Two Kings with Two Kinds of Lifestyles!

King Saul and King David were both leaders of the nation of Israel. The former chose a lifestyle of disobedience and the latter a lifestyle of obedience to God. For instance, according to 1 Samuel 15, when Saul went to battle the Amalekites God gave him instructions to destroy everything, yet he and his soldiers brought back sheep and cattle as plunder.

When confronted by Samuel about this sin, Saul argued that he had done so in order to sacrifice them to God.  But Samuel reminded Saul that “to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams” (1 Samuel 15:22b). By disobeying God’s instructions, Saul went down the path of rebellion and God rejected him as the king of Israel.

Following the rejection of King Saul, David was anointed as the second King of Israel. There were several times when David did things that were displeasing to God. One of the grave sins he committed was the sin of adultery with Bathsheba, which he sought to cover in multiple ways. But because his choice was a lifestyle of obedience, David repented of the sin and asked God to create in Him a clean heart, so he might teach transgressors the ways of the Lord (Psalm 51:10-13). Clearly, King David is remembered to have trod the path of righteousness.

There are two testimonies in the Bible that underscore that David’s choice of a Godly life was a good one and that we should emulate his example. First, David himself testifies in Psalm 23 that God is his Shepherd who refreshes his soul and leads him in the paths of righteousness.  Second, God Himself after rejecting Saul, testifies of King David with these great words: “…'I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.'” (Acts 13:22, NIV). David humbled himself when rebuked by God’s prophet, showing how God’s man (and woman) humbly submits to the authority of God’s Word. May we be those who choose to obey God and live a life of Godliness so that sin may not mislead us.

A story of the doxology, “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow,” by William Petersen

In 1673 Anglican bishop Thomas Ken wrote a prayer manual for the students at Winchester College. The book contained a hymn for the morning, one for evening, and one for midnight. Students were admonished to sing the morning and evening hymns devoutly—though apparently the midnight hymn was seldom used! All three hymns concluded with the same stanza, “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow”—the most-sung hymn lyrics in the English language. 

Thomas Ken knew well that it is difficult to end some days with a doxology of praise. Orphaned as a boy, he was adopted by a noted scholar and author. He was ordained in the Church of England and became chaplain to Princess Mary of Orange. But when he spoke against the immorality of the royal court, he soon found himself without a job. Later he was imprisoned in the Tower of London by James II for refusing to read the king’s Declaration of Indulgence. Still, it is said that Bishop Ken continued to use his morning and evening hymns in his personal devotions. 

Years earlier at Winchester College, he told the students, “It is a very good thing to tell of the loving-kindness of God in the morning and of his truth in the night season.” And it is a good habit for all of us.

Scriptures: Psalm 3:5; Psalm 22:27-28; Psalm 63:6-8 

Theme: Praise, Evening Hymn, Confession 

Lyrics of the Hymn:

All praise to Thee, my God, this night,

For all the blessings of the light!

Keep me, O keep me, King of kings,

Beneath Thine own almighty wings.

Forgive me, Lord, for Thy dear Son,

The ill that I this day have done,

That with the world, myself, and Thee,

I, when I sleep, at peace may be.

O may my soul on Thee repose,

And with sweet sleep mine eyelids close,

Sleep that may me more vigorous make

To serve my God when I awake.

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him, all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

By THOMAS KEN (1637–1711)

Reference for the Hymn:

Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (p. 11). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

A story of the worship song, “Give Thanks” by William Petersen

Some people may say, “You wouldn’t be able to give thanks to God if you had the problems I have.”

Well, consider the story of Henry Smith, the man who wrote the worship song “Give Thanks.” Despite a degenerative eye disease, Smith made it through college and even through seminary, but soon he was declared legally blind. Unable to get a pastorate or any long-term employment, he went back home and worked at various odd jobs to support himself. 

What did the future hold for Henry Smith? He says, “I remember being extremely thankful, and I remember my pastor quoting 2 Corinthians 8:9, that Christ, though he was rich, became poor for our sakes that we might become rich in him. So, Henry wrote a song about the situation: “Give Thanks.”

Today Henry runs a recording studio and plays bass for his church worship team. Because of his lack of eyesight, he depends on his memory to get the right chords. Regarding his blindness, he says, “It slows me down, but it doesn’t stop me.” Give thanks.

Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 8:9; Ephesians 5:20-21; Philippians 2:7-8
Themes: Thankfulness, Praise, Worship 

Lyrics of the Song:
Give thanks with a grateful heart,
Give thanks to the Holy One; 
Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son. 

And now let the weak say, “I am strong!”
Let the poor say, “I am rich
Because of what the Lord has done for us.”
Give thanks.
By HENRY SMITH JR. © 1978 BY INTEGRITY’S HOSANNA! MUSIC/ASCAP All rights reserved. Used by permission

Reference for the Song:
Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (pp. 658-659). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

A story of the hymn, “And Can It Be?” by William Petersen

Charles Wesley had strict religious training at home, started “Holy Clubs” in college to promote righteous living, and went as a missionary to Native Americans after college. But he was not converted. Charles had no peace in his heart. One day in 1738, he met with a group of Moravians in Aldersgate Hall in London, and there he came to realize that salvation was by faith alone. In his journal of May 21, he wrote, “At midnight I gave myself to Christ.” His brother John was converted shortly after. 

Two days later, he began writing two hymns. Both of them told of his conversion. At first, he wasn’t sure he should finish them. Was it pride, he wondered, to talk about his own experience? But then, he said, “I prayed Christ to stand by me, and finished the hymns.” Yes, it may have described his own experience, but it is also the experience of millions of others who have come by faith to Jesus Christ. In his lifetime he wrote between five and six thousand hymns, but this hymn stands as one of his most powerful and most profound. 

Scriptures: Romans 5:8; Romans 8:1-3; Hebrews 9:11-12; 1 Peter 1:18-19 
Themes: Conversion, Love, Grace, Forgiveness 

Lyrics of the Hymn:
And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me? 

He left His Father’s throne above,
So free, so infinite His grace!
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race!
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For, O my God, it found out me.

’Tis mystery all! th’ Immortal dies!
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine.
 ’Tis mercy all! let earth adore;
Let angel minds inquire no more. 

Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night.
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray;
I woke—the dungeon flamed with light!
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee. 

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’ eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
CHARLES WESLEY (1707–1788)

Reference for the Hymn:
Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (pp. 472-473). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

A story of the hymn, “All Creatures of our God and King [O Sifuni Mungu],” by William Petersen

Saint Francis of Assisi is perhaps best known as a nature lover. You may recall the painting in which the Italian artist Giotto depicts him feeding the birds. One writer spoke of him this way: “With smiles he met the friendless, fed the poor, freed a trapped bird, led home a child. Although he spoke no word, his text, God’s love, the town did not forget.”

A soldier in his early years, Francis resolved to imitate the life of Christ. So, he renounced his wealth and founded the Franciscan Order of Friars. He and those who followed him became itinerant evangelists, preaching and helping the poor of Italy. He wrote sixty hymns of praise and worship and encouraged church music in every way he could.

The original text of this hymn was probably written by Francis during the last months of his life when he was suffering intense pain and was almost blind. 

Scriptures: Psalm 145:10-11; Psalm 148:1, 7-13; Romans 11:36 
Themes: Praise, Worship, Adoration 

Lyrics of the Hymn:
All creatures of our God and King, 
Lift up your voice and with us sing, 
Alleluia! Alleluia! 
Thou burning sun with golden beam, 
Thou silver moon with softer gleam! 

O praise Him, O praise Him! 
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Thou rushing wind that art so strong, 
Ye clouds that sail in heaven along, 
O praise Him! Alleluia! 
Thou rising morn, in praise rejoice, 
Ye lights of evening, find a voice! 

Thou flowing water, pure and clear, 
Make music for thy Lord to hear, 
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou fire so masterful and bright, 
Thou givest man both warmth and light! 

And thou, most kind and gentle death,
Waiting to hush our latest breath, 
O praise Him! Alleluia! 
Thou leadest home the child of God, 
And Christ our Lord the way hath trod. 

Let all things their Creator bless, 
And worship Him in humbleness, 
O praise Him! Alleluia! 
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son, 
And praise the Spirit, Three in One! 
By FRANCIS OF ASSISI (1182–1226) Translated by William H. Draper (1855–1933)

Reference for the Hymn:
Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (pp. 3-4). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

A story of the hymn, “Amazing Grace,” by William Petersen

The tombstone of John Newton, the author of this hymn, tells his story: “John Newton, clerk, once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slavers in Africa, was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith he had so long labored to destroy.” Those words were written by John Newton himself, and they are a testimony to God’s transforming power.

After years as a hardened slave trader, Newton met Jesus Christ, and his life was dramatically turned around. Throughout his years of ministry, God’s amazing grace remained central to his thinking. When it was suggested he retire at the age of eighty-two due to poor health and a failing memory, he responded, “My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things: that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior.”

Scriptures: John 1:16-17; Romans 5:20-21; Ephesians 2:6-9

Themes: Grace, Salvation, Conversion

Lyrics of the Hymn:

Amazing grace! how sweet the sound—

That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost but now am found,

Was blind but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,

And grace my fears relieved;

How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believed!

The Lord has promised good to me,

His word my hope secures;

He will my shield and portion be

As long as life endures.

Through many dangers, toils and snares

I have already come;

’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,

And grace will lead me home.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,

Bright shining as the sun,

We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise

Than when we’d first begun.

By JOHN NEWTON (1725–1807) Stanza 5 by John P. Rees (1828–1900)

Reference for the Hymn:

Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (p. 611). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

A story of the hymn, “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” by William Petersen

Robert Robinson had always been prone to wander. Apprenticed to a barber at fourteen, he spent more time reading and playing with friends than cutting hair. He became the leader of a notorious gang, and he shamed his family so much that they practically disowned him. Then, still a teen, he went to a George Whitefield meeting, intending to ridicule it; instead, he almost fell asleep in it. But then the preacher shouted out a Bible verse: “O generation of vipers; who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come” (Matthew 3:7, KJV). That evening Robinson was converted. After his apprenticeship was over, Robinson went into the ministry. He wrote this hymn at the age of twenty-three as he served at the Calvinistic Methodist Church in Norfolk, England.

Late in life, Robinson did stray from the faith and drifted far from the Fount of every blessing. One day he was riding in a stagecoach and sitting by a woman who was reading a hymnbook. She showed him the hymn, “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” saying how wonderful it was. He tried to change the subject but couldn’t. Finally, he said, “Madam, I am the poor man who wrote that hymn many years ago, and I would give a thousand worlds to enjoy the feelings I had then.”

Scriptures: 1 Samuel 7:10-12; Zechariah 13:1; 1 Peter 2:23-25

Themes: Praise, Redemption, Grace

Lyrics of the Hymn:

Come, Thou Fount of ev’ry blessing,

Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;

Streams of mercy never ceasing,

Call for songs of loudest praise:

Teach me some melodious sonnet,

Sung by flaming tongues above;

Praise the mount—O fix me on it,

Mount of God’s unchanging love.

Here I raise mine Ebenezer;

Hither by Thy help I’m come;

And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,

Safely to arrive at home:

Jesus sought me when a stranger,

Wand’ring from the fold of God;

He, to save my soul from danger,

Interposed His precious blood.

O, to grace how great a debtor

Daily I’m constrained to be!

Let that grace, Lord, like a fetter,

Bind my wand’ring heart to Thee.

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it;

Prone to leave the God I love;

Here’s my heart; Lord, take and seal it;

Seal it for Thy courts above.

By ROBERT ROBINSON (1735–1790)

Reference for the Hymn:

Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (pp. 371-372). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

What’s on your mind: A consideration of opposite kinds of thinking

The wise King Solomon coined the aphorism, “As a man thinketh in his heart, so he is” (Proverbs 23:7, KJV), in accordance with the inspiration of the Lord.  An online source indicates that the saying “not only embraces the whole of a man's being but is so comprehensive as to reach out to every condition and circumstance of his life. A man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of all his thoughts.”[1] Depending on the thoughts entertained, a man or woman will either think positively or negatively. Consequently, his or her life will be shaped for good or for bad.

On one hand, positive thoughts are powerful and praiseworthy. On the other hand, negative thoughts are nagging and do not help us accomplish God’s purposes. We must, therefore, choose our thoughts carefully. The Bible encourages us to think positive thoughts, i.e. “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, and whatever is lovely, [and] whatever is admirable...” (Philippians 4:8, NIV).

“A good man [woman] produces good deeds from a good heart. And an evil man produces evil deeds from his hidden wickedness. Whatever is in the heart overflows into speech” (Luke 6:45, TLB). Indeed, our speech is the result of our thoughts. The Lord sets a good example for us:

He never utters any untruth about us.

He never belittles or despises us, especially as we humble ourselves before Him. Instead, the Lord welcomes us into His presence and presents us as friends.

He dines with us and does not show disdain to our unfamiliarity or unpreparedness.

He longs to spend time with us and can’t wait to reveal more of Himself to us.

He has nothing to hide and He’s never too busy to hang out with us.

He daringly and dearly invites us:

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” (Jeremiah 33:3, NIV)

---

[1]https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/As_a_Man_Thinketh

A story of the hymn, “I Need Thee Every Hour,” by William Petersen

You don’t often think of hymns being written by a thirty-seven-year-old homemaker from Brooklyn, but that’s the story behind this hymn. Annie Hawks was busy with household chores when the words came to her. Later she recalled the day, “I was so filled with a sense of nearness to my Master that.... these words, ‘I need Thee every hour,’ were flashed into my mind.” It was a bright June day, so she sat by an open window, picked up her pencil, and wrote the entire hymn. She gave the words to her pastor, who wrote the music and the chorus.

When evangelist Dwight L. Moody discovered the simple hymn and began using it in his meetings, the hymn became famous, much to the amazement of Annie Hawks, a simple homemaker from Brooklyn.

Scriptures: Psalm 86:1-4; Psalm 109:22; Philippians 4:19

Themes: Prayer, Meditation

Lyrics of the Hymn:

I need Thee ev’ry hour,

Most gracious Lord;

No tender voice like Thine

Can peace afford.

I need Thee, O I need Thee;

Ev’ry hour I need Thee!

O bless me now, my Savior,

I come to Thee.

I need Thee ev’ry hour,

Stay Thou nearby;

Temptations lose their pow’r

When Thou art nigh.

I need Thee ev’ry hour,

In joy or pain;

Come quickly, and abide,

Or life is vain.

I need Thee ev’ry hour,

Teach me Thy will,

And Thy rich promises

In me fulfill.

By ANNIE SHERWOOD HAWKS (1835–1918) Robert Lowry (1826–1899)

Reference for the Hymn:

Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (pp. 178-179). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

A story of the hymn, “When We All Get to Heaven” by William Petersen

Retreats and conferences can be mountaintop experiences. Sometimes we come away from such a time and say, “Heaven can’t be much better than this.” Of course, it will be, but that was the feeling Eliza Hewitt and Emily Wilson had at the Ocean Grove Conference Grounds in New Jersey.

Eliza Hewitt was a Presbyterian and a schoolteacher. Emily Wilson was a Methodist and a pastor’s wife. They both lived in Philadelphia, but the time that they looked forward to was the time in the summer when they would meet in Ocean Grove. It was almost like heaven.

One summer when they got together, Eliza Hewitt brought along a poem she had written. She thought it might be a good song for their Sunday schools to sing. Since Emily was a musician, Eliza asked her to write the music for it. We may have mountaintop experiences here on earth, but we still look forward to the time when we all get to heaven and see Jesus. “What a day of rejoicing that will be!”

Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 4:17-18; 1 Thessalonians 4:17-18; 1 John 3:2

Themes: Heaven, Joy, Fellowship

Lyrics of the Hymn:

Sing the wondrous love of Jesus,

Sing His mercy and His grace;

In the mansions bright and blessed,

He’ll prepare for us a place.

Chorus:

When we all get to heaven,

What a day of rejoicing that will be!

When we all see Jesus,

We’ll sing and shout the victory.

While we walk the pilgrim pathway,

Clouds will over-spread the sky;

But when trav’ling days are over,

Not a shadow, not a sigh.

Let us then be true and faithful,

Trusting, serving ev’ry day;

Just one glimpse of Him in glory

Will the toils of life repay.

Onward to the prize before us!

Soon His beauty we’ll behold;

Soon the pearly gates will open,

We shall tread the streets of gold.

By ELIZA EDMUNDS HEWITT (1851–1920)

Reference for the Hymn:

Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (pp. 468-470). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

A story of the hymn, “Faith is the Victory” by William Petersen

In Batavia, New York, John Yates was the manager of the local hardware store. Shortly after he left the hardware store to become editor of a local newspaper, he wrote this hymn, “Faith is the Victory.” The key phrase is taken from the King James Version of 1 John 5:4, which says, “And this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” 

The imagery of the hymn is drawn from several sections of Scripture. In Ephesians 6, Paul speaks of the Word of God as our sword, salvation as our helmet, and truth as our belt. And faith, Paul says, is our shield. The phrase “His banner over us is love” comes from Song of Songs, and his reference to “white raiment” in the last stanza comes from the book of Revelation, which says, “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment” (3:5, KJV). No doubt about it, newspaper editor John Yates knew his Scripture, and he knew that it is true that “faith is the victory.”

Scriptures: Ephesians 6:10-17; 1 John 5:4; Revelation 3:5 
Themes: Faith, World, Conflict 

Lyrics of the Hymn:
Encamped along the hills of light, ye Christian soldiers, rise,
And press the battle ere the night shall veil the glowing skies.
Against the foe in vales below let all our strength be hurled;
Faith is the victory, we know, that overcomes the world.

Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory!
Oh, glorious victory, That overcomes the world.

His banner over us is love, our sword the Word of God;
We tread the road the saints above with shouts of triumph trod.
By faith they, like a whirlwind’s breath, swept on o’er ev’ry field;
The faith by which they conquered Death is still our shining shield.

On ev’ry hand the foe we find drawn up in dread array;
Let tents of ease be left behind, and onward to the fray.
Salvation’s helmet on each head, with truth all girt about,
The earth shall tremble ’neath our tread, and echo with our shout.

To him that overcomes the foe, white raiment shall be giv’n;
Before the angels he shall know His name confessed in heav’n.
Then onward from the hills of light, our hearts with love aflame;
We’ll vanquish all the hosts of night, in Jesus’ conq’ring name.
By JOHN H. YATES (1837–1900)

Reference for the Hymn:
Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (p. 99). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

A story of the hymn, “There Shall Be Showers of Blessing” by William Petersen

As a teenager, Daniel Whittle was a cashier at the Wells Fargo Bank in Chicago, but when the Civil War erupted, he enlisted and soon became a soldier in General Grant’s Union Army. Just before he left, his mother put a New Testament in his kit, where it stayed unread. In 1863 during the siege of Vicksburg, in which nearly twenty thousand soldiers lost their lives, young Whittle was wounded and taken prisoner by Confederate troops. His right arm had to be amputated. In the hospital he finally discovered the New Testament in his kit and began to read it. 

One day an orderly came and told Whittle that a man was dying in the next room and needed someone to pray with him. Whittle protested. Just because he was reading his Bible didn’t mean he was a Christian, and he didn’t know how to pray. But because of the urgency of the situation, Whittle went to talk with him. When the man said, “Pray for me, and ask God to forgive me,” Whittle asked God to forgive his fellow soldier and then prayed for forgiveness for himself as well. Whittle got up from his knees and discovered that the soldier had died while he was praying. As for himself, Whittle had entered into new life; he had become a new creation. His mother’s prayers had been answered. 

Whittle wrote many popular gospel songs later in his life, including “There Shall Be Showers of Blessing.” This gospel song is derived from Ezekiel 34:26 in which God promises showers of blessing upon the land.

Scriptures: Psalm 72:6; Ezekiel 34:11-26; Zechariah 8:13 

Themes: Blessing, Revival, Prayer 

Lyrics of the Hymn:

“There shall be showers of blessing”:
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing, 
Sent from the Savior above.

Showers of blessing, showers of blessing we need:
Mercy-drops round us are falling, but for the showers we plead.

“There shall be showers of blessing”
Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys,
Sound of abundance of rain.

“There shall be showers of blessing”:
Send them upon us, O Lord;
Grant to us now a refreshing,
Come, and now honor Thy Word.

“There shall be showers of blessing”:
Oh, that today they might fall,
Now as to God we’re confessing,
Now as on Jesus we call!
By DANIEL WEBSTER WHITTLE (1840–1901)

Reference for the Hymn:
Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (pp. 319-320). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

A story of the hymn,“’Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus” by William Petersen

Louisa Stead and her husband were relaxing with their four-year-old daughter on a Long Island beach when they heard a child’s desperate cry. A boy was drowning, and Louisa’s husband tried to rescue him. In the process, however, the boy pulled Mr. Stead under the water, and both drowned as Louisa and her daughter watched.

Louisa Stead was left with no means of support. She and her daughter experienced dire poverty. One morning, when she had neither funds nor food for the day, she opened the front door and found that someone had left food and money on her doorstep. That day she wrote this hymn.

Sometimes we mouth platitudes about our Christianity—glibly quoting Scripture and singing songs about trusting Jesus. For Stead, there was nothing glib or superficial about it. Her hymn remains a timeless reminder and comfort to all believers who have experienced this same truth: “Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! / How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er! / Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! / O for grace to trust Him more!”

Scriptures: Psalm 91:4; John 14:1-3; Ephesians 1:3-5
Themes: Trust, Confidence, Commitment

Lyrics of the Hymn:
’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His Word,
Just to rest upon His promise,
Just to know “Thus saith the Lord.”

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more!

O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood,
Just in simple faith to plunge me
’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!

Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease,
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest and joy and peace.

I’m so glad I learned to trust Him,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that He is with me,
Will be with me to the end.
By LOUISA M. R. STEAD (1850–1917)

Reference for the Hymn:
Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (pp. 113-114). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

Cultivating an Attitude of Thanksgiving Daily

Thanksgiving Day and days of corporate worship are excellent times for expressing our thanks to God. However, it does not mean we have to wait until those days show up on our calendars to say thank you to God. Enabled by God’s grace, we can learn to live thankfully everyday by cultivating an attitude of thanksgiving. King David knew this secret and encouraged others in Psalm 100 to “enter the gates of the Lord with thanksgiving.”

In Hebrew, the word for thanksgiving is תּוֹדָה (todah), and is derived from yadah. Its common form means “to acknowledge, confess, or praise.” Thus, todah in Psalm 100 is an acknowledgement or confession of God’s greatness. In God's presence, the worshipper extends the hand to praise Him for His greatness, and this is best accomplished through singing (Psalm 147:7). To cultivate an attitude of gratitude (thanksgiving), as we daily come before God, we must be ready to (a) give Him a sacrifice of praise in worship through singing; (b) acknowledge how great He is, as both the Creator of man and of the universe; (c) offer Him our all as an expression of our dependence on Him in all that we are, what we have, and hope to be in this life and the next.

What a big difference giving thanks makes in our lives! The apostle Paul in writing to the believers in Thessalonica gave them this exhortation: “In everything give thanks for this the will of God in Christ concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). It is probably easier to argue and complain than to discipline oneself into displaying an attitude of thanksgiving. Let us make it our goal to do everything without arguing or complaining—this is what will identify us as God’s children. We should not be like everybody else. Instead we should be different because it is the difference we make or show through our actions that will set us apart from the crowd.

A story of the hymn, “O Worship the King” by William Petersen

Sir Robert Grant was acquainted with kings. His father was a member of the British Parliament and later became chairman of the East India Company. Following in his father’s footsteps, young Grant was elected to Parliament and led the fight for civil rights for Jewish people. Then he became a director of the East India Company. In 1834 he was appointed governor of Bombay, and in that position, he was greatly loved. A medical college in India was named in his honor.

This hymn by Grant is based on Psalm 104, a psalm of praise. The progression of titles for God in the last line is interesting: “Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend.” We know God first as our Maker, our Creator. Then, even before our conversion, he is our Defender, our Keeper from harm. We know him then as Redeemer, our personal Savior from sin and its penalty. Finally, as we walk day by day with him, as we commune with him and enjoy his fellowship, we know him also as Friend.

Yes, Sir Robert Grant was acquainted with kings, but he treasured most of all his friendship with the King of kings.

Scriptures: Psalm 47:6-7; Psalm 104:1-4; 1 Timothy 6:15-16
Themes: Worship, Praise, Titles of God

Lyrics of the Hymn:
O worship the King, all glorious above,
O gratefully sing His power and His love;
Our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days,
Pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise.

O tell of His might, O sing of His grace,
Whose robe is the light, whose canopy space;
His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form,
And dark is His path on the wings of the storm.

The earth with its store of wonders untold,
Almighty, Thy power hath founded of old,
Hath established it fast by a changeless decree,
And round it hath cast, like a mantle, the sea.

Thy bountiful care, what tongue can recite?
It breathes in the air, it shines in the light;
It streams from the hills, it descends to the plain,
And sweetly distills in the dew and the rain.

Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
In Thee do we trust, nor find Thee to fail;
Thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end,
Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend.
By ROBERT GRANT (1779–1838)

Reference for the Hymn:
Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (pp. 58-59). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

Thankful for God's Word Today!

One spring, I and a few friends from church attended a conference in Springfield, Missouri. The emcee of the conference shared a joke in which a friend called him early one morning. He responded with something to the effect of, “Brother, I can’t talk with you right now; I’m in the book!” This was the emcee’s coded expression of saying, “I’m still asleep.” LOL. 

Don’t we all want to sound spiritual, or at least want to give the impression to our friends, that we have faithfully read God’s Word? I must confess that despite owning several Bible versions and having a couple of Bible apps on my smartphone, there are times when I have been so busy that I have not read God’s Word. 

Last week was different for me in my Bible reading. By God’s grace, I had a “perfect week.”  I hope to continue with this practice, because it is so important for me to connect with the Lord and hear His voice through reading His Word. The practice of Bible reading allows me to receive guidance from the Lord for each passing day, week or season. Reading God’s Word also equips me for preaching and/or personal witnessing.

The psalmist knew the power of God’s Word. He testified about it: “Your Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105, NKJV). Let us thank God for His Word today.

A story of the hymn, “How Great Thou Art” by William Petersen

In 1885, Carl Boberg, a twenty-six-year-old preacher, wrote a poem titled in Swedish, “O Store Gud.” Translated into English, it’s “O Great God.” Boberg had no thought of his poem’s becoming a hymn, so a few years later he was surprised to hear his poem sung to the tune of an old Swedish melody.

A generation later, in the early 1920s, English missionaries Stuart Hine and his wife were ministering in Poland, where they learned the Russian version of Boberg’s poem sung to the Swedish melody. Later, Hine created English words for it and arranged the Swedish melody to fit. This is the hymn we now know as “How Great Thou Art.”

The first three stanzas were inspired by an experience Stuart Hine had as he ministered in the Carpathian Mountains and heard the mighty thunder echoing all around him. As he pushed on, he was deeply impressed by the beauty of the woods and forest glades as well as the singing of the birds. The fourth stanza came after he returned to England.

The song became popular in America in the 1950s, and before long it was the number-one hymn on both sides of the Atlantic.

Scriptures: Deuteronomy 3:24; Job 38:1-7; Psalm 8:1-4; Isaiah 40:26; Romans 1:20
Themes: Worship, Creation, Praise

Lyrics of the Hymn:
O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed,

Then sings my soul, My Savior, God, to Thee:
How great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, My Savior, God, to Thee;
How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

When through the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees,
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze,

And when I think that God, His Son not sparing,
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin,

When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration
And there proclaim, my God, how great Thou art!

By STUART K. HINE (1899–1989) © 1941, 1953, 1955 Stuart K. Hine Renewed 1981 Manna Music, Inc. ARR UBP of Manna Music, Inc. (35255 Booten Rd. Pacific City, OR 97135) All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Reference for the Hymn:
Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (pp. 34-35). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

A story of the hymn, "A Charge to Keep I Have..." by William Petersen

If we wanted to write a hymn, most of us would not turn to the book of Leviticus for inspiration. But Charles Wesley wrote sixteen hymns derived from that Old Testament book. This hymn was composed after he had been reading Matthew Henry’s commentary on Leviticus 8:35.

In that verse, the Hebrew priests were commanded to be faithful in their duties in the tabernacle. “Keep the charge of the LORD, that ye die not,” Moses had said (KJV). Matthew Henry commented: “We have every one of us a charge to keep, an eternal God to glorify, an immortal soul to provide for, a needful duty to be done, our generation to serve, and it must be our daily care to keep this charge, for it is the charge of the Lord our Master, who will shortly call us to an account about it, and it is our utmost peril if we neglect it.”

Scriptures: Leviticus 8:35; 2 Timothy 4:1-5; 1 Peter 4:10-11
Themes: Service, Christian Living, Holiness

Lyrics of the Hymn:
A charge to keep I have, A God to glorify,
A never-dying soul to save,
And fit it for the sky.

To serve the present age,
My calling to fulfill;
O may it all my powers engage
To do my Master’s will!

Arm me with jealous care,
As in Thy sight to live,
And O, Thy servant, Lord, prepare
A strict account to give!

Help me to watch and pray,
And on Thyself rely,
Assured, if I my trust betray,
I shall forever die.
By CHARLES WESLEY (1707–1788)

Reference for the Hymn:
Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (p. 166). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

A story of the hymn, “God Will Take Care of You,” by William Petersen

W. Stillman Martin had accepted an invitation to preach at a church a few hours away from his home. When his wife became ill that Sunday morning, he thought he should cancel the engagement. But then his young son spoke up: “Father, don’t you think that if God wants you to preach today, he will take care of Mother while you are away?” 

Because of his son’s question, he kept the engagement and preached at the church. When he returned that night, his wife was feeling better and had written this hymn, inspired by their son’s words. Later that evening, Martin composed the music for his wife’s text. God will take care of you. It’s a lesson we all need to learn. 

Scriptures: Job 23:10; Psalm 57:1; Psalm 91:1-4; Philippians 4:6; 1 Peter 5:7 
Themes: Trust, God’s Protection, Providence 

Lyrics of the Hymn:
Be not dismayed whate’er betide, 
God will take care of you;
Beneath His wings of love abide, 
God will take care of you. 

God will take care of you, 
Through every day, o’er all the way; 
He will take care of you, God will take care of you.

Through days of toil when heart doth fail, 
God will take care of you;
When dangers fierce your path assail, 
God will take care of you. 

All you may need He will provide, 
God will take care of you; 
Nothing you ask will be denied, 
God will take care of you.

No matter what may be the test, 
God will take care of you; 
Lean, weary one, upon His breast, 
God will take care of you. 
By CIVILLA DURFEE MARTIN (1866–1948)

Reference for the Hymn:
Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (pp. 299-300). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.