Tell It Out
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Words: Frances Ridley Havergal (b. Dec. 14, 1836; d. June 3, 1879)
Music: Epenetus, by Frances Ridley Havergal; arranged by Ira David Sankey (b. Aug. 28, 1840; d. Aug. 13, 1908)
Links:
Wordwise Hymns (Frances Havergal)
The Cyber Hymnal
Hymnary.org
Note: The daughter of clergyman William Henry Havergal, Frances was reading by the age of four, and writing poetry by the time she was seven. She learned Latin, Greek and Hebrew, and memorized the Psalms, the book of Isaiah, and most of the New Testament. Though she only lived into her early forties, she left us some wonderful hymns, including: Like a River Glorious, Take My Life and Let It Be, and Who Is on the Lord’s Side?
Secrets can be great fun. When we buy Christmas or birthday presents, we try to keep them a secret until the big day. The anticipation adds to the excitement of what’s to come.
Back in the early days of television there was a popular American game show called I’ve Got a Secret. Guests came on with some secret, perhaps about their occupation, or something that happened to them. Four panelists tried to guess the secret. One guest was Colonel Sanders, the famous fried chicken entrepreneur. His secret was that he was almost broke, ten years before, when he received his first government pension cheque. He used that cheque to start “KFC,” which made him millions.
That’s entertaining. But revealing some secrets can also be dangerous, or they can uncover harmful activities. In a family, a secret affair by one partner can awaken suspicion in the other, and growing resentment. As facts about clandestine meetings come to light, the relationship of the couple may be damaged beyond repair. In Canada, the Official Secrets Act provides for the protection of state secrets and official information, mainly related to national security.
In the Bible, Samson lost his great strength, after revealing things to Delilah he should not have done (Jud. 16:15-21). And King David was troubled for months by terrible sins he had committed and concealed–until he finally confessed them to God and found grace and forgiveness (Ps. 32:1-5). Judas plotted secretly to betray Christ, but his actions were used by a sovereign God to fulfil salvation’s plan (Acts 3:13-15, 18).
God’s Word uses the word “secret” nearly a hundred times, and forms of the word “hidden” many times more. There we read of: secret temptations to idol worship (Deut. 13:6; II Kgs. 17:9); secret attacks by wicked and violent individuals (Deut. 27:24; Ps. 10:4, 9); secret spying of the Promised Land by the Israelites (Josh. 2:1); secret places of protection (Ps. 27:5-6); and God’s final judgment of secret sins (Ecc. 14:14; Jer. 23:24).
But there are some things in Scripture that should not be kept secret. Things about God and His works in the world, about Christ and what He has done for us, about the gospel of grace. Such truths should be broadcast far and wide. It’s not surprising that Acts and the epistles use words such as preach, proclaim, teach, witness, and testify over two hundred times. We’re to “shine as lights in the world” (Phil. 2:15). “No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, that those who come in may see the light” (Lk. 11:33).
On Sunday, April 19th, 1872, with the ground covered by a late snowfall, the church bells rang out an invitation to the house of God. English hymn writer Frances Havergal heard their joyous summons from her bed that morning, as she was sick and unable to attend.
She asked for her Prayer Book, and read the Psalm scheduled for that day, and was struck by the words:
“Say [tell it] among the nations, ‘The Lord reigns [is King]; the world also is firmly established, it shall not be moved; He shall judge the peoples righteously’” (Ps. 96:10).
She thought, “What a splendid first line for a hymn–Tell it out among the nations that the Lord is King!” It may have been the bells that strengthened the thought of sounding the truth forth, but it wasn’t long before she’d written three stanzas and composed a lively tune for it. She called her tune Epenetus (also spelled Epenaetus) the name of a beloved convert of the Apostle Paul’s (Rom. 16:6).
CH-1) Tell it out among the nations that the Lord is King;
Tell it out! Tell it out!
Tell it out among the nations, bid them shout and sing;
Tell it out! Tell it out!
Tell it out with adoration that He shall increase,
That the mighty King of Glory is the King of Peace;
Tell it out with jubilation, let the song ne’er cease;
Tell it out! Tell it out!
CH-2) Tell it out among the heathen that the Saviour reigns;
Tell it out! Tell it out!
Tell it out among the nations, bid them break their chains;
Tell it out! Tell it out!
Tell it out among the weeping ones that Jesus lives,
Tell it out among the weary ones what rest He gives,
Tell it out among the sinners that He still receives;
Tell it out! Tell it out!
Questions:
1) What can you be doing to “tell out” the Bibles message, and support others who are doing so?
2) The New Testament uses the word “gospel” many times–a word meaning good news. What’s good about it?
Links:
Wordwise Hymns (Frances Havergal)
The Cyber Hymnal
Hymnary.org