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according to thy gracious word

According to Thy Gracious Word

Words: James Montgomery (b. Nov. 4, 1771; d. Apr. 30, 1854)
Music: Martyrdom (also called Avon), by Hugh Wilson (b. Dec. 2, 1766; d. Aug. 14, 1824)

Note: The Cyber Hymnal gives several possibilities for tunes that can be used with this hymn, with Martyrdom by Scottish musician Hugh Wilson listed first. I have also seen Manoah used. The latter melody is from a collection of church music published by Henry Greatorex, but the actual composer of the music is disputed.

James Montgomery, for thirty-two years the editor of a newspaper called The Sheffield Iris, was also a hymn writer of note. The Cyber Hymnal lists 180 of his hymns. Various ones will be familiar, depending on a local church’s traditional background and the hymnal used. Here are a few of Montgomery’s songs:

  • According to Thy Gracious Word
  • Angels from the Realms of Glory
  • Go to Dark Gethsemane
  • Hail to the Lord’s Anointed
  • In the Hour of Trial
  • Prayer Is the Soul’s Sincere Desire
  • The Lord Is My Shepherd
  • Stand Up and Bless the Lord
  • We Bid Thee Welcome in the Name

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

The present very fine Communion hymn, as published in 1825, had six stanzas. Some books use only four ((1), (2), (5), (6)), others include all six. The text is based on the words of the Lord Jesus at the Last Supper, “Do this in remembrance of Me” (Lk. 22:19). It’s a command, repeated in First Corinthians 11:25 that believers continue to memorialize what Christ did for us on the cross of Calvary, and that we continue to do so until He comes again (I Cor. 11:26).

We all struggle to remember–to call to mind all kinds of things. Sometimes, we sheepishly refer to our efficient “forgetteries,” or we’ll say, “I have a good memory; it’s just short!” The failure to bring certain things to mind can be a minor inconvenience, like going shopping and forgetting to take along our shopping list. Other forgotten things can be more significant.

I was on a long bus trip one time. The bus stopped for a break, and we all got out for ten or fifteen minutes. Then, we were on our way again. But for some reason, the one in charge forgot to take a count. Many miles down the road, someone said, “Where’s Jack?” It was assumed for awhile that he must be in the washroom at the back of the bus. But more time passed, and finally we came to the conclusion that he’d been left behind at our last stop. There was no other choice but to go back. It turned out that Jack had wandered off to make a phone call, and missed the bus’s departure. No real harm was done, and we had a good laugh at his expense.

A more serious incident is recorded in the book of Genesis, where Joseph, falsely accused by Potiphar’s wicked wife, was cast into prison. Pharaoh’s chief butler was in prison too and, when he was finally released, Joseph asked him to appeal to Pharaoh on his behalf (Gen. 40:14). But we read that “the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him” (vs. 23), and Joseph languished in prison for two more years (Gen. 41:1, 9).

Still greater would be the shame of one of God’s blood-bought children forgetting what Christ did to save him or her. Our present access to God and our eternal glory were purchased at dreadful cost by the sufferings of the Lamb of God. Not only that, but in neglecting the Lord’s Supper we are failing to obey the command of the Lord to do so until He returns.

There’s another failure involved too, a failure to witness to our faith in Christ. By participating at the Table of the Lord, we “proclaim the Lord’s death” (I Cor. 11:26). It means we preach and teach about Christ and the meaning of His death on the cross and its importance to us. (The same Greek word is used in Colossians 1:28, when Paul declares, “Him we preach.”)

Knowing the fallibility of our memories, and the importance of keeping Calvary before us, it is worthwhile to make the kind of sincere pledge that Montgomery does in his hymn.

(1) According to Thy gracious word,
In meek humility,
This will I do, my dying Lord,
I will remember Thee.

(2) Thy body, broken for my sake,
My bread from heav’n shall be;
The testamental cup I take,
And thus remember Thee.

Questions:

  1. What are some reasons why a person might grow neglectful of the Lord’s Supper?
  2. What are some practical values in consistently participating in this ceremony?

Links:

Today in 1841 – William Ogden Born

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William Augustine Ogden showed a talent for making music early on. He began studying the subject at the age of 8, and was reading music with some facility in two years. Not long after, it was discovered he was able to write down the music notation of a melody after hearing it played or sung. In adulthood, with the outbreak of the American Civil War, he enlisted, organizing a male choir that became well known throughout the Army of the Cumberland.

After the war, Ogden resumed his study of music. Hymn writers Lowell Mason and Thomas Hastings were among his teachers. He published numerous songbooks of his compositions, and taught music at many schools in the United States and Canada. In 1887, he because Superintendent of Music in the public schools of Toledo, Ohio.

A number of William Ogden’s gospel songs, or ones for which he provided the melody, are still in use. Among them are:

Bring Them In
He Is Able to Deliver Thee
Look and Live
Seeking the Lost

Ogden has given us songs of invitation, calling sinners to look to Christ for salvation, as well as songs of exhortation to carry the gospel to those who need to hear it.

Look and Live speaks of the perceptive look of faith. It draws upon an incident in the Old Testament (Num. 21:5-9, especially vs. 9), which the Lord Jesus later used as a picture of Himself (Jn. 3:14-15). That same “look” of faith for salvation is also reflected in a text that was the means of bringing Charles Haddon Spurgeon to Christ: “Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth!” (Isa. 45:22).

I’ve a message from the Lord, Hallelujah!
The message unto you I’ll give;
’Tis recorded in His Word, Hallelujah!
It is only that you “look and live.”

Look and live, my brother, live,
Look to Jesus now and live;
’Tis recorded in His Word, Hallelujah!
It is only that you look and live.

Life is offered unto you, Hallelujah!
Eternal life your soul shall have,
If you only look to Him, Hallelujah!
Look to Jesus Who alone can save.

Seeking the Lost finds its inspiration in the parable of the Lost Sheep (Lk. 15:3-7). I can remember singing this song with a male choir 50 years ago. (There is a nice melody section for the basses in the chorus.)

Seeking the lost, yes, kindly entreating
Wanderers on the mountain astray;
“Come unto Me,” His message repeating,
Words of the Master speaking today.

Going afar upon the mountain,
Bringing the wanderer back again,
Into the fold of my Redeemer
Jesus the Lamb for sinners slain.

Thus would I go on missions of mercy,
Following Christ from day unto day,
Cheering the faint and raising the fallen,
Pointing the lost to Jesus, the Way.

(2) Today in 1958 – George Bennard Died

George Bennard’s name will be forever linked to his gospel song, The Old Rugged Cross. That hymn became almost an instant favourite after its publication around 1915. It has remained so, ever since.

Bennard was born in Youngstown, Ohio, in 1873. When he was young, he trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour, in a Salvation Army meeting. He and his wife later worked with the Salvation Army for a number of years. Then he entered evangelistic work on his own, holding meetings in the United States and Canada. Hymn writer Al Smith speaks of meeting him in a drugstore, in his latter years, and describes him as “an elderly man with flowing snow white hair and very thick glasses.”

We are indebted to Mr. Bennard for other songs in addition to his best-known one. One that you will find in some songbooks is the challenge to evangelism and missions, Speak, My Lord. It is based on the vision of Isaiah in Isa. 6:1-8. There, when God sought for a messenger, the prophet responded, “Here am I! Send me.” May we be as ready to do the Father’s will.

Hear the Lord of harvest sweetly calling,
“Who will go and work for Me today?
Who will bring to Me the lost and dying?
Who will point them to the narrow way?”

Speak, my Lord, speak, my Lord,
Speak, and I’ll be quick to answer Thee;
Speak, my Lord, speak, my Lord,
Speak, and I will answer, “Lord, send me.”

Soon the time for reaping will be over;
Soon we’ll gather for the harvest home;
May the Lord of harvest smile upon us,
May we hear His blessèd, “Child, well done.”

(3) More from James Montgomery

The son of a clergyman, born in Ayrshire, Scotland, for many years he turned his back on his early upbringing, and abandoned the church of his youth. But the Lord kept seeking the prodigal, and eventually he repented of his backslidden ways, and recommitted himself to Christ. Desiring restoration to church fellowship as well, he wrote:

People of the living God,
I have sought the world around,
Paths of sin and sorrow trod,
Peace and comfort nowhere found.
Now to you my spirit turns–
Turns a fugitive unblessed:
Brethren, where your altar burns,
O receive me into rest.

By God’s grace, James Montgomery became one of the great hymnists of the evangelical church. In his Christian Psalmist, published in 1825, he included a beautiful hymn for the Lord’s Supper. Called According to Thy Gracious Word, It was inspired by the words of the Lord Jesus in Lk. 22:19, “Do this in remembrance of Me.”

According to Thy gracious word,
In meek humility,
This will I do, my dying Lord,
I will remember Thee.

Thy body, broken for my sake,
My bread from heaven shall be;
The testamental cup I take,
And thus remember Thee.

When to the cross I turn mine eyes,
And rest on Calvary,
O Lamb of God, my sacrifice,
I must remember Thee;

Remember Thee, and all Thy pains
And all Thy love to me;
Yea, while a breath, a pulse remains,
Will I remember Thee.

How’s Your Memory?

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If you have ever struggled to recall a familiar phone number, or a street address, you may be slightly envious of Gon Yang-ling, in China. At the age of 26, he was able to recite accurately 15,000 telephone numbers! Most of us would have trouble with those 15 or so numbers we call regularly.  Other amazing feats of memory have been recorded over the years. I know of several people, including my own mother, who have been able to memorize whole books of the Bible, or hundreds of individual verses of Scripture. But such folks are unusual.

Having said that, though, it is important for us to make a consistent effort to commit as much of God’s Word to memory as we can. Then the Spirit of God can use it readily for our guidance and growth. The psalmist says, “Your word have I hidden in my heart that I might not sin against You” (Ps. 119:11). And the Lord Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them [guide them in holy living] by Your truth. Your word is truth” (Jn. 17:17). He desires to “sanctify and cleanse [us] with the washing of water by the word” (Eph. 5:26). The more of the Bible we know by heart, the more spiritual good it will do us.

Yet the Lord understands our limitations. He knows how forgetful we can be. That is one reason He has provided a memory aid for believers with regard to the cross of Christ. The cross is the foundation of God’s forgiveness, of the gift of eternal life, and also of our power for life and service now. But, as the saying goes, “Out of sight, out of mind.” Yes, we have God’s inspired Word recounting what happened, but it is so easy for this pivotal event to slip from our minds. And God knew it would. So He ordained the Lord’s Supper (the Communion Service) to bring it regularly to our awareness.

The Lord’s Supper was instituted when Jesus ate the Passover with His disciples, just before He went to Calvary (Matt. 26:26-29). Later we read of the early church “They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). In this context the breaking of bread is another term for the Lord’s Supper. (It would not be necessary to say they continued eating their meals.) And in teaching about this service, the Bible says it should be continued until Christ comes again (I Cor. 11:26).

James Montgomery (1771-1854) wrote a beautiful hymn in 1825 based upon this truth. As originally published, it was headed by the words, “This Do in Remembrance of Me.”

According to Thy gracious word,
In meek humility,
This will I do, my dying Lord,
I will remember Thee.

When to the cross I turn mine eyes,
And rest on Calvary,
O Lamb of God, my sacrifice,
I must remember Thee;