A Net in Time

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hymns

Lift Your Heads Ye Mighty Gates

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I first posted about this hymn on my previous blog.  Many places that I looked call this an advent hymn.  I don’t know.  I kinda see it, and yet, I kinda see it as something more.  I’ll let you make up your mind about that.  Anyways, let’s learn more about Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates!

Lift up your heads ye mighty gates

Lyrics

Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates,
Behold the King of glory waits;
The King of kings is drawing near,
The Savior of the world is here;
Life and salvation doth He bring,
Wherefore rejoice and gladly sing:
We praise Thee, Father, now!
Creator, wise art Thou!

The Lord is just, a helper tried,
Mercy is ever at His side,
His kingly crown is holiness,
His scepter, pity in distress,
The end of all our woe He brings;
Wherefore the earth is glad and sings:
We praise Thee, Savior, now,
Mighty in deed art Thou!

Oh blest the land, the city blest,
Where Christ the ruler is confessed!
Oh happy hearts and happy homes
To whom this king in triumph comes!
The cloudless sun of joy He is,
Who bringeth pure delight and bliss:
O Comforter divine,
What boundless grace is Thine!

Fling wide the portals of your heart,
Make it a temple set apart
From earthly use for Heaven’s employ,
Adorned with prayer and love and joy;
So shall your sovereign enter in,
And new and nobler life begin:
To Thee, O God, be praise,
For word and deed and grace!

Redeemer, come! I open wide
My heart to Thee—here, Lord, abide!
Let me Thy inner presence feel,
Thy grace and love in me reveal,
Thy Holy Spirit guide us on
Until our glorious goal is won!
Eternal praise and fame
We offer to Thy name.

Author and history

Georg Weissel (note the lack of an e on this first name!) was a Lutheran pastor out of Germany.  In his day this area of land was known as East Prussia.  His dad Johann was both judge and mayor of his town, Domnau. 

Being a pastor was a second career for him, he had started off as the rector of a school. After his finished his studies, he became the pastor of the newly built Altrossgart Church in Königsberg in 1623. He remained there until his death in 1635.

Weisel was well-known as a poet, and wrote 20 hymns as well. These hymns he generally wrote to mark the greater festivals of the church year. 

Lift up your heads ye mighty gates, was based on Psalm 24

7 Lift up your heads, you gates;
    be lifted up, you ancient doors,
    that the King of glory may come in.
8 Who is this King of glory?
    The Lord strong and mighty,
    the Lord mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, you gates;
    lift them up, you ancient doors,
    that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is he, this King of glory?
    The Lord Almighty—
    he is the King of glory.

Ponderings

Did you know I’ve written songs based on scripture?  Yes I have.  It’s not as easy as it sounds.  And no, I haven’t shared them with more than one person (she helped me write the music for them). 

So I am always amazed at someone who can take scripture and then turn it into a GOOD song. Whether it’s a simple one like last week, or a more complicated one like today. 

Did you take time to read the words of this song?  Following along with Jesus promised, Jesus here?  Then onto Jesus our helper, Jesus will return?  The doctrine in this song is worth looking at. 

I heard the Voice of Jesus Say

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Back in Sept 2014 I did my first hymn Study.  I started with I Heard the voice of Jesus Say.   Every other week (as time permits) I hope to bring back some of those earlier hymn studies and share new thoughts about them. 

I heard the voice of Jesus Say

Lyrics

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
Come unto Me and rest;
Lay down, thou weary one, lay down
Thy head upon My breast.
I came to Jesus as I was,
Weary and worn and sad;
I found in Him a resting place,
And He has made me glad.

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
Behold, I freely give
The living water; thirsty one,
Stoop down, and drink, and live.
I came to Jesus, and I drank
Of that life giving stream;
My thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
And now I live in Him.

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
I am this dark world’s Light;
Look unto Me, thy morn shall rise,
And all thy day be bright.
I looked to Jesus, and I found
In Him my star, my sun;
And in that light of life I’ll walk,
Till traveling days are done.

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
My Father’s house above
Has many mansions; I’ve a place
Prepared for you in love.
I trust in Jesus—in that house,
According to His word,
Redeemed by grace, my soul shall live
Forever with the Lord.

This is the tune that I am familiar with.

The Author and History of I heard the voice of Jesus Say

Scotman Horatius Bonar was born in 1808 and began writing hymns for youth when he entered the ministry (originally as a Sunday school superintendent).  Over time he started writing hymns for adults as well. He ministered for 28 years in Kelso as part of the Free Church of Scotland. He finished his ministerial career in Chal­mers Me­mor­i­al Church in Ed­in­burgh.

He wrote over 600 hymns over the years, and is often referred to as “the prince of Scot­tish hymn writ­ers”.  For a full list of the hymns, he wrote please visit the cyber hymnal. 

Other Bonar Songs I have featured

I have had this version before, the tune always strikes me as unique.

Additional Thoughts

I don’t know the fourth verse, do you?  It’s something I’m always surprised by, the verses I don’t know that are actually part of the original song. 

As I read these words I ponder what I have heard Jesus say.  

  • “Peace, be still”.
  • “Remember I am God”
  • “Relax, I’ve got this”
  • “My child, hush, be calm”

This morning in church we were reminded that we need to hold on to the proper path to wisdom, to knowing God. To stay on that path.  We do this by clinging to the instruction we’ve received.  In Psalm 119:72 we read “The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold”.  Do we hold to that?  Do we hear Jesus reminding us of the truth of God’s words to us?

What does he say to you?

Open Up Your Heart and Let the Sunshine In

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I grew up listening to “Open Up Your Heart and Let the Sunshine In” on a record.  There was a lady who had a child-sounding voice when she sang, she put together a few recordings of faith-based songs for children.   She saw it as a ministry she was uniquely qualified for. 

Open up your heart and let the sun shine in

Lyrics

Mommy told me something a little kid should know.
It’s all about the devil and I’ve learned to hate him so.
She said he causes trouble when you let him in the room.
He will never ever leave you if your heart is filled with gloom.

So let the sun shine in, face it with a grin.
Smilers never lose and frowners never win.
So let the sun shine in, face it with a grin
Open up your heart and let the sun shine in.

When you are unhappy, the devil wears a grin
But oh, he starts a-running when the light comes pouring in
I know he’ll be unhappy ’cause I’ll never wear a frown
Maybe if we keep on smiling he’ll get tired of hanging ’round.

So let the sun shine in, face it with a grin.
Smilers never lose and frowners never win.
So let the sun shine in, face it with a grin
Open up your heart and let the sun shine in.

If I forget to say my prayers the devil wears a grin.
But he feels so awful awful when he sees me on my knees
So if you’re full of trouble and you never seem to win,
Just open up your heart and let the sun shine in.

So let the sun shine in, face it with a grin.
Smilers never lose and frowners never win.
So let the sun shine in face it with a grin
Open up your heart and let the sun shine in.

Song written by Stuart Hamblen

The Author of Let the Sunshine In

Stuart Hamblen grew up in a home of a travelling Methodist preacher.   He became the world’s first singing cowboy and was in several movies.   He not only composed more than 225 gospel songs, but wrote western songs as well.   Mr. Hamblen was the first man to fly a horse, flying his racehorse EL LOBO from Los Angeles to Bay Meadows, forever changing the horse racing world. 

He was not always a believer, despite his godly upbringing, he came to faith later in life.  He not only raced horses, appeared in movies, wrote songs, did rodeo but also had a radio career.  This on top of his degree in education.  This Texan was also a band leader.   Mr. Hamblen married Suzanne Obee and eventually had two daughters. 

Connections

I have to admit when I read all the things that Stuart Hamblen did I was quite impressed.  But when I read how his dad was a preacher, but that Stuart didn’t come to faith until later in life, my heart was encouraged.   

Some kids do this, they slide away from the faith.  Through God’s gift to us of free will, sometimes poor decisions are made.  AND YET… God can still work in hearts and lives.  One can cling to those promises. 

Thinking back to this song I can’t say I agree with all the words

“Smilers never lose and frowners never win”, that phrase has my guard going up.  Whether one smiles or frowns doesn’t affect the outcome of long-term life choices.  It might affect the here and now, and is really not a bad thing to encourage is it?

I do like how we are invited to remember how much the devil dislikes it when we pray.  Prayer is our battle cry.  We’d do well to remember it!  🙂 

 

O Word of God Incarnate

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I originally wrote about this hymn, O Word of God Incarnate, back in July 2016!  Wow!  I’ve been sharing a Sunday song for quite a while haven’t I?  🙂

o word of god incarnate

Lyrics to O Word of God Incarnate

1 O Word of God incarnate,
O Wisdom from on high,
O Truth unchanged, unchanging,
O Light of our dark sky:
we praise you for the radiance
that from the Scripture’s page,
a lantern to our footsteps,
shines on from age to age.

2 The church from you, dear Master,
received the gift divine;
and still that light is lifted
o’er all the earth to shine.
It is the chart and compass
that all life’s voyage through,
mid mists and rocks and quicksands,
still guides, O Christ, to you.

I found two versions for the third verse:
The Scripture is a banner
before God’s host unfurled;
It is a shining Beacon
above the darkling world.
It is the Chart and Compass
that over life’s surging tide,
Mid mists and rocks and quicksands
, to You, O Christ, will guide.

OR this one which we sing in our church
It floateth like a banner
  Before God’s host unfurled;
It shineth like a beacon
  Above the darkling world;
It is the chart and compass
  That, o’er life’s surging sea,
’Mid mists and rocks and quicksands
  Still guide, O Christ, to Thee.

4 O make your church, dear Savior,
a lamp of burnished gold
to bear before the nations
your true light as of old.
O teach your wandering pilgrims
by this our path to trace
till, clouds and darkness ended,
we see you face to face.

Author and History

Poor Man’s bishop, William Walsham How was born in 1823.  This son of   William Wybergh How, was educated at Shrewsbury School and Wadham College, Oxford (B.A. 1845).

How chose to serve in the poor of London, living in the slums and rejecting offers to serve in more prestigious churches.   Authoring several books such as the Commentary of the Four Gospels and Plain Words for Children.

Bishop How wrote 54 hymns altogether.   He said, “A good hymn should be like a good prayer—simple, real, earnest, and reverent.”  (source)

Thinking Deeper

Do you believe in the truth of scripture?  Do you see the truth of who Jesus is?  Jesus, God’s word, born into flesh!  Do you see how he minds his people, the church?  How do we respond to that?

Do we work to become the people he wants us to be?   Do we actually try to be the burnished lamp we sing about?  Do we really try to bring light to the world around us?

Some songs remind us, don’t they?  Remind us of the call placed on our lives, and how we are to be as a light to the world around us. 

Jesus Shall Reign

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Jesus shall reign… Oh, I grew up singing this song, I think it’s a rare verse that I wouldn’t know.   In fact the familiar four you find in most hymnbooks I know well, but I discovered today there are four less common verses that were part of the original song. 

Jesus Shall Reign

Lyrics to Jesus Shall Reign

Jesus shall reign where’er the sun
Does his successive journeys run;
His kingdom stretch from shore to shore,
Till moons shall wax and wane no more.

Behold the islands with their kings,
And Europe her best tribute brings;
From north to south the princes meet,
To pay their homage at His feet.

There Persia, glorious to behold,
There India shines in eastern gold;
And barbarous nations at His word
Submit, and bow, and own their Lord.

To Him shall endless prayer be made,
And praises throng to crown His head;
His name like sweet perfume shall rise
With every morning sacrifice.

People and realms of every tongue
Dwell on His love with sweetest song;
And infant voices shall proclaim
Their early blessings on His name.

Blessings abound where’er He reigns;
The prisoner leaps to lose his chains;
The weary find eternal rest,
And all the sons of want are blest.

Where He displays His healing power,
Death and the curse are known no more:
In Him the tribes of Adam boast
More blessings than their father lost.

Let every creature rise and bring
Peculiar honors to our king;
Angels descend with songs again,
And earth repeat the loud amen.

In this version The Getty’s add another song to this older hymn.  I wasn’t sure what I thought, but since I talked about new songs of worship last week it’s good to give a chance to the new. 🙂 

History

Isaac Watts, song writer, poet, clergyman. He was an important man in his day. His institution of congregational singing is still widely in use today. It shows an important use of poetry in worship.  If you want to see a sample of his childhood poetry you can find it at the poetry foundation. 

Other Isaac Watts Songs

For a more traditional version of Jesus shall reign, watch below

What Can We Learn?

Jesus shall reign walks us through the entirety of Jesus’ kingdom. 

  • from shore to shore
  • where’r the sun sets
  •  til moon’s wax and wane
  • every person, tribe, nation
  • endless prayers are given
  • praises from everyone
  • prisoners, weary, sufferers
  •  creatures
  • north and south
  • Islands and continents
  • east and west

The whole gambit of the world is covered.  Praise and prayers are given to Jesus the King. Kings, peoples, nations, and tribes are all humbled before him.  Even the creatures of the earth acknowledge the wonder of God. 

A Hymn of Glory Let us Sing

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Ralph Vaughan Williams provided the harmony for A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing from the original Latin. This song I found as I leafed through Lift Up Your Hearts (amazon affiliate link).  I don’t know a lot of the songs in this hymnal but the tune of this one looked familiar and it was!  The words good and ergo I am sharing them with you.  I hope you enjoy them as well 

A Hymn of Glory Let us sing, text on the background of mountains and cloud

Lyrics

I checked a couple of hymnbooks we have and found the generally only four verses are sung.  The original tune has seven verses. 

A hymn of glory let us sing
New songs throughout the world shall ring
Alleluia, Alleluia.
Christ, by a road before untrod
Ascendeth to the throne of God.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

The holy apostolic band
Upon the Mount of Olives stand
Alleluia, Alleluia.
And with His followers they see
Jesus’ resplendent majesty
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

To whom the angels drawing nigh,
Why stand and gaze upon the sky?
Alleluia, Alleluia.
This is the Savior, thus they say.
This is His noble triumph day.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

Again ye shall behold Him so,
As ye have today seen Him go.
Alleluia, Alleluia.
In glorious pomp ascending high
Up to the portals of the sky.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

O grant us thitherward to tend
And with unwearied hearts ascend,
Alleluia, Alleluia.
Unto Thy kingdom’s throne, where Thou
As is our faith, art seated now,
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

Be Thou our Joy and strong Defense,
Who art our future Recompense,
Alleluia, Alleluia.
So shall the light that springs from Thee
Be ours through all eternity,
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

O risen Christ, ascended Lord,
All praise to Thee let earth accord,
Alleluia, Alleluia.
Who art, while endless ages run,
With Father and with Spirit One,
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

History of A hymn of Glory let us sing

The original author has been lost over the course of time, but Benjamin Webb translated it from the Latin into English.  An English clergyman who was recognized at the leading authority in ecclesiastical art, he also served a curate in various churches in England. 

What Can We Learn?

Since hymns are a great way to learn more of who God is and how we can best praise him, what can we learn from A hymn of Glory Let us sing?

I was struck by this stanza : new hymns throughout the earth shall ring.

Isn’t that just the case?  Throughout Christian history new songs of worship have been created.  Some on purpose, and some that just slip out of people’s mouths as they consider the wonder of the Lord God.  In fact in some churches a battle rages between hymns and praise/worship songs.  We need to consider the truth though.  God will raise up worship from his people.  His glory draws it out of us. 

How it is drawn out depends on the person it is coming from. Songs that bring praise to God are being written all across the spectrum even today.  So if we are greeted by a song we don’t know, but it truly brings praise to God, let’s sing it out. See new ways to praise God.  Contemplate the wonders of our Lord and give him all the praise. 

He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; many will see and fear and will trust in the LORD … Psalm 40:3.

Come Ye Faithful Raise the Strain

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Come, ye faithful, raise the strain is an old song, written by John of Damascus.  A man who delightfully became serious about faith in his middle age.  See…there’s hope for all to realize the truth of who God is!  Rather cool eh?  🙂 This is a lovely song showing the joy we find in Christ’s work and resurrection. 

Come, ye faithful, raise the strain

Lyrics

Come, ye faithful, raise the strain
Of triumphant gladness;
God hath brought forth Israel
Into joy from sadness;
Loosed from Pharaoh’s bitter yoke
Jacob’s sons and daughters,
Led them with unmoistened foot
Through the Red Sea waters.

’Tis the spring of souls today;
Christ has burst His prison,
And from three days’ sleep in death
As a sun hath risen;
All the winter of our sins,
Long and dark, is flying
From His light, to whom we give
Laud and praise undying.

Now the queen of seasons, bright
With the day of splendor,
With the royal feast of feasts,
Comes its joy to render;
Comes to glad Jerusalem,
Who with true affection
Welcomes in unwearied strains
Jesus’ resurrection.

Neither might the gates of death,
Nor the tomb’s dark portal,
Nor the watchers, nor the seal
Hold Thee as a mortal;
But today amidst the twelve
Thou didst stand, bestowing
That Thy peace which evermore
Passeth human knowing.

Alleluia! now we cry
To our King immortal,
Who, triumphant, burst the bars
Of the tomb’s dark portal;
Alleluia! with the Son,
God the Father praising,
Alleluia! yet again
To the Spirit raising.

Author and History

John of Damascus was born John Monsur, a member of an Arab Christian family living in Damascus.  He became embroiled in a conflict over the use of icons within the orthodox church.  In the end his thought process won out, so icons are used within the Orthodox church.  He not only dealt with icons, but a”codified the practices of Byzantine chant, and wrote about science, philosophy, and theology“. (source)

He lived a life of wealth and power until his 40’s when he gave away his wealth and power and retreated to a monastry.  Most of the songs he made centred around the Incarnation. 

Learning from this hymn

Can you see the history of this hymn?   The walk through the Old Testament and then the joy of Christ’s death and resurrection.  The sheer joy of Christ the Immortal king.  The joy of it!  Out of such extreme sadness of captivity to this unmitigated joy. 

But Jesus, he beat death!  And not only that, the 12 he taught, they spread the news.  They taught his message, and so Christ’s message of peace was bestowed upon humankind.