An Oldie but a Goodie

Tonight I'm listening to Shepherd of Eager (Tender) Youth.

1) Shepherd of eager youth, Guiding in love and truth
Through devious ways - Christ, our triumphant King,
We come Thy name to sing; Hither Thy children bring
Tributes of praise.

2) Thou art our Holy Lord, The all-subduing Word,
Healer of strife; Thou didst Thyself abase
That from sin's deep disgrace Thou mightest save our race
And give us life.

3) Ever be near our side, Our shepherd and our guide,
Our staff and song; Jesus, Thou Christ of God,
By Thy enduring Word Lead us where Thou has trod, 
Make our faith strong.

4) So now, and till we die, sound we Thy praises high
And joyful sing; infants and the glad throng
Who to Thy church belong, unite to swell the song
To Christ, our King.

This hymn was written by Clement of Alexandria (ca. 170 - ca. 220). It is the oldest hymn we have in which we know who the author is. Clement of Alexandria wrote this hymn to instruct new believers.  This idea would be precious to Clement of Alexandria, as he was a philosopher and ran a school to teach philosophies, both Christian and other kinds.  Notice he covers the three offices of Christ (prophet [stanza three], priest [stanza 2], and king [ stanza 1]). He also places high emphasis on God's Word, which instructs believers what exactly they are to believe concerning God and their duties that God requires of His flock.  This is an excellent hymn to help children learn about the God who love them.  All of this points to Clement of Alexandria's desire to educate. Besides, look at this guy! Who wouldn't want to learn from him?

Clement of Alexandria

Dost Thou See Them?

Tonight, I'm listening to Saint Andrew of Crete's hymn, "Christian, Doth Thou See Them?" Andrew of Crete lived in the 8th century.  Legend has it that the saint was mute until the age of 7, when he partook of communion and was cured. Andrew of Crete is known as a hymnist.  His longest, actually called a canon, is 250 stanzas long.  It's a first person account going through the entire Bible called "The Great Canon." And no, I'm not planning on doing it for this blog, mainly because of my penchant for typing out all the stanzas.

                                                                   St. Andrew of Crete
We have the hymn I'm listening to today because of John Mason Neale (1818-1866). Neale was an excellent scholar who knew twenty languages.  (We will come to Neale again, as he is responsible for Christmas hymns such as "O Come, O Come Emanuel," "Good King Wenceslas," and "Good Christian Men Rejoice.") As with people who speak twenty languages often do, John Mason Neale made himself a nuisance to the leaders of his church. Neale championed higher liturgy and worship, which bothered the local Anglican clergy. Thus, Neale was "relegated" to the almshouse for old men.  Not that he minded too much, it gave him more time to translate hymns.

John Mason Neale

Listening and reading through "Christian, Doth Thou See Them?" reminds me of the book Kris Lungard's Enemy Within, which is pretty much a translation of John Owens Mortification of Sin. Lundgard translates the book from Puritan English into Readable English.  In it, Lundgard stresses the need for constant awareness of sin.  We always need to be on the look out. This hymn deals with similar vigilance.  The first stanza refers to visible temptation.  St. Andrew of Crete calls for the believer to "up and smite them."  Fight back against sin!  The second stanza certainly covers the more spiritual temptations.  The temptations that gnaw on our wants and desires.  Again, there is a call for the believer to fight back, including spiritual strengthening such as prayer and fasting.  The third stanza covers all the influences we hear.  Hear, St. Andrew of Crete reminds the singer to answer all those voices boldly! We should have confidence in our beliefs. We should be encouraged. In fact, that's how the hymn ends, with words of encouragement spoken from the Lord's perspective.  One of the things that I learned early at Penn State, and has stuck with me, is the need to encourage one another.  Sometimes we are called to rebuke our brethren, other times we are called to comfort, but we should always encourage one another no matter the situation.  The Lord is always at work and His salvation is guaranteed, no matter how great our sin.

1) Christian, dost thou see them on the holy ground,
How the powers of darkness compass thee around?
Christian, up and smite them, counting gain but loss
In the strength that cometh by the holy cross.

2) Christian, dost thou feel them, how they work within,
Striving, tempting, luring, goading into sin?
Christian, never tremble, never be downcast;
Gird thee for the battle watch and pray and fast.

3) Christian, dost thou hear them, how they speak thee fair,
"Always fast and vigil, always watch and prayer?"
Christian, answer boldly, "While I breathe I pray."
Peace shall follow battle, night shall end in day.

4)"Well I know thy trouble, O my servant true.
Thou art very weary; I was weary too.
But that toil shall make thee some day all mine own,
And the end of sorrow shall be near my throne."

I couldn't get the video to work, here is a link to the music.

Sands of Time

Before I go to bed tonight, I'm going to catch up on my hymns. I need to do a second one today in order for that to be accomplished.  The second hymn is "The Sands of Time Are Sinking."  This hymn was written by Anne Ross Cousin (1824-1906). She was inspired by Samuel Rutherford's last words which are, "I shall live and adore Christ; glory to my Redeemer forever. Glory, glory dwelleth in Emmanuel's land."  Cousin took the phrase "in Emmanuel's land" and just ran.  She actually wrote 19 verses.  Surprisingly, we don't sing all nineteen verses in church.  Usually the chopped up version ends with the verse about the Bride keeping her eyes on the Bridegroom.  It's a good place to end the hymn.  I really like this song and the story it tells.  It will be a great day when we shall live in Immanuel's land.

Here is the video to Indelible Grace's version of the hymn.  It's a live version with a harmonica, so that's cool. I'll type out the lyrics after the video.

1) The sands of time are sinking, the dawn of Heaven breaks;
The summer morn I've sighed for - the fair, sweet morn awakes:
Dark, dark hath been the midnight, but dayspring is at hand,
And glory, glory dwelleth in Immanuel's land.

2) O Christ, He is the fountain, the deep, sweet well of love!
The streams of earth I've tasted more deep I'll drink above:
There to an ocean fullness His mercy doth expand,
And glory, glory dwelleth in Immanuel's land.

3) Oh! Well it is forever, Oh! well forevermore,
My nest hung in no forest of all this death doomed shore:
Yea, let the vain world vanish, as from the ship the strand,
While glory - glory dwelleth in Immanuel's land.

4) There the Red Rose of Sharon unfolds its heartsome bloom
And fills the air of heaven with ravishing perfume:
Oh! To behold it blossom, while by its fragrance fanned
Where glory - glory dwelleth in Immanuel's land.

5) The King there in His beauty, without a veil is seen:
It were a well spent journey, though seven deaths lay between:
The Lamb with His fair army, doth on Mount Zion stand,
And glory - glory dwelleth in Immanuel's land.

6) Of in yon sea beat prison My Lord and I held tryst,
For Anwoth was not heaven, and preaching was not Christ:
And aye, my murkiest storm cloud was by a rainbow spanned,
Caught from the glory dwelling in Immanuel's land.

7)But that He built a Heaven of His surpassing love, 
A little new Jerusalem, like to the one above,
"Lord take me over the water hath been my loud demand,
Take me to my love's own country, unto Immanuel's land.

8) But flowers need nights cool darkness, the moonlight and the dew;
So Christ, from one who loved it, His shining oft withdrew:
And then, for cause of absence my troubled soul I scanned
But glory shadeless shineth in Immanuel's land.

9) The little birds of Anwoth, I used to count them blessed,
Now, beside happier altars I go to build my nest:
Over these there broods no silence, no graves around them stand,
For glory, deathless, dwelleth in Immanuel's land.

10) Fair Anwoth by the Solway, to me thou still art dear,
Even from the verge of heaven, I drop for thee a tear
Oh! If one soul from Anwoth meet me at God's right hand,
My heaven will be two heavens, In Immanuel's land.

11) I've wrestled on towards Heaven, against storm and wind and tide,
Now, like a weary traveler that leaneth on his guide,
Amid the shades of evening, while sinks life's lingering sand,
I hail the glory dawning from Immanuel's land.

12) Deep waters crossed life's pathway, the hedge of thorns was sharp;
Now, these lie all behind me Oh! for a well tuned harp!
Oh! To join hallelujah with you triumphant band,
Who sing where glory dwelleth in Immanuel's land.

13) With mercy and with judgment my web of time He wove,
And aye, the dews of sorrow were lustered with His love;
I'll bless the hand that guided, I'll bless the heart that planned 
When throned where glory dwelleth in Immanuel's land.

14) Soon shall the cup of glory wash down earth's bitterest woes,
Soon shall the desert briar break into Eden's rose;
The curse shall change to blessing the name on earth that's banned
Be graven on the white stone in Immanuel's land.

15) O I am my Beloved's and my Beloved's mine!
He brings a poor vile sinner into His "house of wine."
I stand upon His merit - I know no other stand,
Not even where glory dwelleth in Immanuel's land.

16) I shall sleep sound in Jesus, filled with His likeness rise,
To love and to adore Him, to see Him with these eyes:
'Tween me and resurrection but Paradise doth stand;
Then - then for glory dwelling in Immanuel's land.

17) The Bride eyes not her garment, but her dear Bridegroom's face;
I will not gaze at glory but on my King of grace.
Not at the crown He giveth but on His pierced hand;
The Lamb is all the glory of Immanuel's land.

18) I have borne scorn and hatred, I have borne wrong and shame,
Earth's proud ones have reproached me for Christ's thrice blessed Name:
Where God His seal set fairest they've stamped the foulest brand,
But judgment shines like noonday in Immanuel's land.

19) They've summoned me before them, but there I may not come,
My Lord says "Come up hither," My Lord says "Welcome home!"
My King, at His white throne, my presence doth command
Where glory - glory dwelleth in Immanuel's land.

I Need Thee

1) I need Thee ev'ry hour,
Most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine
Can peace afford.

Chorus: I need Thee, O I need Thee;
Ev'ry hour I need Thee!
O bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.

2) I need Thee ev'ry hour,
Stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their pow'r
When Thou are nigh.

Chorus.

3)I need Thee ev'ry hour,
In joy or pain;
Come quickly, and abide,
Or life is vain.

Chorus.

4) I need Thee ev'ry hour,
Teach me Thy will,
And they rich promises 
In me fulfill

This hymn was written by a 37 year old homemaker.  Annie Hawks (1834-1918) was going about her day when, "I was filled with a sense of my Master that ... these words, 'I need Thee every hour,' were flashed into my mind."  She wrote out this poem and gave the lyrics to her pastor, who wrote the music and the chorus.  Apparently, she just wrote this next to an open window, enjoying a summer's day.  Thus, she was probably a bit surprise when D.L. Moody started to use it in his meetings.  And that's how the popularity of this hymn came about.

I would argue that Christian growth stems from the Spirit convincing us how much we are in need of a Redeemer. Somehow, Mrs. Hawks realized she need Jesus while doing chores.  That's the thing, it is easy to know our need of Jesus when the chips are down, when the consequences of our sin are staring us in our faces.  Sometimes, we need to hit rock bottom for the realization to occur.  The truth of the matter is we are in constant need of a Savior. We need Him on a summer day sweeping the house as much as we need Him during the winter searching for warmth.

For some reason, I'm reminded of Nehemiah when he asks the king if he can go to Judah to rebuild Jerusalem.  The king asks him to make a request, and Nehemiah prays (Neh. 2:4). This prayer is not something elaborate. He doesn't have the chance to kneel down and work his way through adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication.  He's put on the spot and prays. Nehemiah, who is an excellent Biblical model of leadership, knows his need for God. There is not an hour in which we don't need Jesus, and, thankfully, there is not an hour in which we can escape Him.

Not My Hands

The second hymn I'm listening to which I'm listening today is by Horatius Bonar. Bonar (1808-1889) was a minister in the Church of Scotland. Horatius Bonar was also an author and editor, working for "The Quarterly Journal of Prophecy."  Bonar wrote books, tracts, poetry, and hymns.  A lot of his writings were biographies of fellow ministers.  And as I look for work in ministry, it is very encouraging to read of other ministers lives and how they served God's kingdom.  Service looks different wherever you go, but one thing remains the same, ministry is a lifestyle much more than it is a job.  Even on supposed days off, the pastor is required to care for those in his charge.  They do so because they are moved by the love Christ has shown them.  There hands are moved to work, write, and heal their congregants because Christ's hands provided salvation.  I truly hope that ministry becomes my lifestyle.  Anyways, here are the lyrics:

Not what my hands have done
Can save my guilty soul;
Not what my toiling flesh has borne
Can make my spirit whole.
Not what I feel or do
Can give me peace with God;
Not all my prayers,
And sighs and tears
Can bear my awful load.

Thy work alone, O Christ,
Can ease this weight of sin
Thy blood alone O Lamb of God,
Can give me peace within.
Thy love to me O God,
Not mine, O Lord, to Thee,
Can rid me of
This dark unrest,
And set my spirit free!

Thy Grace alone, O God,
To me can pardon speak;
Thy power alone O Son of God,
Can this sore bondage break.
No other work, save Thine,
No other blood will do,
No strength save that,
Which is divine,
Can bear me safely through.

I bless the Christ of God;
I rest on love divine;
And with unfaltering lip and heart,
I call this Savior mine.
His cross dispels each doubt,
I bury in His tomb
My unbelief,
And all my fear,
Each lingering shade of gloom.

I praise the God of grace,
I trust His truth and might
He calls me His, I call Him mine,
My God, my joy, my light
Tis He Who saveth me,
And freely pardon gives
I love because
He loveth me,
I live because He lives!

My Fault

So I missed the entire weekend this time.  I'm getting worse at this, not better.  I am working on this.  Just need to figure everything out.  To make up for lost time, I'm going to do two hymns today and two hymns tomorrow.  I really should be better at this.

The first hymn I'm listening to today is by Fanny Crosby.  I listened to her earlier in the him "Praise Him, Praise Him."  One of the ladies at the church informed me that she memorized the Torah and the Gospels as a teenager.  That's really impressive.  It convicts me of my own memorization of Scriptures, specifically, the lack thereof.  We need to meditate on the law of God night and day.  It fuels us and feeds us.  It is the story of our Savior.  And, as Fanny Crosby states, he is first of all.

When my life work is ended, and I cross the swelling tide,
When the bright and glorious morning I shall see;
I shall know my Redeemer when I reach the other side,
And His smile will be the first to welcome me.

Refrain:
I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
And redeemed by His side I shall stand,
I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
By the print of the nails in His hand.

Oh, the soul thrilling rapture when I view His blessed face,
And the luster of His kindly beaming eye;
How my full heart will praise Him for the mercy, love and grace,
That prepare for me a mansion in the sky.

Refrain

Oh, the dear ones in glory, how they beckon me to come,
And our parting at the river I recall;
To the sweet vales of Eden they will sing my welcome home;
But I long to meet my Savior first of all.

Refrain

Through the gates tot he city in a robe of spotless white,
He will lead me where no tears will ever fall;
In the glad song of ages I shall mingle with delight;
But I long to meet my Savior first of all.

Ever been asked the question of who you want to meet in heaven? Some folks say the Apostle Paul, or Peter.  I know one of my professors wants to meet the guy from Baal Shalishah in 2 Kings 4.  Usually, the implied first response is Jesus, the Savior who humiliated himself in order to redeem us. Christ was born in a manger, put under His own law, went through the same misery we have in this life, died on the cross, was buried, and continued under the power of death for a time, all to save His people. Christ, fully man and fully God, was at a low station in order to save us.  This isn't deus ex machina.  This was planned out ever since Genesis 3. This is God plotting and planning redemption from the beginning.  How could we not want to meet face to face a King who loves us so?