Clear Vision musings

A friend sent me this, saying they were learning it in their church. This song is beautiful.

SDG,
Lisa

Before my children and I began singing hymns, I had never considered singing the psalms. (Obviously we don’t come from a background that teaches psalmody nor hymnody.) The only Psalm I’d heard sung was the 23rd - and snippets of others included in modern choruses.

Although I’d bought an old Psalter, mainly for educational purposes as we studied the Pilgrims and Puritans, we hadn’t seriously began learning them. When we went to a family camp 3 years ago we were introduced to congregational singing of the Psalms  - and their beauty. How anyone can say that psalm and hymn singing is dead and dreary is beyond me. (Well, obviously they’ve only encountered it in a "church" that is dead and dreary. The people are dead, not the hymns!)

The saints of God, with their voices raised in harmonious praise, singing the rich Psalms and Hymns, excellent music with depth, put the simple ditties we "grew up" on to shame. It isn’t just emotional-feelings stirring music, it is rich, deep complete soul enlivening and arresting music. It isn’t music you mindlessly sing, but music that engages both the mind and the heart, enabling you to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.

I find it quite telling that in contemporary worship, people are always seeking a newer song list. The songs that were sung 2 or 3 years ago are "old" and everyone is tired of them. It seems it is always time to move on, because, although the songs were fun while they lasted, there was nothing substantial to keep them surviving long term. They were nothing but a fad. They stirred emotions once, but no longer are having the same effect. They’ve become ho-hum. (I can say that having been in worship ministry for over 20 years.)

Yet, other songs have survived hundreds of years, and still touch the hearts, souls, lives of people in deep ways. These songs have survived, not 2 years, not 10, not 20, but many, many generations, 100’s of years and still have a message that honors God and reaches hearts in lasting ways. (Not all hymns of course. There’s been a good share of shallow, non-lasting "fluff" there too. They aren’t still around, just like much of today’s music won’t still be around in a hundred years.)

The Psalm I’d like to share with you today is one we first heard at that family camp. The whole family loved it. We came home and tried to find it. It took nearly 3 years, but a couple months ago I finally found the tune online.

This is the version of words we sang at camp (I believe), (they were altered a bit for the tune.)

1 O sing a new song to the Lord,
for wonders he hath done:
His right hand and his holy arm
him victory hath won.

2 The Lord God his salvation
hath caused to be known;
His justice in the heathen’s sight
he openly hath shown.

3 He mindful of his grace and truth
to Isr’el’s house hath been;
And the salvation of our God
all ends of th’ earth have seen.

4 Let all the earth unto the Lord
send forth a joyful noise;
Lift up your voice aloud to him,
sing praises, and rejoice.

5 With harp, with harp, and voice of psalms,
unto Jehovah sing:
6 With trumpets, cornets, gladly sound
before the Lord the King.

7 Let seas and all their fullness roar;
the world, and dwellers there;
8 Let floods clap hands, and let the hills
together joy declare

9 Before the Lord; because he comes,
to judge the earth comes he:
He’ll judge the world with righteousness,
his folk with equity.

SDG,
Lisa

You just can’t imagine my young son’s thrill when he found out what our new hymn for this week was. It wasn’t a new one, as we usually learn each week. But this one is his absolute favorite!

Why was it our hymn for the week, if we already know it? Because that is the chapter we are at in our "Mr. Pipes" reading. As we read the story, the older ones knew what was coming, but you should have seen his face when he realized we were reading about his song.

I don’t know what attracted him to this hymn over all others, perhaps the descant part that the boys get to sing on their own. But every time he’s allowed to pick a song for our morning worship, we know what it will be - It is Well with My Soul by Horatio Spafford. Mr. Spafford wrote this song in 1873 after his 4 daughters were drowned at sea, and his wife nearly so.

I can relate to this song too. In 1990 we lost  our 5th daughter, only 3 hours after birth. My Lord was truly with me and granted a "peace that passes all understanding." Although I could not understand how anyone could get through such without God, it truly was "well with my soul."

It is Well with My Soul

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Refrain (after each verse)
It is well, with my soul, It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

SDG,
Lisa

I heard a story this week about one of my favorite hymns, an old celtic hymn, I’m sure most of you know - Be Thou My Vision, by Patrick, missionary to Ireland in the early 400’s. (Not all attribute it to him.)

I was listening to a message by Joe Morecraft, so I hope I get all these details right. Joe had heard about some Indian scratchings, from pre-1000, in the mountains in southern Virginia, and he asked his grandma, who was 97 and lived there, if she knew anything about them. She said yes, and told him where about, and to go find an old timer there and they could no doubt give him directions to go see them. He did and found them. But as he was looking at them, he knew these weren’t just Indian scratchings. He had seen these petroglyphs before. It was ancient Irish petroglyph writing, and it was the words to Be Thou My Vision, — in southern Virginia, — in America, written there before 1000 AD. Awesome!

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of heaven, my victory won,
May I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

SDG,
Lisa

This week we learned about a hymn writer new by name to us, Ray Palmer; and also looked at one familiar to us, (and probably you, but perhaps not by name,) Samuel Francis Smith.

Samuel Francis Smith wrote "My Country ‘Tis of This" which is far more a song of patriotism than worship of God. But Ray Palmer, as the book we are reading states, "represents the last major American hymn writer who wrote his hymns from a Calvinistic understanding of God’s Word," (meaning emphasizing the Sovereignty of God, and in all glory to Him.)

Although I knew this hymn before, I was totally unfamiliar with its author. The words of My Faith Looks Up to Thee express my soul:

My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary, Savior divine!
Now hear me while I pray, take all my guilt away,
O let me from this day be wholly Thine!

May Thy rich grace impart
Strength to my fainting heart, my zeal inspire!
As Thou hast died for me, O may my love to Thee,
Pure warm, and changeless be, a living fire!

While life’s dark maze I tread,
And griefs around me spread, be Thou my Guide;
Bid darkness turn to day, wipe sorrow’s tears away,
Nor let me ever stray from Thee aside.

When ends life’s transient dream,
When death’s cold sullen stream over me roll;
Blest Savior, then in love, fear and distrust remove;
O bear me safe above, a ransomed soul!

Listen to and read more about this hymn here.

SDG,
Lisa

I’m on a roll so why not?

Just a few more thoughts about "worship". While you’re listening to some of the contemporary pop "praise and worship" songs, notice who many of them are talking all about.

We may sing "It’s all about you, Jesus. It’s not about me." but from a lot of our contemporary "Christian" songs you’d never know it.

SDG,
Lisa @ Me and My House

We all can and should pour our hearts out to God. Many times this is done is by "the Spirit itself [making] intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." (Romans 8:26)

We can and should praise and worship Him, out of our own individuality. No eloquence is required to speak to or praise our Father. He is pleased with our offerings that come from a humble heart in spirit and truth.

God is seeking true worshippers, ones that worship in both spirit and truth. Not cold heartless bare facts - and not just "free-spirit", any ol’ thing my heart feels. Worship requires spirit and truth. Our praise should overflow from our heart’s love, in knowing Him as He truly is - as His Word declares Him to be.

When we praise Him in the congregation, when we publicize His praise, proclaim it in the sanctuary or to the world, the greatest praise and the greatest worship come from the heart that is overflowing with His greatness - and that knows how to express it beautifully and truthfully.

Back to our quote:  "A good hymn is the best use to which poetry can be devoted," John Greenleaf Whittier.

It can be easy to get caught up in a new catchy tune and lyrics - but are they spirit (life) and truth? Read the words of the hymn I just posted before this. Compare that with some of the latest, contemporary pop praise & worship songs. Compare how long a "new" song is usually sung before it becomes old and boring - and you’re listening for the next "latest greatest". Catchy little ditties usually become meaningless cliches in short order. (Don’t read this that ALL new praise or worship songs are such. Just do some comparisons.)

It takes substance to hold our thoughts very long. A babe may thrive on milk for a while, but he grows quickly and needs bread - food to chew on, and in time is even able to handle the  richness of meat. Yet, no one can thrive on syrupy, kool-aid or soda pop.

It takes substance, beauty and truth to make worship music that endures throughout many ages. That connects the saints with our brothers that have gone before us and who are yet to come. That joins us together to worship our God in spirit and truth.

SDG,
Lisa @ Me and My House

“A good hymn is the best use to which poetry can be devoted.”
John Greenleaf Whittier.

Lord, with glowing heart I’d praise Thee,
For the bliss Thy love bestows,
For the pardoning grace that saves me,
And the peace that from it flows:
Help, O God, my weak endeavor;
This dull soul to rapture raise:
Thou must light the flame, or never
Can my love be warmed to praise.

Praise, my soul, the God that sought thee,
Wretched wanderer, far astray;
Found thee lost, and kindly brought thee
From the paths of death away;
Praise, with love’s devoutest feeling,
Him Who saw thy guilt-born fear,
And the light of hope revealing,
Bade the blood-stained cross appear.

Praise thy Savior God that drew thee
To that cross, new life to give,
Held a blood sealed pardon to thee,
Bade thee look to Him and live.
Praise the grace whose threats alarmed thee,
Roused thee from thy fatal ease;
Praise the grace whose promise warmed thee,
Praise the grace that whispered peace.

Lord, this bosom’s ardent feeling
Vainly would my lips express.
Low before Thy footstool kneeling,
Deign Thy suppliant’s prayer to bless:
Let Thy grace, my soul’s chief treasure,
Love’s pure flame within me raise;
And, since words can never measure,
Let my life show forth Thy praise.

To read our story of learning this hymn - and its author, click here.

Read the words through first then, click here, to hear the tune. We learned it to the one by Ripley - but the default one is good too. These are MIDI files, so not the most beautiful music, but they give you an idea of the tune.

SDG,
Lisa @ Me and My House

Do you know the difference between folk, popular, and classical music? Find some insight in an article called Style and Substance at Let’s Learn Theology.

This is excellent for a more general look at The Effect of Music on Life. Plenty more links to share on another day.

For today I’ll just exhort, may our worship/ music always truly glorify and exalt our Lord God and Savior.

SDG,
Lisa

I just ran across a website yesterday that looks like it will be a good resource for us to supplement our hymn studies, Songs and Hymns.org. I wrote more about it and about our hymn studies on our Lifestyle Education through Discipleship blog today.

SDG,
Lisa