Hymns With A Message: O HAPPY DAY

Sunday, May 17, 2015

O HAPPY DAY

When Monica Doddridge gave birth to her son Philip (1702 -1751) in England, she had been through the pain of labor 20 times and 18 of her children had died in infancy. Phillip was delivered as though he was stillborn and so the midwife set him aside to attend to his mother until the baby unexpectedly cried out. At that moment Monica realized that Philip's life had been saved for a purpose and she spent the next few years doing her best to teach her frail son the Scriptures. But at a young age Philip was orphaned. However, an excerpt from his diary tells that his faith in God remained strong. "God is an immortal Father. My soul rejoices in Him. He hath hitherto helped me and provided for me; may it be my study to approve myself a more affectionate, dutiful and grateful child." With no family and no money , friends encouraged him to give up his dream of entering the ministry. But he took the matter to prayer and God miraculously provided funds. He actually began preaching at age 21 and he became known as a brilliant scholar and recognized as a Doctor of Divinity from Aberdeen University in 1736. His best-known accomplishments were his approximately 400 hymns, none of which were published during his lifetime. It was four years after his death that a close friend, Job Orton, published "Doddridge's Hymns, Founded on Various Texts in the Holy Scripture". One of those was "O Happy Day," expressing the profound joy of one whose faith resides in Jesus Christ. It is the poet's best known hymn today. It was originally entitled "Rejoicing in Our Covenant Engagement to God" based upon 2 Chronicles 15:15. "And all Judah rejoiced over the oath; for they had sworn with all their heart, and had sought him with their whole desire, and he was found by them, and the LORD gave them rest around about" (RSV). In the United States, a refrain was added in The Wesleyan Sacred Harp (1854). The melody was a popular camp meeting tune that was combined with a popular refrain by Edward F. Rimbault (1816-1876) entitled "Happy land! Happy land!" It was commonly used for baptismal or confirmation ceremonies in the UK and USA. The 20th century saw its adaptation from 3/4 to 4/4 time and this new arrangement contains only the repeated Rimbault refrain, with original verses being omitted. A further Americanization of the hymn took place as the Edwin Hawkins Singers rose to fame in 1969 when their recording was released and became one of the biggest gospel hits of its time. The song has been recorded by several famous artists, including Joan Baez and the Hawkins Singers. It has been a part of many movies, including The Nutty Professor II, and Sister Act II. Today, generally only one or two verses are sung by most performers. Doddridge himself developed tuberculosis at age 48. Funds were collected by friends to send him to Lisbon, Portugal, with the hope of prolonging his life, but he died in Lisbon in 1851 and is buried in the English cemetery there. Looking at Doddridge's life one can't be amazed that he didn't grow up with a bitter spirit. Great tragedies like he experienced often plant seeds of bitterness in the people experiencing them and often their children as well. So how are we handling our disappointments? Do we become bitter and discouraged? Is our song often "O Miserable Day"? Or are we rejoicing in what God has done for us. Do we give thanks in everything? Does our experience of salvation make us rejoice each day? After all, there is no better experience than having our sins washed away! O happy day, when Jesus washed my sins away!

(1) O happy day that fixed my choice

On Thee, my Savior and my God!

Well may this flowing heart rejoice

And tell its raptures all abroad.

Happy day, happy day,