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Frances Ridley Havergal

Golden Harps Are Sounding

Words: Frances Ridley Havergal (b. Dec. 14, 1836; d. June 3, 1879)
Music: Hermas, by Frances Ridley Havergal

Note: In 1871, Frances Havergal provided both words and music for this fine hymn, calling it “Ascension Song,” and referencing Ephesians 4:8, “When He ascended on high.”

The occasion for its creation was as follows. The hymn writer was visiting a boys’ school with a friend (Charles Snepp, editor of Miss Havergal’s book Songs of Grace and Glory). While he went inside to attend to some business, she leaned against a wall adjacent to the playground, feeling very tired. But ten minutes later he came out to find her at work. Miss Havergal had taken an old envelope and was scribbling on it the words of a new hymn about Christ’s ascension. Later, she would compose the tune for it as well.

There can be little doubt either of Frances Havergal’s deep piety, or her considerable scholarship. She mastered languages with ease–among them Hebrew and Greek, Latin, French, German and Italian. (She even learned enough Welsh to take part in services in that tongue.) Added to this was her skill as a musician, both as a vocalist, pianist and a composer. But it was her spirituality that shaped her life and ministered to others. She said, “‘Thy will be done’ is not a sigh, but only a song!” Inscribed on her tombstone, at her request, was” “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin” [I Jn. 1:7].

Of interest may be her comments on her method of writing hymns.

“Writing is praying with me, for I never seem to write even a verse by myself, and feel like a little child writing. You know a child would look up at every sentence and say, ‘What shall I say next?’ That is just what I do. I ask that at every line He would give me–not merely thoughts and power, but also every word, even the very rhymes. Very often I have a most distinct and happy consciousness of direct answers.”

(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 ascension of Christ is described by Mark and Luke in the Gospels (Mk. 16:19-20; Lk. 24:49-53). That latter writer reviews the event at the beginning of Acts (Acts 1:9-11). After that, Christ’s place in heaven at the Father’s right hand, and His continuing ministry to the saints from there, are mentioned more than two dozen times in the New Testament. “Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God” (Acts 2:33; cf. Rom. 8:34; Phil. 3:20; I Tim. 3:16; Heb. 1:3, 13; 4:14; 6:19-20; 8:1, etc.).

(1) Golden harps are sounding, angels voices ring,
Pearly gates are opened, opened for the King;
Christ the King of glory, Jesus, King of love,
Is gone up in triumph, to His throne above.

All His work is ended, joyfully we sing,
Jesus hath ascended! Glory to our King!

(2) He who came to save us, He who bled and died,
Now is crowned with glory at His Father’s side.
Nevermore to suffer, nevermore to die;
Jesus, King of glory, is gone up on high.

Consider the significance of the Lord’s ascension, both for Him and for us. It marked the end of His earthly redemptive work. His cry from the cross, “It is finished” (Jn. 19:30) says it–literally meaning “Paid in full!” speaking of His payment for sin (cf. I Jn. 2:2). That is what Miss Havergal means in her refrain when she says, “All His work is ended.”

The earthly companionship enjoyed by His followers was ended too. Though He has pledged always to be with us in His spiritual presence (Matt. 28:20), we will not see Him face to face until we are called into His presence, either by death (II Cor. 5:8); Phil. 1:23), or at the rapture of the church (I Thess. 4:13-18).

Christ’s entry into heaven was a “Triumphal Entry” far more magnificent and universally praised than was His entry into Jerusalem just before His death (cf. Jn. 12:12-16). In heaven once more, Christ assumed His actual and visible glory, a glory that was almost always veiled on earth (with only a glimpse given to Peter, James, and John, at His transfiguration, Matt. 17:1-2; cf. Rev. 1:12-18).

Seated at the Father’s right hand, on His Father’s throne (Rev. 3:21), Christ began His work as Head of the church (Eph. 1:22-23; 4:11-12), and as great High Priest (Heb. 4:14-16) and Advocate for His own (I Jn. 2:1-2). It is from there that He will return at His second coming to take up His earthly messianic throne, the throne of David (Lk. 1:31-33).

(3) Pleading for His children in that blessèd place,
Calling them to glory, sending them His grace;
His bright home preparing, faithful ones, for you;
Jesus ever liveth, ever loveth, too.

Questions:

  1. What is, to you, the greatest value of Christ’s place in heaven?
  2. Does your church teach clearly about Christ’s ascension and His present ministry?

Links:

Today in 1839 – Elisha Hoffman Born

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Elisha Albright Hoffman was a pastor and a prolific hymn writer (with over 2,000 songs to his credit). And here are just a few of Pastor Hoffman’s songs:

Are You Washed in the Blood?
Down at the Cross (Glory to His Name)
I Must Tell Jesus
Is Thy Heart Right with God?
Is Your All on the Altar?
Leaning on the Everlasting Arms
When I See the Blood
What a Wonderful Saviour

It is easy to see the man’s heart for proclaiming the gospel. Repeatedly he draws our attention to the Calvary work of Christ, and the way it abundantly meets the sinner’s need. Further, there is none of the modern and unbiblical fastidiousness that avoids mention of the shed blood of Christ. To show distaste for the blood of Christ is to disrespect God who calls it “precious.”

Here are just a few of the many references to the blood of Christ in Scripture: Acts 20:28; Rom. 3:25; 5:9; I Cor. 11:25; Eph. 1:7; 2:13; Col. 1:20; Heb. 9:13-14; 10:19; 13:12; I Pet. 1:18-19; I Jn. 1:7; Rev. 1:5.

Hoffman joyfully proclaims the saving power of the blood of Christ. From 1878 we have Are You Washed in the Blood?

Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Are you washed in the blood,
In the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

And from 1891 comes What a Wonderful Saviour:

Christ has for sin atonement made
What a wonderful Saviour!
We are redeemed, the price is paid
What a wonderful Saviour!

What a wonderful Saviour is Jesus, my Jesus!
What a wonderful Saviour is Jesus, my Lord!

I praise Him for the cleansing blood
What a wonderful Saviour!
That reconciled my soul to God
What a wonderful Saviour!

(2) Today in 1873 – I Could Not Do Without Thee written

Frances Ridley Havergal was a deeply spiritual woman who pondered the truths of Scripture and gained great insight. At the age of 14 she made a life-changing commitment of her life to Christ. She wrote of this later:

There and then I committed my soul to the Saviour–and earth and heaven seemed bright from that moment.

Miss Havergal wrote many great hymns that are still found in our hymn books more than a century after they were created. But one that is little know today describes the Christian’s need to trust fully in the Lord Jesus Christ.

I could not do without Thee
O Saviour of the lost,
Whose precious blood redeemed me
At such tremendous cost.
Thy righteousness, thy pardon
Thy precious blood, must be
My only hope and comfort,
My glory and my plea.

I could not do without Thee,
I cannot stand alone,
I have no strength or goodness,
No wisdom of my own;
But Thou, beloved Saviour,
Art all in all to me,
And weakness will be power
If leaning hard on Thee.

Today in 1839 – Vernon Charlesworth Born

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Vernon John Charlesworth was born in Barking, Essex, England. He served as a co-pastor of the Surrey Chapel, and as headmaster of Charles Spurgeon’s Stockwell Orphanage for 40 years. He was also a ministering elder at Spurgeon’s Metropolitan Tabernacle. Mr. Charlesworth wrote quite a number of hymns, but only one remains in common use, A Shelter in the Time of Storm.

The Lord’s our Rock, in Him we hide,
A Shelter in the time of storm;
Secure whatever ill betide,
A Shelter in the time of storm.

Oh, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land,
A weary land, a weary land;
Oh, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land,
A Shelter in the time of storm.

Here is a toe-tapping rendition of this gospel song by a men’s chorus.

 

(2) Today in 1872 – Lord, Speak to Me, written

Frances Ridley Havergal wrote a hymn-poem she entitled, A Worker’s Prayer. We know it as a hymn, by the opening words, Lord, Speak to Me. It is the kind of petition that should rise from the heart of each servant of Christ, because we can only speak as we are spoken to! Our authority comes not from ourselves, but from the Word of God. And our lives should support and confirm the message we convey. The song says:

Lord, speak to me that I may speak
In living echoes of Thy tone;
As Thou has sought, so let me seek
Thine erring children lost and lone.

O lead me, Lord, that I may lead
The wandering and the wavering feet;
O feed me, Lord, that I may feed
Thy hungering ones with manna sweet.

O teach me, Lord, that I may teach
The precious things Thou dost impart;
And wing my words, that they may reach
The hidden depths of many a heart.

In 1878, Frances Havergal wrote a wonderful hymn called Truehearted, Wholehearted. Many of its original nine stanzas are suited to general congregational use. But it was written to be the official YWCA Hymn. (This was back in the day when the Young Women’s Christian Association was overtly Christian, as was the YMCA!)

Truehearted, wholehearted, faithful and loyal,
King of our lives, by Thy grace we will be;
Under the standard exalted and royal,
Strong in Thy strength we will battle for Thee.

Peal out the watchword! Silence it never!
Song of our spirits, rejoicing and free;
Peal out the watchword! Loyal forever!
King of our lives, by Thy grace we will be.

Wholehearted! Saviour belovèd and glorious,
Take Thy great power and reign Thou alone,
Over our wills and affections victorious—
Freely surrendered and wholly Thine own.

Truehearted, wholehearted! Fullest allegiance
Yielding henceforth to our glorious King!
Valiant endeavor and loving obedience
Freely and joyously now would we bring.

Half-hearted? Master, shall any who know Thee
Grudge Thee their lives, who has laid down Thine own?
Nay! we would offer the hearts that we owe Thee,
Live for Thy love and Thy glory alone.

The following stanzas show Miss Havergal’s intention for it to be a dedication song especially for women.

Sisters, dear sisters, the call is resounding,
Will ye not echo the silver refrain,
Mighty and sweet, and in gladness abounding?–
“Truehearted, whole-hearted!” ringing again.

Jesus is with us, His rest is before us,
Brightly His standard is waving above!
Sisters, dear sisters, in gathering chorus,
Peal out the watchword of courage and love!

Today in 1851 – Theodore Baker Born

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A skilled musical scholar, Mr. Baker wrote his doctoral dissertation on the music of the Seneca Indians of North America. He also served as an editor for music publisher G. Schirmer Incorporated. Baker has given us English translations of two carols: How Great Our Joy! and, Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming. He also translated the 1597 Dutch hymn of thanksgiving, We Gather Together. This was originally written to celebrate that country’s deliverance from Spain, but it’s often used today in Thanksgiving Sunday services.

The fitness of gratitude to God for all His blessings is a frequent theme of the Psalms (e.g. Ps. 30:4; 35:18; 50:14; 90:1-2). In contrast, thanklessness is described as one of the base sins of the unsaved (Rom. 1:21). Believers are exhorted, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (I Thess. 5:18). And, “therefore by Him [Christ] let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name” (Heb. 13:15).

Whether it is praising God for deliverance through a military victory, or for His abundant mercies day by day, bringing glory to God is always appropriate. Baker’s hymn begins:

We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing;
He chastens and hastens His will to make known.
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing.
Sing praises to His name; He forgets not His own.

(2) Today in 1879 – Frances Havergal Died

Though she lived only into her early 40’s, English author Frances Ridley Havergal is considered one of our greatest hymn writers. The poetic beauty, warmth, and devotional power of her writing is outstanding.

Though they never met, Miss Havergal was an admirer of Fanny Crosby, and wrote a touching poem to her. It says in part:

Dear blind sister over the sea,
An English heart goes forth to thee.
We are linked by a cable of faith and song,
Flashing bright sympathy swift along;
One in the East and one in the West,
Singing for Him whom our souls love best,
Singing for Jesus, telling His love,
All the way to our home above.”

Frances Havergal wrote many hymns, and quite a few are still in use. Take My Life, and Let It Be; Like a River Glorious; I Gave My Life for Thee; and Who Is on the Lord’s Side? are several examples of her work. For Golden Harps Are Sounding, she wrote both words and music.

Frances Havergal was one of those authors who could write quickly, on a sudden inspiration. One day she walked to a boys’ school with a friend, waiting outside while he attended to some business. Weary from the walk, she leaned against the playground wall to rest. But returning to her ten minutes later, her friend found her busily penciling a hymn poem on an old envelope. It is a fine hymn about the ascension of Christ and His present ministry in heaven.

What is the Lord Jesus doing now? And how many sermons have you heard on this important subject? The Lord Himself said to His followers, “I go to prepare a place for you…[and] I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (Jn. 14:2-3). And we are told, “If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (I Jn. 2:1)–One who “is also able to save to the uttermost [completely and forever] those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:25).

Here, in part, is Havergal’s hymn on the subject:

Golden harps are sounding, angels voices sing,
Pearly gates are opened, opened for the King;
Jesus, King of glory, Jesus, King of love,
Is gone up in triumph, to His throne above.

Pleading for His children in that blessèd place,
Calling them to glory, sending them His grace;
His bright home preparing, faithful ones, for you;
Jesus ever liveth, ever loveth, too.

Suffering Hymn Writers

It is astonishing to discover how many authors of our hymns had some disability, or wrote out of some dark experience in their lives. For example:

  • Fanny Crosby (To God Be the Glory, All the Way My Saviour Leads Me) was blind. So was John Milton (Let Us With a Gladsome Mind), and George Matheson (O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go), and William Walford (Sweet Hour of Prayer), as was Lelia Morris, later in life (What If It Were Today? Nearer, Still Nearer).
  • Annie Johnson Flint (He Giveth More Grace, God Hath Not Promised) was confined to her room with crippling arthritis most of her life. So was Lydia Baxter (Take the Name of Jesus with You).
  • Charlotte Elliot was a bedridden invalid when she wrote the great invitation hymn, “Just As I Am.” Catherine Hankey (I Love to Tell the Story, Tell Me the Old, Old Story) wrote her hymns while confined to bed to recover from a serious illness. Eliza Hewitt (More About Jesus, When We All Get to Heaven) developed a severe spinal condition and was confined to bed for a long period.
  • Frances Ridley Havergal (Take My Life and Let It Be, Who Is on the Lord’s Side?) was in poor health all her life, and she died at the age of 43. Thomas Chisholm (Great Is Thy Faithfulness) served as a pastor for a short time, but frail health forced him to resign.
  • Major Daniel Whittle (Showers of Blessing, Have You Any Room for Jesus?) was a Civil War amputee.
  • William Cowper [pronounced Cooper] (God Moves in a Mysterious Way, There Is a Fountain Filled with Blood) suffered from bouts of suicidal depression. Joseph Scriven (What a Friend We Have in Jesus) seems to have suffered from depression as well.
  • Both George Young (God Leads Us Along) and Horatio Spafford (It Is Well) wrote songs as a declaration of faith after a time of great family tragedy.
  • Luther Bridgers wrote “He Keeps Me Singing” after the death of his wife and children in a fire. Thomas Dorsey wrote “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” after his wife died giving birth to a son (who also died).

These are just a few examples of many. Even when there was not a prolonged disability, many created songs in periods of deep distress, or out of crisis circumstances. Because of such things, the poetry of their hymns grew out of the intense reality of their experience with God. No dry, dusty religiosity here. We sense in their message the ring of reality and the richness of their faith.

Perhaps we wonder how or why such beauty and blessing grows from times of suffering. There are could be many reasons. One is that those limited in some way–perhaps even bedridden–by a disability or adversity found time to explore new avenues of creativity and service for Christ. (One pastor never knew he could write hymns until he lost his voice and could no longer preach!)

Also, with their focus narrowed, their attention concentrated, they sometimes discovered deeper insights into the ways of God. They learned what it means to truly depend on God. Then, as the Lord blessed them, and blessed others through them in unique ways, they proved with the Apostle Paul what the Lord means when He says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (II Cor. 12:9).

Like A River Glorious (Quick Thoughts on a Hymn)

Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-1879) is sometimes called “England’s Consecration Poet” A voluminous writer, both of devotional prose and poetry, she was a godly woman whose pen became the means of effective ministry for the Lord. Says a contemporary, “Simply and sweetly she sang the love of God and His way of salvation….The burden of her writings is a free and full salvation, through the Redeemer’s merits, for every sinner who will receive it.” In 1874 she produced a hymn she called “Perfect Peace.” As with many of our hymns, it now takes the opening phrase as its title.

The song begins, “Like a river glorious / Is God’s perfect peace, / Over all victorious / In its bright increase; / Perfect, yet it floweth / Fuller every day, / Perfect, yet it groweth / Deeper all the way.” Then, the stately dignity of the tune carries the singer into the confident testimony of a refrain that applies the image more directly to the experience of the child of God: “Stayed upon Jehovah, / Hearts are fully blest; / Finding as He promised, / Perfect peace and rest.”

The prophet Isaiah speaks to the Lord in a similar vein, saying, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Isa. 26:3). To express the richness of God’s gift, “perfect peace” is, in the original Hebrew, shalom shalom–peace peace, a peaceful peace. And the word Isaiah uses connotes such ideas as wholeness and soundness, safety and security, tranquility and contentment. The Amplified Bible enriches our understanding of the prophet’s words, with: “You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.”

Living Echoes (Lord Speak to Me)

Lord Speak to Me is a hymn with an important message for each believer.

Stand before a rocky cliff, and shout. Chances are, if conditions are right, your voice will bounce back to you again. We call that an echo. As one poet puts it, “My words had gone forever, / They left no trace or track. / But the hills nearby caught up the cry / And sent the echo back.”

There are echoes in the realm of light, as well. As any grade school child knows, the moon itself gives no light. What we see is the light of the sun, reflected back from the surface of the moon. Can you imagine a cold, rocky landscape trying to shine on its own? Or speak on its own? It has no power to do so. It works fine as a reflector, but that is all.

In a similar way, human beings are made to be reflectors of God and His truth. All around us are those in deep spiritual need. What can we do for them? Nothing, on our own. They need a touch from God. They need Him. But we can have a part in bringing the two together. We can be His reflectors. His “living echoes.” As Jesus said to His followers one day, “Freely you have received, freely give” (Matt. 10:8). And later Paul was able to say, “I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you” (I Cor. 11:23). We can only pass on what we have received.

In 1872, Frances Ridley Havergal wrote a hymn-poem she entitled, “A Worker’s Prayer.” We know it by the opening words, “Lord, Speak to Me.” It is the kind of prayer that should rise regularly from the heart of each servant of Christ. It says, “Lord, speak to me that I may speak in living echoes of Thy tone; / As Thou hast sought, so let me seek / Thy erring children, lost and lone.” And a later stanza adds, “O teach me, Lord, that I may teach…”

The poem has seven lovely verses, but many hymn books use only four of them. Here is one that is sometimes omitted: “O lead me, Lord, that I may lead the wand’ring and the wav’ring feet; / O feed me, Lord, that I may feed the hung’ring ones with manna sweet.” Those are two more echoes we can provide. If we are to lead others, it must be as God leads us. If we are to feed them with spiritual manna, it must come from Him.

In the days of the prophet Jeremiah, the people of Israel had wandered far from God. Judgment was about to fall. And one of the Lord’s most scathing condemnations was levelled against certain prophets in Israel. Here is why. God says, “I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran. I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied” (Jer. 23:21).

They spoke for themselves. Or they spoke perhaps for others who had paid and commissioned them. But they did not speak for God. And the sad thing is the whole nation suffered as a result. God says, “If they had stood in My counsel, and had caused My people to hear My words, then they would have turned them [the people] from their evil way” (vs. 22).

What a responsibility! It is one Isaiah also recognized. If he was to have a message for those in need, it would have to come from the Lord. He says, “The Lord God has given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary” (Isa. 50:4).

So, are we ready to feed the spiritually hungry today? Are we ready to lead the lost to safety? The realistic answer is, “No–apart from a continuing infusion of God’s grace.” We need to open the Word of God first for ourselves, in order to hear His voice, praying, “Lord, speak to me that I may speak.”

What Have You Done? (I Gave My Life For Thee)

What had she done with her life? That question challenged a young woman named Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-1879). When she was twenty-two, she went to visit relatives in Germany. One day, she came in from an excursion, weak and weary. She seated herself in the parlour to rest and, looking up, observed a large painting of Christ.

In the picture, Jesus is stripped to the waist, bound, and crowned with thorns. Pilate, is in the act gesturing toward Him, calling to the boisterous crowd below, “Ecce homo!” (Behold, the Man!) Beneath the painting Miss Havergal read these words: “This have I done for thee; what hast thou done for Me?” The penetrating question stirred her heart, moving her to tears. She found a scrap of paper and a pencil, and quickly created a poem on the theme.

On her return to England, Frances Havergal re-read the words she had written. Thinking they were not worth keeping, she threw them into the fire. However, a sudden downdraft blew the scorched paper out into the room again. It was later found by her father, who read the lines and urged her to have them published. That is the origin of our hymn, “I Gave My Life for Thee,” with its corresponding question, What hast thou done for Me?”

The hymn begins, “I gave My life for thee, My precious blood I shed, / That thou might’st ransomed be, and quickened from the dead; / I gave, I gave My life for thee, what hast thou given for Me?”

The point, of course, is not that the Lord requires us to somehow pay Him for Calvary. That is an impossibility. Salvation is offered as a free gift to be received in faith. Christ has paid its full price. The Bible says salvation is “by grace”–God’s unmerited favour, and “not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Eph. 2:8-9).

Not only that. By grace He has already conferred upon the Christian every spiritual blessing–either as ours to claim now, or reserved for us in heaven (Eph. 1:3; I Pet. 1:3-4). These are ours apart from anything we have done or could do for Him.

By grace through faith we are saved eternally and accounted as “complete in Him” (Col. 2:10). Good works are irrelevant to the principle of grace, at least in terms of earning it. Grace that is somehow earned is no more grace (Rom. 4:4-5; cf. 3:24).

If all the riches of grace already belong to the child of God, trying to earn them is an insult the Giver–like trying to pay someone for a birthday gift. What we do after accepting God’s free grace is not a payment for it, but a loving response to it. Our conduct under grace is to arise from grateful hearts, freely responding to what God has done.

The motivation is not an iron-bound obligation. Instead, it is the Christian’s willing expression of love that provides an answer to the question, “What hast thou done for Me?” As Paul puts it, “the love of Christ compels us” (II Cor. 5:14). It urges and impels us to respond in kind. It becomes, in the words of J. B. Phillips’s paraphrase, “the very spring of our actions.”

Repeatedly, in the epistles, God’s Word “beseeches” us (pleads with us) to live for Him, on the basis of all that grace has accomplished. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God [after all that God has done for you], that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service” (Rom. 12:1; cf. Eph. 4:1).

The believer is invited to gaze into the thorn-crowned face of the Saviour, reflecting upon all that God has given him, in Christ. Then, spurred on by love, and empowered by the Spirit of God, his overflowing heart can only compel him to surrender all to God and live to serve Him.