved the world so much that He “gave” His Son to save us (Jn. 3:16). The word “gave” is significant. It means He delivered Him up, He surrendered Him–to be abused and slain by sinful men. And the Son “gave” (surrendered) Himself to this, in submission to His Father’s will, in love for us. Love involves an unselfish, sacrificial giving of oneself to another.

The Son of God…loved me and gave Himself for me.

Gal. 2:20

Our Lord Jesus Christ…gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever.

Gal. 1:3-5

Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.

Eph. 5:25

And His love for us prompts our love in return, for which He is to be our Pattern. “We love Him because He first loved us” (I Jn. 4:19). “Walk [live your daily life] in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us (Eph. 5:2).

(1) Jesus loves me–this I know,
For the Bible tells me so;
Little ones to Him belong–
they are weak, but He is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.

(2) Jesus loves me–He who died
Heaven’s gate to open wide;
He will wash away my sin,
Let His little child come in.

Clearly, this was written as a children’s hymn (“little ones”). But it has been a blessing to many adults too, over the years. Jesus loves us, each one, with an enduring love. God’s Word proclaims it to be true, and we answer with love in return.

Questions:

  1. What are some characteristics of the love of Christ we can see in His years of earthly ministry?
  2. How can you show the love of Christ to someone today?

Links:

My Sins Are Gone

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Words: N. B. Vandall (b. Dec. 28, 1896; d. Aug. 24, 1970)
Music: N. B. Vandall

Note: Vandall served with the Marines in the First World War, and put his faith in Christ in 1920, at a Christian camp in Ohio. He and his wife Margaret had four sons. He went on to serve the Lord as an evangelist and gospel singer, writing quite a number of gospel songs himself, including the lovely After, written after a serious accident involving one of their sons. And there’s My Home Sweet Home, as well as his 1934 testimony song, My Sins Are Gone.

(Stanza numbers in brackets below refer to the stanza number in The Cyber Hymnal. Find the link at the bottom of the article.)

To change your name can be a complicated business, but it doesn’t usually cost a lot of money. At the time of writing, in Canada, you can do it for $137. In the United States, the fee is anywhere from $150 to $500.

The question is, why would someone go to the trouble of doing that? Sometimes, it’s a matter of breaking a disturbing association with the past. Other times, it’s to pick a name that’s easier to pronounce, or something not so odd. (I once met a woman whose given name was Summer Worm. That must have brought her a lot of grief!)

A third reason for a name change is that the old name may not suit the individual’s new life. This has happened many times with movie stars. We think of actor John Wayne as a swaggering macho hero. But his original first name, Marion, might not fit that image. Neither did romantic actor Cary Grant seem to suit his given name Archie Leech. Nor does the name Leonard Slye seem as appealing as Roy Rogers.

There’s a gospel song writer who had a name problem too. It doesn’t seem that N. B. Vandall ever legally changed his name, but he called himself Jack Vandall to get away from what his parents christened him, Napoleon Bonaparte Vandall. The reason for their choice is not known. Napoleon had been dead for seventy-five years when Jack was born, and he has far from a sterling reputation in history.

Through faith in Christ, Jack Vandall had a kind of name change with eternal consequences: the Sinner (Rom. 3:23) became a Saint (I Cor. 1:2), the child of wrath (Eph. 2:3) became a child of God (Jn. 1:12). And one of the most amazing and thrilling things to the song writer was that his sins were gone. Gone! The Bible uses a variety of images to press home this point.

As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

Ps. 103:12

You [God] have cast all my sins behind Your back.

Isa. 38:17

The Lord says, “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins.”

Isa. 43:25

You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.

Mic. 7:19

There’s a Roman practice connected with the crucifixion of Christ which is very revealing. Pilate didn’t intend it to illustrate a spiritual truth, but it does. When a condemned person was executed, a signboard was nailed above his head stating the nature of his crimes. This was to serve as a warning to others not to commit the same offense.

However Paul makes a spiritual application of this. When we trust in Christ as Saviour, it’s as though our sins, having been charged against Him, were paid for on the cross. He [God] has taken it [the accusation against us] out of the way, having nailed it to the cross” (Col. 2:14). Our sins were judged at the cross. They no longer come between the Christian and the Lord. Our debt of sin has been paid in full.

1. You ask why I am happy so I’ll just tell you why,
Because my sins are gone;
And when I meet the scoffers who ask me where they are,
I say, my sins are gone.

They’re underneath the blood, on the cross of Calvary,
As far removed as darkness is from dawn;
In the sea of God’s forgetfulness, that’s good enough for me,
Praise God, my sins are gone.

3. When Satan comes to tempt me and tries to make me doubt,
I say, My sins are gone;
You got me into trouble, but Jesus got me out,
I’m glad my sins are gone.

Questions:

  1. What does it mean to you, today, that your sins are “gone”?
  2. What Scriptures have been especially helpful to you when the devil “tries to make [you] doubt”?

Links:

Hide Thou Me

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Words: Fanny Crosby (b. March 24, 1820; d. Feb. 12, 1915)
Music: Robert Lowry (b. March 12, 1826; d. Nov. 25, 1899)

Note: Fanny Crosby, though she was blind from childhood, was a poet and hymn writer, as well as being a composer. She was also a fine singer, an organist, a harpist, and a devotional speaker of note. She produced something between eight and nine thousand hymns. The exact total may never be know, because she published many using a bewildered array of pen names. Further, it’s still possible to discover forgotten gems in this vast output, songs that haven’t been seen for many years.

(Stanza numbers in brackets below refer to the stanza number in The Cyber Hymnal. Find the link at the bottom of the article.)

In these articles about the traditional hymns and gospel songs of the church, we’ve looked at over eleven hundred selections. Though we’ve focused mainly on the content of the songs, we’ve looked at some interesting side issues. Which is the longest hymn–or the shortest? Which is the oldest? Which hymn writer produced the most songs?

Another question that could be asked–one that is more subjective–is which is the greatest hymn in the English language? The answer may depend on the theological position of the one who evaluates it, or a person’s individual need. A great hymn will display biblical accuracy and devotional depth. It will also be singable–which means it can be affected somewhat by the tune that is customarily used with it.

All of this aside, there are three hymns that have topped many lists of the greatest in the English language. They are:

  • When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, by Isaac Watts
  • Jesus, Lover of My Soul, by Charles Wesley
  • Rock of Ages, by Augustus Toplady.

There is general agreement among scholars of hymnology that these three belong at or near the top of any list of superlative hymns.

One of these is of particular interest here, in part because of its strong influence on our hymnody. Rock of Ages takes up a theme that is common in the Bible. Passage after passage describes the Lord as our Rock, either in the sense of providing a firm spiritual foundation, or as a place to hide from the storms of life and of future judgment.

He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice, a God of truth and without injustice; righteous and upright is He.

Deut. 32:4

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; the God of my strength, in whom I will trust….The Lord lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let God be exalted, the Rock of my salvation!

I Sam. 22:2 47

In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.

Ps. 62:7

There is even a verse which, depending on the translation, contains the phrase, “Rock of Ages.” In the English Standard Version, Isaiah 26:4 says, “Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock [or a rock of ages].”

In the wilderness, when the Israelites were without water, the Lord said to Moses, “‘Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.’ And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel” (Exod. 17:6). This is seen as a prophetic picture of Christ being stricken on the cross to provide for us the water of eternal life. “That Rock was Christ” (I Cor. 10:4).

Such Scriptures have led hymn writers to make use of the rock imagery again and again. Hymns such as A Shelter in the Time of Storm; Hiding in Thee; The Solid Rock; and He Hideth My Soul are examples of this. So is a simple little prayer hymn by Fanny Crosby called Hide Thou Me. In this song we may be seeing the influence of Toplady’s hymn, written a century before.

(1) In Thy cleft, O Rock of Ages, hide Thou me!
When the fitful tempest rages, hide Thou me!
Where no mortal arm can sever
From my heart Thy love forever,
Hide me, O Thou Rock of Ages, safe in Thee!

(2) From the snare of sinful pleasure, hide Thou me!
Thou, my soul’s eternal treasure, hide Thou me!
When the world its power is wielding,
And my heart is almost yielding,
Hide me, O Thou Rock of Ages, safe in Thee!

(3) In the lonely night of sorrow, hide Thou me!
Till in glory dawns the morrow, hide Thou me!
When we’re nearing Jordan’s billow,
Let Thy bosom be my pillow;
Hide me, O Thou Rock of Ages, safe in Thee!

Questions:

  1. What particular trial or temptation has the Lord protected you from lately?
  2. What Bible verses were a special help during this time?

Links:

Jesus Loves Even Me

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Words: Philip Paul Bliss (b. July 9, 1838; d. Dec. 29, 1876)
Music: Philip Paul Bliss

Note: There’s a simplicity of vocabulary and directness of emotion to Bliss’s songs, as well as a sincerity of devotion. Consider his Hallelujah, What a Saviour! and the compendium of spiritual qualities in More Holiness Give Me. And My Redeemer (“I will sing of my Redeemer…”) is an example of passionate praise.

And just a word of encouragement not to sing the latter song too fast. Here’s an interesting example of a reverent pace for it. (Contrary to the heading, it does not involve the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, but is part of an orthodox Christian forum at the Mormon Tabernacle.)

(Stanza numbers in brackets below refer to the stanza number in The Cyber Hymnal. Find the link at the bottom of the article.)

Our English word “song” has been around for over a thousand years.

A song is poetry set to music, a metrical composition framed and supported by a melody so it can be sung.

And we sing songs about all kinds of things. Some subjects are worthy of the singing, and some not. There are songs of pure love, but also songs of carnal lust. There are sentimental or nostalgic songs, patriotic songs and national anthems, melodic battle cries, and songs to protest war, such as Blowin’ in the Wind. There are songs to march to, dance to, or exercise to. There are fun songs, like Mary Had a Little Lamb, and commercial jingles used in advertising.

Then there are the hymns of the church: songs of praise and prayer directed to God, and gospel songs of Christian teaching and testimony we share with one another. Words such as “song” and “sing” are used in the Bible more than two hundred and fifty times, and some words translated “praise” may also imply singing as well (e.g. Acts 3:8; Rev. 19:5).

In addition to the music of the saints of God, the Bible speaks of the angels singing (Job 38:4, 7), and God Himself doing so (Zeph. 3:17). Songs of praise will continue on into eternity (cf. Rev. 15:3-4). It’s even possible that music will be a heavenly language. Whether or not we have good singing voices, there is, in each believer, an impulse to sing, born of the Spirit. As Isaac Watts noted, in a hymn, in contrast, “Let those refuse to sing, who never knew our God.” If you know Him, you’ll want to exalt Him with your songs.

Sacred songs can be complex and explore deep theological doctrines. However some are simple enough for children to sing and understand. But even with the simplicity of vocabulary in the latter, significant truths can be presented. An example of this is a hymn called Jesus Loves Even Me, written in 1870 by Philip Bliss. Consider the words.

(1) I am so glad that our Father in heav’n
Tells of His love in the Book He has giv’n;
Wonderful things in the Bible I see,
This is the dearest, that Jesus loves me.

Phrases such as “I am so glad…wonderful things…this is the dearest” alert us to the fact that is is a song about spiritual values, and it points to something highly esteemed. Along the way we are assured that God above is our heavenly Father (cf. Matt. 6:9), and that the Bible is “the Book He has given us” (cf. II Tim. 3:16). The subject of supreme value found there is that the Lord Jesus “loves me.” As the Bible puts it, “The Son of God…loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal. 2:20).

This is emphasized by Bliss’s refrain.

I am so glad that Jesus loves me,
Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me.
I am so glad that Jesus loves me,
Jesus loves even me.

Notice that, in pondering his subject, he sees others far more deserving than himself. Mr. Bliss seems to see himself in the lowest rank, far beneath the apostles and martyrs, great preachers, heroic missionaries, and brilliant theologians. It’s as though the Lord Jesus stooped down from heaven to love “even me.” And this was not phony posturing. His friend, evangelist Dwight Moody, said, “He was the most humble man I ever knew.”

The next stanza may allude to the return of the prodigal son to his home and his father’s love (Lk. 15:11-24).

(2) Though I forget Him, and wander away,
Still He doth love me wherever I stray;
Back to His dear loving arms would I flee,
When I remember that Jesus loves me.

There’s a recognition of both human weakness and divine constancy in these words–the assurance that it’s possible to make a new start. The motivation to do so will be a recollection of the warmth of the Saviour’s love.

The final stanza adds the thought that the love of Christ–“who loved us and washed us from our sins” (Rev. 1:5)–will still be our theme in eternity.

(3) Oh, if there’s only one song I can sing,
When in His beauty I see the great King,
This shall my song in eternity be,
“Oh, what a wonder, that Jesus loves me.”

Questions:

  1. How is the word “gave” (Jn. 3:16; Gal. 2:20) connected to the Lord’s love for us?
  2. What will our response be when we realize and accept His love for us?

Links:

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