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Hymns

Go, Labour On

Words: Horatius Bonar (b. Dec. 19, 1808; d. July 31, 1889)
Music: Pentecost, by William Boyd (b. _____, 1847; d. Feb. 16, 1928)

Note: Written in 1843, this hymn was the first Bonar wrote for adults. His previous songs were intended for the children in his Sunday School. This one was designed to challenge and encourage his fellow workers in the church at Leith, Scotland. Bonar called it, “The Useful Life.” All of the original eight stanzas of this wonderful hymn are worth a look, but hymn books today commonly use four or five: (1), (2), (4), (5), and (7).

There is an interesting history behind the tune Pentecost, which is also traditionally used for John Monsell’s hymn, Fight the Good Fight. Actually, the tune was written in 1864 for Charles Wesley’s hymn about the Holy Spirit, Come, Holy Ghost, Our Souls Inspire–and appropriately named Pentecost, because of the coming of the Spirit then, and the birth of the church.

However, some years later, William Boyd, the composer, was accosted on a London street by his good friend Arthur Sullivan. Sir Arthur was in the process of editing a new hymn book, and he said to Boyd, “I’ve seen a tune of yours which I must have.” Boyd agreed for him to employ the tune.

He was paid for that, but Sullivan never informed him of the hymn the melody would be associated with. He says, “When I saw the tune [published in his hymn book] I was horrified to find that Sullivan had assigned it to Fight the Good Fight. We had a regular fisticuffs [a fight] about it.” But, when the composer saw the public acceptance of the new pairing, he accepted it.

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

T he present hymn is about Christian service, “labouring” for the Lord. That will mean putting a priority on living for Christ, and doing His will. Following the example of the Lord Jesus, the committed believer will say:

“I must work the works of Him who sent Me, while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work [i.e. when our opportunity is gone].”

Jn. 9:4

Or as Paul assured the Corinthians, out of his love for them: “I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls” (II Cor. 12:15). That describes the expenditure of personal resources for love of Christ, spending ourselves, and being utterly spent, holding nothing back.

Stanza (1). Service for Christ is “the Father’s will” (II Pet. 3:9), and the Lord Jesus (our Master) set us the example of servanthood (Lk. 19:10; Jn. 13:15).

(2). Sinners and this evil world will oppose us, not encourage us. “Men heed thee [not], love thee [not], praise thee not.” But we are assured of the praise (and later rewards) of the Lord (Jn. 15:18-21; cf. Matt. 5:11-12; Rev. 22:12).

(1) Go, labour on: spend, and be spent,
Thy joy to do the Father’s will:
It is the way the Master went;
Should not the servant tread it still?

(2) Go, labour on! ’tis not for naught
Thine earthly loss is heavenly gain;
Men heed thee, love thee, praise thee not;
The Master praises–what are men?

(4). It’s vitally important to realize that we are merely channels or conveyers of the transforming truth of God’s Word. We do not have the power in ourselves to affect spiritual change. “Your hands are weak, your knees are faint.” In the words of the Lord Jesus, “Without Me you can do nothing” (Jn. 15:5). “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves…but our sufficiency is from God” (II Cor. 3:5; cf. I Cor. 2:3-5).

(5). We need a sense of urgency, realizing the shortness of the time before Christ’s return. “The world’s dark night is hastening on” (Jn. 9:4; cf. Jn. 12:35).

(4) Go, labour on! Your hands are weak,
Your knees are faint, your soul cast down;
Yet falter not; the prize you seek
Is near–a kingdom and a crown.

(5) Go, labour on while it is day:
The world’s dark night is hastening on;
Speed, speed thy work, cast sloth away;
It is not thus that souls are won.

(7). Service for the Lord will involve toil, and conflict, and it will require godly wisdom. We need to “watch and pray” (Matt. 26:41). And the servants of Christ must venture forth into “the world’s highway” and compel the wanderer to come in (Lk. 14:23).

(7) Toil on, faint not, keep watch and pray,
Be wise the erring soul to win;
Go forth into the world’s highway,
Compel the wanderer to come in.

Questions:

  1. I have heard from representatives of various denominations and Christian agencies that it seems harder and harder to get young people to commit to full-time Christian service. Why might this be?
  2. What makes labour for Christ difficult? What makes it a blessing?

Links:

Fling Out the Banner

Words: George Washington Doane (b. May 27, 1799; d. Apr. ___, 1859)
Music: Waltham (or Calkin), by John Baptiste Calkin (b. March 16, 1827; d. May 15, 1905)

Notes: Doane was an Episcopal (Anglican) college professor and a pastor. He was christened George Washington Doane, as he was born in the year America’s beloved first president died. After 1832, he served as the bishop of New Jersey, for the Protestant Episcopal Church, and he helped to found St. Mary’s School in that state. The school is still in existence as a private school for children up to the twelfth grade. They continue to use a beautiful evening hymn by Dr. Doane, Softly Now the Light of Day.

In 1848, at the request of the students, Doane produced another song for the flag raising of the school, the present hymn called Fling Out the Banner. For him the flag became a symbol of the gospel. Because of his keen interest in foreign missions, he was known as “The Missionary Bishop of America.” He incorporated that theme in the new song, and called it “The Banner of the Cross,” though that title is now generally given to another gospel song by D. W. Whittle.

The tune by John Calkin was composed for Doane’s words. One further point: The Cyber Hymnal, for some reason, transposes the second and third stanzas. The usual order I’ve seen is: (1), (3), (2), etc.

Dr. Doane’s son wrote of his father:

“My father’s poetical writings were simple necessities. He could not help them. His heart was so full of song, it oozed out in his conversation, in his sermons, in everything that he did….With his heart so full of it, nothing ever touched it but it pressed some out.” (The Gospel in Hymns, pp. 484-485)

Of this particular hymn, David R. Breed wrote, in 1903, in his book The History and Use of Hymns and Hymn Tunes:

“What can be more stirring, more ringing, than these triumphant notes. Surely the missionary spirit–the spirit of the widest evangelization, is not subsiding while such triumphant notes are sounded….If this hymn has not been assigned the first rank among missionary hymns it is because it has been strangely overlooked” ( p. 205).

(1) Fling out the banner! let it float
Skyward and seaward, high and wide;
The sun that lights its shining folds,
The cross, on which the Saviour died.

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

B anners are spoken a number of times in the Bible. David declared, “We will rejoice in your salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners” (Ps. 20:5). And when the Lord called for judgment to fall on the Babylonians, He declared, “Lift up a banner on the high mountain” (Isa. 13:1-2). When a young peasant woman from the hills of Ephraim was married to King Solomon, she testified, “He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love” (S. of S. 2:4). Solomon, in turn, compared the beauty and majesty of his beloved to “an army with banners” (6:4, 10).

When the Messiah’s coming is promised in the Old Testament, the prophet Isaiah says He will “stand as a banner [or ensign] to the people” (Isa. 11:10). And Psalm 60:4 says, “You have given a banner [a rallying flag] to those who fear You, that it may be displayed because of the truth [i.e. when it is realized the enemy is approaching].” It is not difficult to see an application of this text to the Person of Christ, and to His cross. He and His Calvary work are the Christian’s rallying point. As the Apostle Paul says, “God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Gal. 6:14).

There are some skillful poetic phrases and pertinent allusions in Dr. Doane’s hymn. For example, in (3) we see angels that “vainly seek to comprehend the wonders of the love divine,” something that Peter speaks of in his first epistle (I Pet. 1:10-12). “Nations crowding to be born” is a colourful phrase, and it perhaps represents Doane’s nearness to the birth of America, in the years before his birth.

The lines about sin sick souls touching in faith the radiant hem of the banner, and receiving eternal life (4) alludes to the healing of the woman with a chronic bleeding problem. She touched the fringe of Christ’s garment in faith, and found physical healing (Lk. 8:43-48), just as the act of faith today, in looking to the cross, brings spiritual healing.

Conquering in the sign of the cross (6) is a historical allusion to the emperor Constantine. Before the battle of the Milvian Bridge near Rome (AD 312), the emperor claimed (whether true or not) that he had seen a cross, blazing in the sky, with the words “In hoc signo vinces” (By this sign thou shalt conquer). He became, at least in name, a Christian emperor. Doane makes a more powerful point with this, insisting that the power of the gospel lies in the saving work of the cross, not in the skill, might, or merit of the evangelist (cf. I Cor. 2:1-5; Gal. 6:14).

(6) Fling out the banner! wide and high,
Seaward and skyward, let it shine;
Nor skill, nor might, nor merit ours;
We conquer only in that sign.

Questions:

  1. What other symbols are connected with the gospel in the Bible or in our hymns?
  2. What, in your view, are the best of our missionary hymns?

Links:

Come to the Saviour

Words: George Frederick Root (b. Aug. 30, 1820; d. Aug. 6, 1895)
Music: George Frederick Root

Note: This lovely little invitation hymn, with its appealing melody, was published in 1870. There’s a touching story of how the Lord used it on the Cyber Hymnal link.

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

W hen an individual is humbled, we sometimes describe him as eating crow, or eating humble pie. These two expressions are centuries old. “Umbles” were the intestines and other usually discarded parts of a deer. And “crow,” in an old English usage, refers to the intestines of an animal. To be brought to the need to consume what we would previously have thrown away is a humiliating experience.

The Christian gospel requires such a humbling in the form of what the Bible calls repentance. There is a 180-degree turn from sin to faith in the Saviour. To go our own way, rather than God’s way, exhibits the same spirit of prideful independence seen in our first parents. God had told Adam and Eve not to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge–that it would bring death upon them (Gen. 2:17). But the serpent (Satan) boldly told them God was not telling the truth (vs. 4-5). With that, the two decided to disobey the Lord (vs. 6).

The Bible says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble….Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” (Jas. 4:6, 10). We do that when we admit to Him that we are on the wrong path, that our sins are an offense to Him, and that they threaten us with eternal destruction. We do that when we turn from our sin and trust in the finished work of Christ on Calvary as our only hope. “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God” (I Pet. 3:18; cf. Jn. 3:16).

All through the Scriptures, we see the Lord graciously inviting sinners to come to Him for what their souls so desperately need.

“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price” (Isa. 55:1; cf. vs. 6). “Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth!” (Isa. 45:22).

“Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest….the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out” (Matt. 11:28; Jn. 6:37). “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).

“The Spirit and the bride [the church of Christ] say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely” (Rev. 22:17).

Mr. Root’s song notes several important things about this gospel call to “come” to the Lord.

  1. Our coming should not be delayed (1). It’s the devil’s way to prod sinners to procrastinate, to put off the most important decision of their lives. When Paul spoke to a Roman governor with the convicting power of the Spirit, the reply was, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you” (Acts 24:25). But there is no record that he ever did.
  2. All the information we need to make the decision is found in the Bible, the Word of God. There “He has shown us the way” (1). It is through personal faith in Christ, in Him alone, that we are saved eternally (Jn. 3:16; Acts 4:12). “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). There are all kinds of “ways” in life. But only one that brings everlasting life. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Prov. 14:12). In contrast, You [Lord] will show me the path of life” (Ps. 16:12).
  3. In grace, the Lord has made Himself accessible (1).“‘Am I a God near at hand,’ says the LORD, ‘and not a God afar off?…Do I not fill heaven and earth,” says the Lord” (Jer. 23:23-24). As Paul told his listeners in Athens, sinners “should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us” (Acts 17:27).

(1) Come to the Saviour, make no delay;
Here in His Word He has shown us the way;
Here in our midst He’s standing today,
Tenderly saying, “Come!”

Joyful, joyful will the meeting be,
When from sin our hearts are pure and free;
And we shall gather, Saviour, with Thee,
In our eternal home.

(3) Think once again, He’s with us today;
Heed now His blest command, and obey;
Hear now His accents tenderly say,
“Will you, My children, come?”

Questions:

  1. What are some of the hindrances to sinners hearing and obeying the call of God (see Romans 10:14 and 17, for example)?
  2. What do the Lord’s repeated invitations tell us about Him?

Links:

Brighten the Corner

Words: Ina Mae Duley Ogdon (b. Apr. 3, 1872; d. May 18, 1964)
Music: Charles Hutchinson Gabriel (b. Aug. 18, 1856; d. Sept. 15, 1932)

Note: The writing of this hymn in 1913 reflects a life of self-sacrifice on the part of the author. (See the Wordwise link below.) One story of how it had an impact on another person is told in the Cyber Hymnal. That account is one of many found on pages 1-14 of Homer Rodeheaver’s book, Song Stories of the Sawdust Trail (Moffat, Yard, and Company, 1917). The Cyber Hymnal lists 133 of Ina Ogdon’s gospel songs.

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

T he message of this song is simple, but biblically sound. Perhaps we all have grand dreams of spectacular things we could do for God. They may be practical, or they may not. But the counsel of the song is do what you can do now, and the Lord may move you on to greater things in time to come. In the meantime, bloom where you’re planted.

(1) Do not wait until some deed of greatness you may do,
Do not wait to shed your light afar,
To the many duties ever near you now be true,
Brighten the corner where you are.

Brighten the corner where you are!
Brighten the corner where you are!
Someone far from harbour
You may guide across the bar;
Brighten the corner where you are!

The word “bar” in the refrain, of course, refers to a sand bar, that build-up of sand that can sometimes be found near a harbour. The danger may be hidden from view, but a good navigator can guild ships around it. It stands as a metaphor for potential dangers, often unforeseen, that can threaten a person’s spiritual welfare. It may be we can help others to avoid running aground, by some wise counsel and timely aid.

Below are some things the Word of God has to say on the subject. Notice the repeated word, “whatever.” We may admire someone who has great gifts in service for the Lord, or a prominent and fruitful ministry. But, as the Lord said to Moses, “What is that in your hand?” (Exod. 4:2). It happened to be his shepherd’s rod, and God showed him how it could be put to use for His glory.

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might” (Ecc. 9:10). “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (I Pet. 4:10). Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him….And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men” (Col. 3:17, 23). “Do all to the glory of God” (I Cor. 1:31).

A slingshot in the hand of David won a great victory (I Sam. 17:48-50), so did some trumpets, pitchers and lamps in the hands of Gideon’s three hundred men, though they were greatly outnumbered (Jud. 7:19-25). And in the hands of the Lord Jesus, one boy’s lunch fed thousands of people, with some food left over (Matt. 14:15-21)! Don’t despise the instrument God has put in your hand.

Possibly, your service is something that tends to be behind the scenes. A ministry that most people never witness, though they may enjoy some of the results. Never mind. Do it…as to the Lord and not to men.” Even if you are criticized by others, the main thing is that you are pleasing the Lord (cf. Mk. 14:3-9).

(2) Just above are clouded skies that you may help to clear,
Let not narrow self your way debar;
Though into one heart alone may fall your song of cheer,
Brighten the corner where you are.

There is value in a ministry to “one heart alone.” Philip the evangelist had that experience. The Lord took him away from a successful ministry to multitudes in the city of Samaria (Acts 8:5-8) to present the gospel to one man on a desert road (vs. 26-39).

It’s not a matter of wishing for, or even praying for, some talent God has not given us. Though there are exceptions to this, it often involves the Lord uncovering or revealing a talent already there, but hidden. Maybe a crisis or a time of painful trial opens up a new avenue of ministry.

That happened to Annie Johnson Flint. She was a school teacher and an accomplished pianist, but severe arthritis left her bedridden. It was then she took to writing poetry and, before her death in 1932, she gave us a great many insightful poems, two of which became the hymns God Hath Not Promised, and He Giveth More Grace.

(3) Here for all your talent you may surely find a need,
Here reflect the Bright and Morning Star;
Even from your humble hand the Bread of Life may feed,
Brighten the corner where you are.

Questions:

  1. What gift or other resource do you have right now that could be put to use for the Lord?
  2. What person can you encourage this week, with the message of this song?

Links:

Awake, My Soul, to Joyful Lays

Words: Samuel Medley (b. June 23, 1738; d. July 17, 1799)
Music: Lovingkindness, an American folk melody, attributed to William Caldwell (publisher of Union Harmony, in 1837, a book containing forty-two tunes written by him). No other data available for him.

Note: A “lay” is simply another word for a song. But there are several uncertainties about this hymn, both as to the date when it was written, and as to the number and wording of the stanzas.

On one occasion, Samuel Medley was visiting in the home of a Baptist friend named Mr. Phillips. He asked the Phillips’ daughter Betsey (who may have been little older than a toddler at the time) to bring him ink and paper. When these were provided, he retired to the guest room and wrote this particular hymn. The Cyber Hymnal gives the date as 1782, though others have 1785.

There with their golden harps I’ll join,
And with their anthems mingle mine,
And loudly sound on ev’ry chord
The lovingkindness of the Lord.

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

Any consideration of the text of this hymn surely must begin with a comment on the biblical word lovingkindness, since it is found in every stanza of the hymn, and it is for this that the author is praising the Lord. The Hebrew word is checed (also written hesed).

“I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD has bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which He has bestowed on them according to His mercies, according to the multitude of His lovingkindnesses.”

Isa. 63:7

The scholarly Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (pp. 305-307) discusses the term at great length, noting that there is a strong connotation of mercy in the meaning, and perhaps of loyalty and faithfulness. (It is sometimes translated “mercy” in the NKJV.) But in the end the TWOT states that the archaic expression “lovingkindness” is “not far from the fulness of meaning of the word.”

The English word (NKJV) is found many times in the book of Psalms, the hymn book of Israel. Clearly, the psalmists felt as Pastor Medley did, many centuries later, that the lovingkindness of the Lord was something precious, something to be celebrated. A few examples will show how this attribute of God was appealed to.

“How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings” (Ps. 36:7).

“Do not withhold Your tender mercies from me, O LORD; let Your lovingkindness and Your truth continually preserve me” (Ps. 40:11).

“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions” (Ps. 51:1).

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits…who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies” (Ps. 103:4).

“Revive me according to Your lovingkindness, so that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth [i.e. obey Your Word]” (Ps. 119:88).

Awake, My Soul, to Joyful Lays cannot be considered great poetry. Yet it continues to be found in our hymnals more than two centuries after it was written. There is a warmth of joyful piety in it that seems irresistible. For Medley, as stated in the stanzas of his hymn, God’s lovingkindness is to be praised because it is “free” (given in grace), “great,” “strong,” and “changes not.” Amen to all of that!

(1) Awake, my soul, to joyful lays,
And sing thy great Redeemer’s praise;
He justly claims a song from me–
His lovingkindness, O how free!

Something of the heart of the man can be detected in his dying words. (And see how these words fulfil the prayer of (6) in his hymn.) On his deathbed he said:

“I am thinking on the laws of gravitation: the nearer a body approaches to his centre, with the more force it is impelled; and the nearer I approach my dissolution, with greater velocity I move toward it.” When reminded by a friend that his “centre” was Christ, he said, “Yes, yes, He is, He is….I am looking up to my dear Jesus, my God, my portion, my all in all!…Glory! Glory! Home! Home!”

(6) Soon I shall pass the gloomy vale,
Soon all my mortal powers must fail;
O! may my last expiring breath
His lovingkindness sing in death.

Questions:

  1. What experience of the lovingkindness of the Lord have you had in the past week for which you can praise Him?
  2. Would it be possible for you to keep a mini-journal, for a week or a month, in which you recorded three particular examples of God’s lovingkindness to you, each day?

Links:

When Love Shines In

Words: Carrie Elizabeth Ellis Breck (b. Jan. 22, 1855; d. March 27, 1934)
Music: William James Kirkpatrick (b. Feb. 27, 1838; d. Sept. 20, 1921)

Note: The mother of five children, Carrie Breck was a homemaker who wrote poetry in spare moments. She was not at all musical, but she had a clear sense of rhythm. The Cyber Hymnal lists 375 of her gospel song texts here. A better known one is Face to Face, but the present song, with its lively tune, deserves a place in our hymn books too.

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

This 1874 song provides a joyful testimony to the transforming power of the love of God. When we turn to the Word of God, we find God’s love–both in us and through us–to be a subject that is referred to again and again. Here is just a small sampling of many New Testament texts on the theme.

About God’s Love for Us. “Our God and Father…has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace” (II Thess. 2:16). “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3:16). “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). “The kindness and the love of God our Saviour toward man appeared” (Tit. 3:4). “The Son of God…loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal. 2:20). “Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us” (Eph. 5:2).

About the Recognition of God’s Love. “We have known and believed the love that God has for us” (I Jn. 4:16). “The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Rom. 5:5). “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” (I Jn. 3:1). “[Nothing] shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:35-39).

About the Sharing of God’s Love. “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (I Jn. 4:11). “This commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also” (I Jn. 4:21). “Whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him” (I Jn. 2:5). “May the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you” (I Thess. 3:12).

With our experience of the love of God comes great joy and rejoicing (1). A sense of the love of God will stir us to pray, knowing that we come to a loving heavenly Father who wants only the best for us.

(1) Jesus comes with power to gladden, when love shines in,
Every life that woe can sadden, when love shines in.
Love will teach us how to pray, love will drive the gloom away,
Turn our darkness into day, when love shines in.

When love shines in, when love shines in,
How the heart is tuned to singing, when love shines in,
When love shines in, when love shines in,
Joy and peace to others bringing, when love shines in.

With our experience of the love of God comes a new and more positive perspective on life ((2) and (3)). Tedious duties and painful trials take on a new lustre when we trust that our loving Lord has a good purpose in them all (Rom. 8:28). Further, we see ourselves as the bearers of the light of love. To love others for Jesus’ sake is a continuing joy.

(2) How the world will grow with beauty, when love shines in,
And the heart rejoice in duty, when love shines in.
Trials may be sanctified, and the soul in peace abide,
Life will all be glorified, when love shines in.

(3) Darkest sorrow will grow brighter, when love shines in,
And the heaviest burden lighter, when love shines in.
’Tis the glory that will throw light to show us where to go;
O, the heart shall blessing know, when love shines in.

With our experience of the love of God comes eternal hope. Spiritual victories for today point us to the ultimate victory up ahead (4). In the mind of the author, it is as though heaven has already begun for those who live in the light of God’s love.

(4) We may have unfading splendour, when love shines in,
And a friendship true and tender, when love shines in.
When earth’s vict’ries shall be won, and our life in heav’n begun,
There will be no need of sun, when love shines in.

Questions:

  1. What other blessings flow from the love of God?
  2. What are your favourite hymns about the love of God?

Links:

We Have an Anchor

Words: Priscilla Jane Owens (b. July 21, 1829; d. Dec. 5, 1907)
Music: William James Kirkpatrick (b. Feb. 27, 1838; d. Sept. 20, 1921)

Note: Priscilla Owens was a member of the Union Square Methodist Episcopal Church, in Baltimore, Maryland. She taught school in that city for nearly fifty years, and was involved in her church’s Sunday School for about the same time period. She wrote most of her hymns for use by that agency. Owens was a prolific gospel song writer. The Cyber Hymnal lists 229 of her songs here. Another well-known song of hers is Jesus Saves (“We have heard the joyful sound”).

Most hymnals do not include stanza four of We Have an Anchor, but here it is.

(4) It will firmly hold in the floods of death–
When the waters cold chill our latest breath,
On the rising tide it can never fail,
While our hopes abide within the veil.

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

The writing of our hymns has often been inspired by telling incidents in the lives of the writers. These, I have tried to share with you, as I come upon them. But the link between hymns and life experiences doesn’t end there. They continue to be used of God and have a powerful effect on the hearers, many years–even centuries–after they were written. For example, I know of a man, walking down a street, who was turned from committing suicide by overhearing a friend of mine sing the hymn Jesus Loves Me, through the open window of a church.

In his book The Romance of Sacred Song (Marshall, Morgan and Scott Ltd., 1931), Plymouth Brethren author David Johnstone Beattie tells the touching story of how the present song by Priscilla Owen helped a grieving man in Scotland (pp. 218-219).

A Christian worker…lost two sons, both fine young men. One died very suddenly, and a short time afterwards the other was seriously injured in a motor accident. The young man was conveyed to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. His father stood by the bedside, watching the last struggles ere life left that young body. And when all was over he seemed to give way to bitterness of heart and rebellion against God for the great affliction which had come upon him.

Leaving the ward, he went into an adjoining room where his wife waited for him. As he entered, his wife, realizing that their son had passed away, but ignorant as to her husband’s bitter thoughts, said to him, “Mattha, there’s a young fellow doon there in the street whistling Will Your Anchor Hold?” The bereaved father broke down at the significant words of his wife, and could only say, “Weel, the storm is very high just now.”

And indeed it was. But he afterwards confessed that the strains of the hymn, whistled by a young plumber going to work in the early morning, wafted to the top storey of the Glasgow Royal Infirmary, were the means of overcoming the evil of doubt, and placing faith in the sure Anchor, Christ Jesus.

(1) Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,
When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?
When the strong tides lift and the cables strain,
Will your anchor drift, or firm remain?

We have an anchor that keeps the soul
Steadfast and sure while the billows roll,
Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love.

(2) It is safely moored, ’twill the storm withstand,
For ’tis well secured by the Saviour’s hand;
And the cables, passed from His heart to mine,
Can defy that blast, through strength divine.

“Storms of life” (1)–we all have them, of one kind or another. We may pass through the “straits of fear” on our journey (3), and even face the “floods of death” (4). But, for the Christian, Christ Himself provides an anchor that can keep us off the rocks. We are “grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love” (refrain). “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” asks Paul. And he proceeds to assure us that nothing can or will (Rom. 8:35-39).

The anchor cable is “well secured by the Saviour’s hand” (2), and “our hopes abide within the veil” (4). “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil [i.e. in heaven]” (Heb. 6:19). That gives each believer the certain assurance that “we shall anchor fast by the heav’nly shore” (5). With Paul, we look forward to being “absent from the body and to be present with the Lord” (II Cor. 5:8), because “to depart and be with Christ…is far better” (Phil. 1:23).

(5) When our eyes behold through the gath’ring night
The city of gold, our harbour bright,
We shall anchor fast by the heav’nly shore,
With the storms all past forevermore.

Questions:

  1. Can you think of other illustrations of our security in Christ, besides an anchor?
  2. What other hymns emphasize the believer’s security in Christ?

Links:

Throw Out the Lifeline

Words: Edwin Smith Ufford (b. Feb. 10, 1851; d. Dec. 8, 1929)
Music: Edwin Smith Ufford (harmony by George Coles Stebbins (b. Feb. 26, 1846; d. Oct. 6, 1945)

Note: This gospel song was written in 1886 and published a couple of years later. The original had seven stanzas, but usually only the first four are used now. In a way, this is unfortunate, since the latter three stanzas make the application of the symbolism. What is the “lifeline”? Pastor Ufford tells us.

(5) This is the lifeline, oh, tempest tossed men;
Baffled by waves of temptation and sin;
Wild winds of passion, your strength cannot brave,
But Jesus is mighty, and Jesus can save.

(6) Jesus is able! To you who are driv’n
Farther and farther from God and from heav’n;
Helpless and hopeless, o’erwhelmed by the wave;
We throw out the lifeline, ’tis “Jesus can save.”

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

life preserver

There are all kinds of lifelines. Ones used by mountaineers, or spelunkers (those who explore caves), and so on. But the ones used in water rescue are often similar to the one pictured here–a long length of rope attached to a floatable life preserver.

In a spiritual sense, the Lord Jesus Himself is our Life-preserver (perhaps why the editor of the Cyber Hymnal chose to capitalize the term “lifeline” in the hymn each time.) On one occasion, when Christ walked the earth, that life-preserving activity became a very concrete and practical thing. It happened in this way.

When He [Jesus] had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

Matt. 14:23-32

Even now, by His Spirit, the Lord continues to rescue lost sinners, and deliver those who are in bondage to sin and Satan. When the Apostle Paul writes to the Corinthian Christians, he mentions various kinds of sinful people who will not be able to inherit the kingdom of God. Then he says:

“And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”

I Cor. 6:9-11

That is deliverance indeed!

Pastor Ufford had a great concern for the lost. He decided to put together a presentation that made use of his hymn, which was very popular at the time. He assembled various kinds of life-saving gear–including two lifelines that had actually been used to save lives. Pastor Ufford gave an illustrated talk, using these things, warning listeners of their danger, outside of Christ. In 1902, he toured the world with this presentation. In Honolulu, Hawaii, he was privileged to hear his hymn sung in the native tongue.

(1) Throw out the lifeline across the dark wave;
There is a brother whom someone should save;
Somebody’s brother! O who then will dare
To throw out the lifeline, his peril to share?

Throw out the lifeline! Throw out the lifeline!
Someone is drifting away;
Throw out the lifeline! Throw out the lifeline!
Someone is sinking today.

(4) Soon will the season of rescue be o’er,
Soon will they drift to eternity’s shore;
Haste, then, my brother, no time for delay,
But throw out the lifeline and save them today.

Questions:

  1. What are some parallels between water rescue and the saving work of God through the gospel?
  2. What other analogies can you think of that make a good illustration of deliverance through the gospel?

Links:

The Hem of His Garment

Words: George Frederick Root (b. Aug. 30, 1820; d. Aug. 6, 1895)
Music: George Frederick Root

Note: Though his songs were simple and singable, Root was a noted musician of his day. In 1873, he was granted the degree of Doctor of Music, by Chicago University. A humble and gracious man, in spite of his many accomplishments, he asked that nothing be sung at his funeral but the Doxology. The present gospel song was published in 1887. It concerns one of the miracles of Jesus.

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

There is an unusual double incident in the life of the Lord Jesus, recorded by three of the Gospel writers (Matt. 9:18-26; Mk. 5:21-43; Lk. 8:40-56). It is kind of a miracle within a miracle.

On the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, the Lord was approached by the ruler of the local synagogue, a man named Jairus. He fell at the feet of Jesus, urging Him to come to his house, because his twelve-year-old daughter was sick, and at the point of death. The Lord agreed to accompany him but, as they went, the message came from home that she had died. Later, Nothing daunted, Christ arrived at the home and raised the young girl from the dead.

But on the way there, between the time of Jairus’s approach, and the raising of the dead child, there was another unusual incident. At the plea of Jairus, and Christ’s indication that He would indeed go with him to his home, “a great multitude” (Mk. 5:21, 24) that had thronged the Lord surged along with Him, curious to see what would happen. In the crowd was a woman who had been seriously ill for twelve years.

Notice: The girl had had twelve years of life, then died of a critical illness. The woman had had twelve years of prolonged misery. The Lord has the power to help us in the sudden crises of life, and aid us in those things that bring prolonged times of suffering.

The woman had a chronic flow of blood which no physician had been able to stop. Not only was the hemorrhaging itself a problem. It would have rendered her ceremonially unclean and unable to participate in religious services. And anything or anyone she touched would likewise become ceremonially unclean (cf. Lev. 15:19-21). Further, some would consider her malady the result of an immoral lifestyle.

She had spent all her money looking for a cure. But Mark tells us that not only had various doctors failed to help her; their treatments simply made things worse (Mk. 5:26). The strange treatments of the day included: 1) Drink a goblet of wine, mixed with powdered rubber, alum, and an herb made of garden crocuses. 2) Eat Persian onions, cooked in wine, while the doctor proclaimed, “Arise out of your flow of blood!” 3) Carry around the ashes of a burned ostrich egg in a cloth.

In her desperation, she approaches Christ. Timidly, tentatively, but believing He had the power to help her, she reached out and touched “the border [or fringe] of his garment” (Lk. 8:44). The Law commanded the Jews to wear a fringe or tassel of blue on their outer robes, to identify them as God’s people, who were subject to His rule (Num. 15:37-40). It was that she touched, and immediately she was healed.

The multitude thronged around Him, the curious crowd. But hers was a touch of faith, and Jesus said to His disciples, “I perceived power going out from Me” (Lk. 46). He called attention to the woman, forcing her to identify herself, and reassured her, sending her on her way: “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith [that is, your faith in Me] has made you well. Go in peace” (Lk. 8:48).

Peace. For twelve long years she had no peace, only fear and frustration. But through faith she had claimed the power of the Lord to do what no doctor had been able to. George Root takes her example and uses it to make a general application of deliverance from sin, and the gift of salvation which can be claimed through faith in Christ. We cannot touch Him physically now, nor is it necessary. But with the eyes of faith, we look to Calvary, and faith declares, “I believe that Jesus died for me.”

(1) She only touched the hem of His garment
As to His side she stole,
Amid the crowd that gathered around Him,
And straightway she was whole.

Oh, touch the hem of His garment!
And thou, too, shalt be free!
His saving power this very hour
Shall give new life to thee!

(3) He turned with “Daughter, be of good comfort,
Thy faith hath made thee whole!”
And peace that passeth all understanding
With gladness filled her soul.

Questions:

  1. This would make a good hymn to use in a service where the sermon dealt with this incident. Are there other times you might use it?
  2. What other hymns do you know and use that speak of physical healing by the power of Christ which can readily be applied to His power to cleanse from sin and give new spiritual life?

Links:

Send the Light

Words: Charles Hutchinson Gabriel (b. Aug. 18, 1856; d. Sept. 15, 1932)
Music: Charles Hutchinson Gabriel

Note: Charles Gabriel was one of the most prolific gospel songwriters at the end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth. Many of his creations are still found in our hymn books. For example:

He Lifted Me
More Like the Master
My Saviour’s Love
O It Is Wonderful
O That Will Be Glory
Send the Light

For these he wrote both words and music. But in other cases he either provided the text (e.g. I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go) or composed the tune (e.g. Higher Ground). The present song was written in 1890. At the time, Mr, Gabriel was the choir director at Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, in San Franciso.

There is some question about the occasion for which the song was written. When it was first published, it bore the inscription, “For the Easter Service.” However, in later years Charles Gabriel wrote that the song was for a Missionary Day in the church’s Sunday School, when a “golden offering” (see (2)) was taken to support foreign missionaries in their work. It’s possible these two things took place on the same day.

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

The Bible uses the symbolism of light in a number of ways. There it represents the light of truth, found in the Bible (e.g. Ps. 119:105, 130). It’s also a symbol of the light of truth and holiness found in the person of Christ. He said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (Jn. 8:12)–life providing another use of the symbol (cf. Job 33:30; Ps. 36:9; 56:13).

These three things: the “light” of truth, of holiness, and life, are applied to the saints, as well. We have them in a derivative sense. That is, in ourselves, in our sinful fallen state, we are darkness, and in darkness. But by the saving work of God we are given light. “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (Eph. 5:8).

Christians live in a world of sinners, “among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life” (Phil. 2:15-16). “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:16).

The Lord says to Paul, “I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me” (Acts 26:17-18).

These texts suggest that we are light bearers, and light reflectors (cf. “a Christlike spirit” (3)). But being a light sender is something else, and clearly that is the emphasis of the song. As witnesses for the Lord we carry the light. But as those who support other servants of Christ by our prayers, and by our gifts (our “golden offerings” (2)), we extend the light of the gospel to other places where, perhaps, we are unable to go.

Thus the Apostle Paul expresses his appreciation for the help and support of the Philippian Christians (Phil. 4:13-18) that enabled him to be a light-bearer elsewhere. One of the places the missionaries went (on Paul’s second missionary journey) was Macedonia. That outreach came about this way.

“A vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’ Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.”

Acts 16:9-10

This is the “Macedonian call” Charles Gabriel refers to in (2). A summons to spread the light of the gospel still further, until we fulfil our mandate: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mk. 16:15).

(1) There’s a call comes ringing o’er the restless wave,
“Send the light! Send the light!”
There are souls to rescue, there are souls to save,
Send the light! Send the light!

Send the light, the blessèd gospel light;
Let it shine from shore to shore!
Send the light, the blessèd gospel light;
Let it shine forevermore!

(4) Let us not grow weary in the work of love,
“Send the light! Send the light!”
Let us gather jewels for a crown above,
Send the light! Send the light!

Questions:

  1. What kinds of things can we do, as individuals, and as churches, to take the gospel to all the world?
  2. Why is the cause of world missions less vibrant and urgent in North America today than it was a generation or two ago?

Links:

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