A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

Hymn

Meekness and Majesty

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Graham Kendricks put together this song of remembering. Remembering who Jesus is, a dichotomy contained within one. Have we ever really considered just who Jesus is?  That dichotomy that is present with our Saviour at all times.  Let Meekness and Majesty show you more of the Lord.

Meekness and Majesty, text on palm leaf

Lyrics of Meekness and Majesty

Meekness and majesty manhood and deity
In perfect harmony the Man who is God
Lord of eternity dwells in humanity
Kneels in humility and washes our feet
 
O what a mystery meekness and majesty
Bow down and worship for this is your God
This is your God
 
Father’s pure radiance perfect in innocence
Yet learns obedience to death on a cross
Suffering to give us life
Conquering through sacrifice
And as they crucify prays Father forgive
 
O what a mystery meekness and majesty
Bow down and worship for this is your God
This is your God
 
Wisdom unsearchable God the invisible
Love indestructible in frailty appears
Lord of infinity stooping so tenderly
Lifts our humanity to the heights of His throne
 
O what a mystery meekness and majesty
Bow down and worship for this is your God
This is your God
This is your God
 
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Graham Kendrick
Meekness and Majesty lyrics © Thankyou Music, Thank You Music Ltd.

Author and History

Son of a Baptist preacher, Graham Kendricks was born in Northamptonshire in 1950.  He’s released some 38 albums and has been writing music for a good 30 years.   This translates into more than 450 songs. 

He began his career singing with a band doing evangelistic work, he eventually branched out as a single artist.  Reading a question/answer in Crosstalk I appreciated his viewpoint on worship music. “We need more of the revelation that flows from teaching the Word of God in our worship, and that our worship will rise in proportion to it.”  (source)

Ponderings

As I listened to this video above I heard Graham Kendricks say the following : “You don’t normally see these two words side by side…but that’s what we have when we think of God…made manifest to us in Jesus Christ. And that is the wonder of the God we worship.”  Isn’t that a good statement?  That wonder mixed with the very weakness that Jesus held.  It’s an amazing thing if you think about it. 🙂

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Hail to the Lord’s Anointed

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I was looking through the hymnbook Lift Up Your Hearts and saw the hymn Hail to the Lord’s Anointed and thought, wow, it’s been a LONG time since I’ve sung this song. As I reminded myself of the words I thought I had to share this song with you.  🙂

cross on a hill, caption Hail to the Lord's Anointed

Lyrics

Hail to the Lord’s anointed,
Great David’s greater Son!
Hail in the time appointed,
His reign on earth begun!
He comes to break oppression,
To set the captive free;
To take away transgression,
And rule in equity.

He comes in succor speedy
To those who suffer wrong;
To help the poor and needy,
And bid the weak be strong;
To give them songs for sighing,
Their darkness turn to light,
Whose souls, condemned and dying,
Were precious in His sight.

By such shall He be fearèd
While sun and moon endure;
Beloved, obeyed, reverèd;
For He shall judge the poor
Through changing generations,
With justice, mercy, truth,
While stars maintain their stations,
Or moons renew their youth.

He shall come down like showers
Upon the fruitful earth;
Love, joy, and hope, like flowers,
Spring in His path to birth.
Before Him, on the mountains,
Shall peace, the herald, go,
And righteousness, in fountains,
From hill to valley flow.

Arabia’s desert ranger
To Him shall bow the knee;
The Ethiopian stranger
His glory come to see;
With offerings of devotion
Ships from the isles shall meet,
To pour the wealth of oceans
In tribute at His feet.

Kings shall fall down before Him,
And gold and incense bring;
All nations shall adore Him,
His praise all people sing;
For He shall have dominion
O’er river, sea and shore,
Far as the eagle’s pinion
Or dove’s light wing can soar.

For Him shall prayer unceasing
And daily vows ascend;
His kingdom still increasing,
A kingdom without end:
The mountain dews shall nourish
A seed in weakness sown,
Whose fruit shall spread and flourish
And shake like Lebanon.

O’er every foe victorious,
He on His throne shall rest;
From age to age more glorious,
All blessing and all blest.
The tide of time shall never
His covenant remove;
His name shall stand forever,
His name to us is Love.

Author and History

James Montgomery is the author is this lovely hymn written back in 1821.  Born in Scotland he kept himself busy as a poet, hymn-writer and editor. He was a strong proponent for the abolition of slavery.  As editor of the  Sheffield Iris he found himself imprisoned twice, one for reporting on a riot, another time for publishing a song remembering the Fall of the Bastille.   

He wrote more than 400 hymns, many of which of still in use today.  He was well regarded in Sheffield, where he lived unmarried all of his working life.  When he died he was given a public funeral. 

Thinking Deeper

I love how author James Montgomery shows us a variety of people recognizing Jesus as the supreme ruler.  Kings, rangers, people from around the world etc.  Not only that though, he also speaks to how Jesus speedily helps people. 

He comes in succor speedy
To those who suffer wrong;
To help the poor and needy,
And bid the weak be strong;

His reason for doing so comes down to love.  His love for us and his love for God the Father.  He is the Lord’s anointed, and as such offers aid to those needing it, and demands our reverance. 

What Child is This

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I recently wrote a poem called Darkness Fell, where I asked the question, what happens when hope appears?  The question is, where does our hope spring from?  It starts with a baby born. What Child is This is a Christmas hymn that talks about this child of hope who was born. 

What Child is This

Lyrics to What Child is This

What child is this who, laid to rest
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the son of Mary.

Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the son of Mary.

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the son of Mary.

William C. Dix, managed an insurance company, but his heart was in writing the poetry of worship.  Born in Bristol, England in 1837 to a father who was a surgeon.  He wrote more than 40 hymns in his life time, among them “As with Gladness Men of Old“. 

The three verses of this song, which is more popular in North America than it is in it’s native land of England, were taken from a poem called “Manger Throne”.  

Pondering

Comfort Comfort Now His People

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I wasn’t introduced to this older hymn until this year.   I thought the words were nice, and it makes for a nice advent/Christmas song. 

Written by Johannes Olearius, a pastor from Germany back in the mid-1600’s.  Mr. Olearius was an author of a Bible commentary as well as devotionals.   He also put together the Geistliche Singe-Kunst, which was one of the largest and most important German hymnals of the 17th Century.

Lyrics

Comfort, comfort ye My people,
Speak ye peace, thus saith our God;
Comfort those who sit in darkness,
Mourning ’neath their sorrow’s load;
Speak ye to Jerusalem
Of the peace that waits for them;
Tell her that her sins I cover,
And her warfare now is over.

For the herald’s voice is crying
In the desert far and near,
Bidding all men to repentance,
Since the kingdom now is here.
O that warning cry obey!
Now prepare for God a way!
Let the valleys rise to meet Him,
And the hills bow down to greet Him.

Yea, her sins our God will pardon,
Blotting out each dark misdeed;
All that well deserved His anger
He will no more see nor heed.
She has suffered many a day,
Now her griefs have passed away,
God will change her pining sadness
Into ever springing gladness.

Make ye straight what long was crooked,
Make the rougher places plain:
Let your hearts be true and humble,
As befits His holy reign,
For the glory of the Lord
Now o’er the earth is shed abroad,
And all flesh shall see the token
That His Word is never broken.

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

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Two verses in most hymnals, but four in others, sometimes sung with a descant.  A Lovely song of advent, reminding us of our wait for our Saviour.

Written by Charles Wesley.  Other hymns that I have featured by Wesley are as follows:

Charles Wesley ministered in the 1700’s.  He wrote more than 150 hymns.  He started out his ministerial life within the Church of England, but later took to preaching in open fields. Upon his death he asked to be buried in a graveyard for Church of England members and it was allowed. 

Lyrics

Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a king,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

Below I put a video with a different tune, but I like it so thought you might too!  Sorry if I’m wrong.  🙂

Saviour, Thy Dying Love

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Saviour thy dying love, a quiet song of worship.  A person seeing what Christ did for him/her and wanting to give something back to the Lord.  This worshiping person works through what they can give, to the Lord who died, and now sustains their feeble faith.   A great song to offer to the Lord.

saviour, thy dying love

Lyrics

Savior, Thy dying love
Thou gavest me.
Nor should I aught withhold,
Dear Lord, from Thee.
In love my soul would bow,
My heart fulfill its vow,
Some offering bring Thee now,
Something for Thee.

O’er the blest mercy seat,
Pleading for me,
My feeble faith looks up,
Jesus, to Thee.
Help me the cross to bear,
Thy wondrous love declare,
Some song to raise, or prayer,
Something for Thee.

Give me a faithful heart,
Likeness to Thee.
That each departing day
Menceforth may see
Some work of love begun,
Some deed of kindness done,
Some wanderer sought and won,
Something for Thee.

All that I am and have,
Thy gifts so free,
In joy, in grief, through life,
O Lord, for Thee!
And when Thy face I see,
My ransomed soul shall be
Through all eternity,
Something for Thee.

Sylvanus Phelps penned this lovely hymn in 1862.  It was originally entitled “Some­thing, my God, for Thee.”  He lived 1816-1895.  A Con­nec­ti­cut boy he was educated at Brown University in Rhode Island. He pastored at First Baptist in New Haven, Rhode Island.   

We know of four hymns that he wrote.  Hemarried and had a son who went on to become a preacher, author and professor.

Comments

I love the words of this hymn, a lovely song of worship, recognizing what Christ gave to us, and what we in turn give to him. 

These words strike me everytime I sing this song.

My feeble faith looks up,
Jesus, to Thee.
Help me the cross to bear,

This is me. My feeble faith needs the Lord.  Without him my faith struggles to survive. But Christ sustains, and the end result of that, is want to find a way to live my life for him.  Don’t you find the same?  

When I Survey The Wondrous Cross

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I have sung When I Survey the Wondrous Cross for way to many years.  I’m not meaning that in a bad way.  It’s just so familar I have most of it memorized.   Another Isaac Watts song for you to enjoy. 

When I survey the wondrous cross

Lyrics

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

His dying crimson, like a robe,
Spreads o’er His body on the tree;
Then I am dead to all the globe,
And all the globe is dead to me.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

To Christ, who won for sinners grace
By bitter grief and anguish sore,
Be praise from all the ransomed race
Forever and forevermore.

This first youtube video is a tune I don’t often hear, but I thought it was a pretty tune and therefore thought you all might like it too, or perhaps it’s a version that YOU are familiar with. 🙂

History

lsaac Watts is the author of this lovely hymn.  According to the Center for Church Music, this song was written for a communion service. It was originally called “Crucifixion to the World by the Cross of Christ”.

Watts lived from 1674 to 1748.  Born in Southampton, England he became a Congregational Minister. He wrote at least 750 hymns over his lifetime. He enjoyed teaching more than preaching, and loved to train people.  Preaching to a particular denomination leaning was not his interest.

He eventually took a job as a private tutor for the Hartopps, and through them got to know the Abneys. Watts lived with the Abneys for a large portion of his life. 

Comments

The lyrics I found in the Cyber Hymnal contained five verses that I am very familiar with.  The sixth verse is a new one to me. It’s one of the things I find fascinating with looking at the hymns. Different tradition use different verses to sing, and sometimes they add new ones, change the words, or alter the tune. 

This song is no different.  Watts wrote a fourth stanza he expected would get left out, and two other verses were later added.  I remember a conversation I had with someone on facebook.  He understood the desire of people to update hymns to today’s linguistics, but as an author he felt bad for the people who wrote the songs.  What would they think of the words they wrote being changed?

I don’t know that Watts would have minded, since he changed some of the words himself. (visit the center of church music to learn more)  It just might be something we want to be cognizant of when we change music to suit our present day sensibilities and understandings.   It would not harm us to learn the meanings of unfamiliar words and learn to praise God using them, now would it?

Other Isaac Watts Songs: