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Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending

Words: John Cennick (b. Dec. 12, 1718; d. July 4, 1755)
           (Text altered by Charles Wesley and Martin Madan)
Music: Regent Square, by Henry Smart (b. Oct. 26, 1813; d. July 6, 1879)

Note: A number of different tunes have been used with this hymn, including Sicilian Mariners Hymn. (See the Cyber Hymnal link below for others.)

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

As it appears in the Cyber Hymnal, this hymn has seven stanzas. But often today only the first two and the last are used. The hymn concerns the second coming of Christ, with a special emphasis on the dramatic difference between the scene of His earthly passion, and that of His return. In the first case there was humiliation, cruel torture and death. In the second, He will come in honour and majesty, and with triumph over His enemies.

Once he was mockingly clothed in a purple robe; then He will be robed in “dreadful majesty” (2)–a kingly state that fills watchers with awe and dread. Once He wore a crown of thorns (Matt. 27:27-29); then His head will be crowned with diadems of glory (Rev. 19:12). Once multitudes ridiculed Him and cried, “Crucify Him!” but then there will be repentance and worship. Once He was hung upon a cross to die; then He will be seated upon His messianic throne. “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him” (Rev. 1:7; cf. Zech. 12:10).

Stanza 6 (see below) is not used today, and the wording seems more stilted. But it does refer to something for which I believe there is biblical support: that in eternity, the body of Christ will still bear the scars of Calvary. We know His resurrection body did, since He invited Thomas to touch the marks of His passion (Jn. 20:27). And even in His vision of heaven John sees the Son of God as “a Lamb as though it had been slain” (Rev. 5:6). This would seem to be the one jarring note in all the perfections of the heavenly kingdom. But far from being repulsive to us, it will be the “cause of endless exultation.”

The dear tokens of His passion
Still His dazzling body bears;
Cause of endless exultation
To His ransomed worshipers;
With what rapture, with what rapture,
Gaze we on those glorious scars!

Some object to the line “God appears on earth to reign” (1). The contention is that it is God the Father who should be spoken of as “God,” and that it is wrong to use the term of the Lord Jesus. That even if we believe in the Trinity, and in the deity of Christ, the terminology is wrong. But the New Testament writers do refer to Christ in this way (Jn. 20:28; Acts 20:28; Rom. 9:5; Tit. 1:3; 2:13; Heb. 1:8), and hence it is appropriate, though infrequently used.

On another point, have you ever wondered how it is that “every eye will see Him” (Matt. 24:30; Rev. 1:7) when Christ returns (cf. 2)? How that must have puzzled the apostles! How could the entire population of the earth be able to see Him? Of course, we must leave room for a miracle in this regard. But there are a couple of possibilities apart from that. One is that the procession from heaven to earth, with saints and angels attending (Jude 1:14; Rev. 19:14), will take some time, and all will see it as the earth revolves beneath it. The other is that with the growing access all have to televisions and computers, we will witness it in that way. Time will tell!

Questions:

  1. The Bible says of the saints in heaven that “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Rev. 7:17; 21:4). What causes for tears will there be, when we first stand before the Lord Jesus Christ?
  2. How should the truths expressed in this hymn affect our lives today?

Links:

Stand Up for Jesus

Words: George Duffield Jr. (b. Sept. 12, 1818; d. July 6, 1888)
Music: Webb, by George James Webb (b. June 24, 1803; d. Oct. 7, 1887)
            Also, Geibel, by Adam Geibel (b. Sept. 15, 1855; d. Aug. 3, 1933)

*Note: The tune Webb is the usual one used for congregational singing. I have more often heard the setting by Adam Geibel as a choral number.

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

The words and the meaning of this hymn are closely tied to its historical significance (see the Wordwise Hymns link). Philadelphia Pastor George Duffield wrote the hymn poem in memory of his friend, another local clergyman named Dudley Tyng. There are a number of scriptural quotations and allusions in the hymn. The most interesting of these (“Ye that are men now serve Him,” in (3)) quotes the text of a sermon Tyng preached to thousands of men at the YMCA, about three weeks before his death, on April 19, 1858.

Rev. Tyng’s sermon text was Exodus 10:11, “Go now ye that are men, and serve the Lord” (KJV). But a look at the context of these words shows they are not quite what they seem. They are spoken in unbelief by a heathen king. At the Lord’s command, Moses and Aaron had called for the release of the Israelites from bondage in Egypt. However, Pharaoh hoped that a compromise would satisfy them. He wanted to allow only the men to go briefly into the wilderness to celebrate a feast to their God. The women and children were to be left behind, serving as hostages to assure the return of the men (vs. 8-11).

Even though the text of Pastor Tyng’s message is taken out of its original context, it does issue a stirring challenge, as he used it. He preached the gospel, declaring that all are sinners under God’s condemnation, and that the men present needed to repent and put their faith in Christ for salvation. In response, over a thousand of the men committed their lives to Christ that day. Later, as he lay dying, Tyng was asked if he had any further word for the men. “Tell them,” he said, “to stand up for Jesus.”

Two other Bible texts in the hymn deserve mention. “The arm of flesh will fail you” (4) seems like a reference to the accident that eventually took Dudley Tyng’s life. He had caught his arm in a corn thresher, and died shortly after, when infection set in. Actually, the statement is an allusion to II Chronicles 32:8. Sennacherib and the Assyrian army had surrounded the city of Jerusalem, but King Hezekiah encouraged the people, saying: “With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God, to help us.”

For a sermon preached on the Sunday after Dudley Tyng’s death, Pastor George Duffield chose as his text Ephesians 6:14, “Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness.” The entire passage, vs. 10-18, concerns the armour God has provided to protect the Christian from the assaults of our enemy, Satan. As the hymn says (4), “Put on the gospel armour, each piece put on with prayer” (cf. vs. 18). For an article describing the Christian’s spiritual armour in detail, and its function, see Christian Armour: God’s Protection for the Saints.

Paul challenges young Timothy, “You…must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (II Tim. 2:3). And the Lord’s promise to the persecuted Christians at Smyrna is: “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life…He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death” (Rev. 2:10-11). Pastor Duffield alludes to this in his final stanza (6): “To him that overcometh a crown of life shall be; / He with the King of glory shall reign eternally.”

Questions:

  1. What are some current issues in society concerning which you believe Christians need to take a definite stand?
  2. Dudley Tyng’s ministry at the time of his death was especially aimed at men. What can we do to encourage and help Christian men to stand for God?

Links:

Standing on the Promises

Words: Russell Kelso Carter (b. Nov. 18, 1849; d. Aug. 23, 1928)
Music: Russell Kelso Carter

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

There’s an old joke to the effect that it is better for church members to be standing on the promises than to be sleeping on the premises! But the problem with the witticism is that it mixes the abstract with the concrete.

Standing on God’s promises is not a physical thing–in spite of the fact that some congregations seem to feel they cannot sing this gospel song sitting down! It is an attitude of heart and mind, the determination to be resolute and firm, to take an unwavering position on the truths and principles of God’s Word (cf. Jude 1:3). We are to stand our ground, resisting and opposing the forces of evil and error. (The Lord Jesus set us the example, during His temptation in the wilderness, Matt. 4:1-11.)

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. 6:13).

Stanza 3 of the song is often omitted in our hymn books. It says:

Standing on the promises I now can see
Perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me;
Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free,
Standing on the promises of God.

The “liberty where Christ makes free” refers us to Galatians 5:1, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” The churches of Galatia were being troubled by false teachers called Judaizers. These taught that in order to be saved a person not only had to trust in Christ as Saviour, but also keep the Jewish Law, including the law’s requirement of male circumcision. But this error had been rejected early on, when the first Gentiles became part of the body of Christ (Acts 15:5, 8-11).

The Lord Jesus said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” And, “If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (Jn. 8:32, 36). Salvation depends not on what we do, but always and only what Christ has already done for us on the cross (Eph. 2:8-9). As Dr. Harry Ironside said, long ago:

“The Old Testament closed with “a curse” [Mal. 4:6] because of man’s failure to keep God’s holy law. The New Testament closes with “grace” [Rev. 22:21], because of Calvary. On the basis of the work there accomplished, grace flows out in abundant fullness.”

Of course, this does not mean our conduct is unimportant. However, Christlike behaviour is not the means of our salvation. Rather it’s to be the ongoing result. The Apostle Paul, writing to believers, says, “You…have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh [to indulge its sinful cravings], but through love serve one another” (Gal. 5:13).

Christian liberty does not provide a license to do whatever we please, but rather God’s gracious enablement to do what we ought. As the saying goes, “He who is captive to his compass has the freedom of the seas.” And believers, bound by love to Christ, and empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit, will obey His Word, and be delivered from the rule of sin and its destructive effects. That is liberty indeed!

Questions:

  1. Recall a promise or two from the Scriptures upon which you “stand,” in faith. What is it about each of these that especially encourages you as a believer?
  2. The Bible uses a number of symbols to describe itself. Carter’s “overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword” (4) is a reference to Ephesians 6:17 (cf. Heb. 4:14). In other places, the Word of God is described as: a lamp (Ps. 119:105), a hammer (Jer. 23:29), and seed (Matt. 13:3-9, 18-23). What does each of these symbols tell us about the Bible?

Links:

Hindrances to Making Good Music

Music a Creation of God

Though there is no specific statement in the Scriptures to that effect, it is strongly implied. John speaks of Christ, and says, “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made” (Jn. 1:3). Paul says the same thing even more emphatically. “By Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible…” (Col. 1:16), and Romans 11:36 says, “Of Him and through Him and to Him are all things.”

If language means anything and “all” means all, then the Lord God who created “all things” is the Originator of music. It is not surprising, then, that His earthly creation is filled with it. Scripture speaks of “the voice of the turtledove” (Song 2:12) and tells us that “both the pelican and the bittern…shall sing in the windows” (Zeph. 2:14). Birds and crickets and whales have their songs. The wind and the waves make their own unique music. All nature sings.

The Lord Himself Sings

Several passages refer to it. One of the tenderest pictures of God’s relationship with Israel is given in Zephaniah 3:17. The prophet is speaking of the future millennial kingdom, and the Messiah’s comforting of His people Israel (cf. vs. 15). As a mother holds her baby close and sings gentle songs of mother-love, so the Lord will draw Israel to Himself and sing of His love for her.

The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.

Mark, in his Gospel, refers to Jesus and His disciples singing at the Last Supper (Mk. 14:26). Then, in Hebrews 2:12, the Son of God proclaims to His heavenly Father, “I will declare Your name to My brethren; in the midst of the congregation I will sing praise to You.”

As an aside, I have often wondered also whether music is the language of heaven. We know there will be singing there (Rev. 5:9-10). But perhaps, even before the redeemed began to take up residence, God and the angels regularly sang to one another. There is a wonderful line in Lord of the Rings that may reflect the spirit of this. Frodo and his hobbit companions are visiting the home of the magical Tom Bombadil, and Tolkien says, “The guests became suddenly aware that they were singing merrily, as if it was easier and more natural than talking.” That may well be how it is for us, too, in God’s presence.

Mankind’s Gift for Music

Human beings have wonderful gifts to create and share music. That is understandable, since we were made in the image of God (Gen. 1:27) and God is creative and makes use of music. Adam’s descendant, Jubal, is credited with developing early forms of music (Gen. 4:21). And to this day there are those who are skilled in composing it and performing it.

It is vital to note, however, that although God created music as a form of expression, it is human beings who compose and perform specific songs. At these points, God’s gift passes through the filter of human personality. The notion that because God created music, therefore no music can possibly be corrupt, is nonsense. God created angels too, but we do not approve of Satan’s actions on that account.

Compare the gift of language. Similar to music, it is a God-given means of expression and communication. Adam had this ability on the first day of his creation (Gen. 2:19-20). However, wicked people abuse this gift and produce “corrupt” words (Eph. 4:29) and “filthy language” (Col. 3:8)–even messages that are satanic (Matt. 16:22-23). In a similar way, once the gift of God is subjected to the will of an individual, there is another dimension to be considered. Men and women write the songs we sing. And it is not simply that a good thing is being used for a bad purpose. The thing itself can be polluted.

Therefore, if we are to evaluate music on the basis of its origins, we must not only consider the general origin–that God gave us the gift of music. We also need to consider the human element, the origin of each piece of music. Though we have no way of making a comparison, it seems logical to suppose that, were it not for the fall, man would have been able to produce even more glorious and consistently God-honouring songs. But sin has changed all that. Now, we face an ongoing struggle against the world, the flesh and the devil. That is what hinders us from making good music to the glory of God.

1) The Pressure of the World

This evil world, Satan’s kingdom, with its triple anti-God dogmas of egocentrism, materialism, and sensuality, has aggressively incorporated music as another means to achieve its temporal goals, and communicate its sinful philosophy. And the influence of the world exerts pressure on the one who desires to serve Christ (Rom. 12:2). If we are not on guard, it will affect the music we create and use.

2) The Perversity of the Flesh

Apart from the regenerating work of the Spirit of God, men are spiritually dead (Eph. 2:1, 5). Even after the new birth has taken place, our powers are sadly diminished in comparison to what they might have been–and will one day be again. The flesh (the sin nature) is in continual rebellion against the spirit, within the child of God. (Gal. 5:17). This too will tend to affect our music.

3) The Persuasion of the Devil

Further, we have Satan to contend with. He is intent on using everything God has made for a dishonest and destructive purpose (Jn. 8:44; Eph. 6:12). That objective has historically included his appropriation and employment of God’s gift of music (cf. Exod. 32:4-6, 17-19; Job 30:9; Lam. 3:63; Dan. 3:5; Amos 6:3-7).

Bottom line: We must be constantly attentive to the spiritual quality of our music, and depend upon the grace of God to render what is pleasing to Him. As a hymn by George Heath puts it:

My soul, be on thy guard;
Ten thousand foes arise;
The hosts of sin are pressing hard
To draw thee from the skies.

O watch, and fight, and pray;
The battle ne’er give o’er;
Renew it boldly every day,
And help divine implore.

Ne’er think the victory won,
Nor lay thine armour down;
The work of faith will not be done,
Till thou obtain the crown.

What Makes a Hymn Popular?

I was asked recently what makes a particular hymn popular, and causes it to continue being used over many years. Good question!

It’s been estimated that about a million hymns have been written over the 2,000 years of the Christian era. Most hymnals contain somewhere between 500 and 800 of these. Does this mean that what we have now are the best of those million songs? No, not at all. Our hymn books contain some songs of lesser merit, and have missed some wonderful gems from the past. That’s one thing that makes the work I do so interesting. I’m always discovering little known hymns that deserve to be reintroduced to the church.

Over the years, many factors have contributed to the development of our present hymnals, and to the list of traditional hymns and gospel songs that are most common among them.

  1. One factor is certainly the recognition of quality on the part of the Christian community. Many hymns continue to be published and used because of their rich poetic imagery, and/or their clarity in expressing biblical doctrine (e.g, Abide with Me, or Be Still, My Soul). We can also sense in many of them a testimony that rings true. There’s an awareness that the authors speak out of a personal experience with the Lord (e.g. It Is Well with My Soul, He Giveth More Grace, or More Love to Thee).
  2. We must not ignore the importance of the tunes. Hymns are poetry, but poetry that is designed to be sung–or at least is suitable to be set to music. And if the melodies are singable, or “catchy,” the song may become popular, even if it is inferior in other ways. This is especially true of gospel songs (what were known in the nineteenth century as “Sunday School songs”). When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder benefits from its bright, peppy tune.
  3. In the providence of God, a hymn may become an established favourite because of the circumstances surrounding its birth, or its subsequent use.
    1. For example, A Mighty Fortress Is Our God became almost the battle hymn of the Protestant Reformation, being written by its central figure, Martin Luther. The Church’s One Foundation was written to counteract doctrinal error rampant in its day.
    2. Seemingly “chance” comments have often led to the creation of a hymn. Lowell Mason was about to publish a hymn book in 1832, when he met Ray Palmer on the street and asked if he knew of any songs that might be included. The latter pulled a piece of paper out of his wallet that contained a poem he’d written some time before. That poem became our hymn My Faith Looks Up to Thee.
    3. The Old Rugged Cross came along in the early 20th century, just as radio was becoming a public phenomenon. It became for a time the most popular song on radio. Amazing Grace was virtually unknown for 200 years–until it was recorded by pop singer Judy Collins in 1970 and appeared on the secular Hit Parade.
    4. The involvement of many Christians in great evangelistic crusades also figures in this–of Dwight L. Moody, Billy Sunday, and Billy Graham. Songs that were used over and over in these huge gatherings were carried back into local churches. (How Great Thou Art came to public attention that way, as did Fanny Crosby’s To God Be the Glory. The latter was little used in America until the Billy Graham team introduced it in Britain, and later brought it back home.)
  4. I suppose name recognition has something to do with it as well. If you have been blessed by a song of Fanny Crosby’s, or John Peterson’s, you may be more likely to seek out other songs by the same writer. And certainly in the modern era advertising has aided this, along with sound recordings and videos.
  5. It is also true that usually hymns learned in childhood tend to stay with us, and remain favourites. This is one reason parents should take care to teach the great hymns of the faith to their children, and explain their meaning. Churches need to have a part in this too. It is possible (and extremely beneficial) to introduce hymns in the children’s departments of Sunday School, Children’s Church, or week-day club programs.
  6. Editoral decisions also come into it. Publishers want to sell hymn books. Though they may be Christians who also see their work as a ministry, they would not be in business very long if no one purchased their books. Editors must make many decisions as to which songs to put in a new hymnal. Of course they will include hymns and gospel songs that have become established favourites over the years. But what about newer songs. There, it gets tricky. They must make their best guess as to what will catch on. Sometimes they’re right. But many times these songs are found in one book, and then are dropped and rarely seen again.

All of these factors, and more, enter into it. And it’s not an exact science. As noted at the beginning, great hymns of the past can be forgotten for years until someone calls attention to them once more. Perhaps you can have a part in bringing a hymn to the attention of your own church, where it may go on to become a favourite.

Today in 1680 – Joachim Neander Died

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Mr. Neander was a school principal and lay preacher. He enjoyed wandering the valley near his home, exploring its many waterfalls and caves. Early in the 19th century, one cave was named Neander’s Cave. (There’s a local tradition that he actually lived in it for some months.) And the surrounding valley came to be called Neander Valley. In 1856 the bones of an ancient man were found there and he was dubbed the Neanderthal Man. Joachim Neander thus holds the distinction of being the only hymn writer to have a fossil named after him! He died at the age of 30 of tuberculosis.

Though he wrote about 60 hymns, few remain in use today. One that does is Catherine Winkworth’s English translation of Neander’s hymn, Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, reflecting the Bible’s command, “Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to His excellent [unequalled, surpassing] greatness” (Ps. 150:2). The hymn says, in part:

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near;
Praise Him in glad adoration.

Praise to the Lord, who, when darkness of sin is abounding,
Who, when the godless do triumph, all virtue confounding,
Sheddeth His light, chaseth the horrors of night,
Saints with His mercy surrounding.

Praise to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him.
Let the Amen sound from His people again,
Gladly for aye we adore Him.

(2) Just a Closer Walk with Thee (Data Missing)

The Israelites were commanded, “You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast [keep close] to Him” (Deut. 13:4). As those words suggest, there is a link between closeness to God and adhering to the precepts of His Word. In a psalm we read, “I cling to Your testimonies [referring to God’s laws]” (Ps. 119:31). King David wrote of God, “My soul follows close behind You” (Ps. 63:8). It is a poetic picture of faith and obedience, and of intimate fellowship.

A longing for that kind of relationship should infuse the heart of each child of God. If we truly love Him, we should want to walk with Him in ever closer friendship and fellowship. That desire is expressed in an old Spiritual whose exact origins have been lost in the mists of time. Just a Closer Walk With Thee was possibly a slave song in the southern States in pre-Civil War days. It continued to be used in black churches into the twentieth century, and was sung by southern gospel quartets in the 1940s. Around 1956 Elvis Presley made a recording of the number, achieving record sales with it. Soon dozens of secular artists were adding it to their repertoire.

Usually, when a song receives such wide acceptance, it is because there is little to it–no doctrinal depth or strong biblical teaching that would limit its appeal. This song is no exception. There is nothing here about salvation through faith in Christ, or other important teaching. But that does not mean it is without value. The lyrics, though simple, can reflect a sincere and heartfelt love for the Lord.

I am weak, but Thou art strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I’ll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.

Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

Through this world of toil and snares,
If I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.

When my feeble life is o’er,
Time for me will be no more;
Guide me gently, safely o’er
To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.

It seemed appropriate to have a black gospel singer present this song, and here is one of the very best. Clara Ward was a gifted singer and arranger of gospel music in the 1940s and 50s. Her style influenced many who came after her. She died of a stroke at the age of 49, in 1973. Here is Clara Ward’s powerful but straightforward rendition of Just a Closer Walk.

Today in 1819 – From Greenland’s Icy Mountains written

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Well known cleric and hymn writer Bishop Reginald Heber was visiting his father-in-law Dean Shipley. There was to be a service on a missionary theme in Shipley’s church, and on Saturday the Dean asked Heber if he would write a suitable hymn for it. Seating himself at the side of the room, away from the general conversation, the author went to work.

The Lord Jesus says we are to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel” (Mk. 16:15). And it was that commission that fueled the efforts of Reginald Heber. He had a great passion for foreign missions, as his later ministry in India shows. After a few minutes the Dean asked what he had written, and Heber read the first three stanzas of From Greenland’s Icy Mountains that begins:

From Greenland’s icy mountains, from India’s coral strand;
Where Afric’s sunny fountains roll down their golden sand:
From many an ancient river, from many a palmy plain,
They call us to deliver their land from error’s chain.

“There, there, that will do very well,” responded Dean Shipley. (He disliked long hymns.) But his son-in-law objected, “No, no, the sense is not complete.” He went to work again and added another stanza. The whole project was finished in 20 minutes. Here is the inspiring final stanza we would have missed if not for Reginald Heber’s insistence.

Waft, waft, ye winds, His story, and you, ye waters, roll
Till, like a sea of glory, it spreads from pole to pole:
Till o’er our ransomed nature the Lamb for sinners slain,
Redeemer, King, Creator, in bliss returns to reign.

For more about Reginald Heber and his great hymns, see Today in 1783 (the date of his birth).

(2) Today in 1838 – Charles Fry Born

A bricklayer by trade–as were his father and grandfather before him–Charles William Fry was also a gifted musician. He and his family accompanied William Booth in his evangelistic work, and Fry became known as the first bandmaster of the Salvation Army. He soon discovered that the construction business, run by him and his three sons, began to suffer from his absences for ministry engagements. After a time of prayer, and consultation with General Booth, Fry closed the business and the family went into full-time gospel ministry.

William Fry’s song of testimony, The Lily of the Valley, was published in 1881. That phrase is taken from the Song of Solomon 2:1, where it is actually spoken by the woman betrothed to King Solomon. She says,  “I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.” Traditionally, both poetic phrases  have been borrowed to describe the Lord Jesus, and His beauty of character. The song begins:

I have found a friend in Jesus, He’s everything to me,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul;
The Lily of the Valley, in Him alone I see
All I need to cleanse and make me fully whole.
In sorrow He’s my comfort, in trouble He’s my stay;
He tells me every care on Him to roll.

He’s the Lily of the Valley,
The Bright and Morning Star,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.

Today in 1936 – Percy Dearmer Died

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Mr. Dearmer was an English clergyman who served as a Red Cross chaplain in Serbia during World War One, also working with the Y.M.C.A. in France. In the latter years of his life he was Canon of Westminster Abbey. He was also a noted authority on hymn history, writing or translating many of them himself.

Though Percy Dearmer’s hymn To the Name That Is Salvation mentions God the Father and the Holy Spirit in the last stanza, it seems best to see the words as an invitation to praise the Lord Jesus Christ in particular.

Before Christ was born, an angelic message was sent to Joseph: “She [Mary] will bring forth a Son, and you can call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21). The name Jesus means the Lord [is] salvation. In the words of Dearmer’s hymn, Jesus is “the name that is salvation.”

John the Baptist announced Him as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn. 1:29). And the Bible says that “through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified [declared righteous before God]” (Acts. 13:38-39). The call of the gospel is “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31).

To the name that is salvation,
Praise and homage let us pay;
Life of every generation,
Law that all the stars obey;
Love and light by whose creation
All that is stands fast today.

(2) Jesus Is the Sweetest Name I Know written (Data Missing)

In 1924 P. W. Philpott was serving as pastor of the Moody Church in Chicago. One night he was awakened from sleep by a call to come and help a young woman staying at a hotel in the city. He arrived to find her in the company of two family members. The woman, whose name was Lela Long (1896-1951), was gravely ill, and in great distress. Dr. Philpott prayed for her physical needs, and had the privilege of leading her to faith in Christ. Late the next day, he phoned the hotel to see how she was doing, only to learn that the three had checked out. He wondered what had become of them, but had no way of getting in touch. It remained an unfinished story.

But the story of Lela Long has a wonderful conclusion. Several years went by, after the events described above. By that time, Peter Philpott was serving as pastor of a large church in Los Angeles. And at the close of one service, who should come up to him but the three people he had met in Chicago, five or six years previously. They had seen his picture in a church advertisement and had come to meet him.

An emergency had necessitated their rapid departure from Chicago, and they apologized for not getting in touch. The young woman thanked him for pointing her to the Saviour, saying that her life was wonderfully changed, and that she was now using her musical talent to serve the Lord. She handed Pastor Philpott a copy of her song Jesus Is the Sweetest Name I Know, written in 1924, shortly after her conversion. She said, “I have written this especially for you, in remembrance of the day that you introduced me to the most wonderful Person I have ever known.”

Dr. Philpott was one of the founders of the Associated Gospel Churches of Canada, with which I served for a number of years. I had the privilege of hearing him speak when he was in his nineties. We presently know nothing more about the author, Lela B. Long, but her hymn has been an inspiration to many. (You can hear the melody on the Cyber Hymnal.)

There have been names that I have loved to hear,
But never has there been a name so dear
To this heart of mine, as the name divine,
The precious, precious name of Jesus.

Jesus is the sweetest name I know,
And He’s just the same as His lovely name,
And that’s the reason why I love Him so;
Oh, Jesus is the sweetest name I know.

And some day I shall see Him face to face
To thank and praise Him for His wondrous grace,
Which He gave to me, when He made me free,
The blessèd Son of God called Jesus.

Today in 1819 – Frederic Huntington Born

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Frederic Dan Huntington served as a Unitarian clergyman in Boston, then becoming Professor of Christian Morals and University Preacher at Harvard, in 1855. In 1859 he joined the Episcopalians and became Bishop of Central New York in 1869. He died in 1904.

Huntington’s simple hymn, There’ll Be No Sorrow There, is a reminder of some of the blessings awaiting the believer in the heavenly kingdom.

There’ll be no night in heav’n,
In that blest world above;
No anxious toil, no weary hours;
For labour there is love.

There’ll be no sorrow there,
There’ll be no sorrow there,
In heav’n above, where all is love,
There’ll be no sorrow there.

There’ll be no grief in heav’n,
For life is one glad day,
And tears are those of former things
Which all have passed way.

There’ll be no sin in heav’n;
Behold that blessèd throng,
All holy in their spotless robes,
All holy in their song.

(2) Today in 1835 – Annie Hawks Born

Mrs. Hawks’s pastor for many years was another hymn writer, Robert Lowry, who encouraged her gift for writing poetry. She eventually wrote 400 hymns, mostly for Sunday Schools. Only one of them has remained in use, I Need Thee Every Hour–and isn’t that true of us all. We do need the Lord all the time. How blessed we are to have the promise of the Lord Jesus, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20).

Of her song Annie Sherwood Hawks said:

I remember well the morning…when in the midst of the daily cares of my home…I was so filled with a sense of nearness of the Master that, wondering how one could live without Him either in joy or pain, these words, ‘I need Thee every hour,” were ushered into my mind….It was not until long years after, when [a] shadow fell over my way–the shadow of a great loss–that I understood something of the comforting words I had been permitted to write.

Her hymn begins:

I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.

I need Thee, O I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
O bless me now, my Saviour,
I come to Thee.

To learn about the first time this hymn was sung, see the second item under Today in 1850. And to read the story of how this song inspired the writing of another, see Today in 1901.

Today in 1676 – Paul Gerhardt Died

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Gerhardt wrote many hymns. Two of them were translated into English by John Wesley: Give to the Winds Thy Fears, and Jesus, Thy Boundless Love to Me. The latter is best sung to the tune St. Catherine (commonly used for Faith of Our Fathers). It is one of those songs that just overflows with passionate adoration of the Lord. (For more about Paul Gerhardt and this hymn, see Today in 1607.)

Jesus, Thy boundless love to me
No thought can reach, no tongue declare;
Unite my thankful heart with Thee
And reign without a rival there.
To Thee alone, dear Lord, I live;
Myself to Thee, dear Lord, I give.

(2) Today in 1821 – Henry Baker Born

Sir Henry Williams Baker was an Anglican clergyman who organized and led a group of 40 contributors in the creation of a historically famous hymnal, Hymns, Ancient and Modern (1861). It sold 60 million copies. Baker’s readiness to edit and alter the hymns of others caused one person to say sarcastically that the book should have been called “Hymns Asked for and Mutilated”! But the passing years have shown that in most cases Baker’s judgment was solid.

The Bible tells us many times to praise the Lord. Psalm 106 begins and ends with this. “Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!” (vs. 1)  And, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting! And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ Praise the Lord!” (vs. 48). The Hebrew word for praise (halal) is interesting. It means to boast. When used of God it includes the elements of thankfulness, satisfaction, and joy. We are very prone to boast about ourselves and our accomplishments. But the One who truly deserves our “boasting” is the Lord (cf. II Cor. 10:17).

Henry Baker also wrote what I believe is one of the greatest hymns of praise in the English language. Find a hymn book that includes all 8 stanzas of O Praise Ye the Lord (or check it out on the Cyber Hymnal). Possibly you could have your church sing it on Thanksgiving Sunday (using the stirring tune Laudate Dominum).

O praise ye the Lord! praise Him in the height;
Rejoice in His Word, ye angels of light;
Ye heavens, adore Him by whom ye were made,
And worship before Him in brightness arrayed.

On his deathbed on February 12, 1877, Henry Baker quoted the words of another of his hymns,  his paraphrase of the 23rd Psalm, The King of Love My Shepherd Is. He said:

Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
But yet in love He sought me,
And on His shoulder gently laid,
And home, rejoicing, brought me.

(3) Today in 1927 – Ralph Carmichael Born

[Note: some sources give Carmichael’s birth date as May 28.]

Mr. Carmichael wrote a number of popular gospel songs in the ’60s and ’70s: Is Your Burden Heavy? The Saviour Is Waiting; In the Stars His Handiwork I See; and Because the Lord Is My Shepherd, the latter being a paraphrase of Psalm 23. It begins:

Because the Lord is my shepherd,
I have everything that I need;
He lets me rest in meadows green
And leads me beside the quiet stream.

The New 23rd sung by The Horizons.

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