Tuesday, March 27, 2018

A Story on the Hymn, “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” by William Petersen

Whenever Isaac Watts wanted a hymn to go with a sermon or a special service that he was leading, he would write one. He ended up writing more than six hundred hymns; today he is known as “The Father of English Hymnody.”

So when he needed a hymn for a Communion service one Sunday morning, he wrote “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.” Some have called it “the finest hymn in the English language.” The words vividly depict the scene at Calvary and the dying Savior. And the rich, grave tones of the music impress upon us the seriousness of Christ’s sacrificial death. What shall we offer to God in grateful return for his gracious gift? All that we are and have is but a small offering in return for such great love.

Scriptures: John 19:17-18; Galatians 6:14; Philippians 3:7-9
Themes: Cross, God’s Love, Dedication

Lyrics of the Hymn:
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?

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.
By ISAAC WATTS (1674–1748)

Reference for the Hymn:
Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (pp. 143-144). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

Tuesday, March 13, 2018

A Story on the Hymn, “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” by William Petersen

Thomas Chisholm certainly had his share of disappointments in life. Born in a crude log cabin in Kentucky, he never had a chance to attend high school or college. His health was fragile, forcing him to resign as a Methodist minister after only one year. He began writing, but received more than his share of rejection letters. Even when his poems were published, he seldom received any money for them.

At the age of fifty-seven, he wrote the hymn “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” based on the verses in Lamentations that say, “His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness” (3:22-23, KJV). Later, when he was asked how he came to write the hymn, he said there were no special circumstances surrounding it, but he simply wrote about God’s faithfulness from studying the Bible.

Scriptures: Psalm 36:5-7; Lamentations 3:22-25; James 1:17
Themes: Faithfulness, God’s Mercy, Assurance

Lyrics of the Hymn:
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not;
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me! [Chorus]

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

By THOMAS OBEDIAH CHISHOLM (1866–1960) Copyright © 1923. Renewal 1951 by Hope Publishing Company, Carol Stream, IL 60188. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Reference for the Hymn:
Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (p. 393). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.


Tuesday, March 6, 2018

A Story on the Hymn, “O Happy Day,” by William Petersen

Few church songs have gone through such a variety of renditions as this one. Philip Doddridge would never have recognized the Hawkins’ Youth Choir’s African-American arrangement, which put the song on the charts in the late 1960s.

Doddridge went through a lot of changes himself. His mother was a Lutheran, but both his mother and his father died by the time he was thirteen. Orphaned, he went to live with a Presbyterian minister. Later he studied in an Anglican school but decided instead to become a Congregational minister.

Although he wrote many hymns, Doddridge was reluctant to have any of them published. So “O Happy Day” wasn’t put into print until 1755, four years after his death. The refrain was not added until a hundred years later when an anonymous author added, “Happy day, happy day, when Jesus washed my sins away,” and set it to a popular tune of the day.

We have a feeling that Doddridge wouldn’t have minded, as long as the theology wasn’t changed. “ ’Tis done: the great transaction’s done; I am my Lord’s, and He is mine.” That’s enough to make all of us sing, “O happy day.”

Scriptures: Psalm 40:16; Isaiah 61:10; Philippians 4:4
Themes: Testimony, Salvation, Joy

Lyrics of the Hymn:
O happy day that fixed my choice on
Thee, my Savior and my God!
Well may this glowing heart rejoice,
and tell its raptures all abroad.

Happy day, happy day, when Jesus washed
my sins away!
He taught me how to watch and pray and
live rejoicing every day.
Happy day, happy day, when Jesus washed
my sins away! [Chorus]

O happy bond, that seals my vows to
Him who merits all my love!
Let cheerful anthems fill His house,
While to that sacred shrine I move.

’Tis done: the great transaction’s done; I
am my Lord’s, and He is mine;
He drew me and I followed on, charmed to
confess the voice divine.

Now rest, my long-divided heart; fixed
on this blissful center, rest;
Nor ever from my Lord depart, with
Him of ev’ry good possessed.
By PHILIP DODDRIDGE (1702–1751)

Reference for the Hymn:
Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (pp. 622-623). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.