THE SONG OF THE SOUL SET FREE

          As a teenager I always looked forward to attending camp meeting for several weeks each summer.  And one of the things I especially enjoyed were the evening services in the large tabernacle.  Besides the great preaching, I looked forward to the special music, especially the large choir which nightly sang some of the great hymns of the faith.  And one that I especially remember is this week''s hymn choice.  It was always a stirring rendition by the choir.  Dr. Oswald J. Smith (1889 - 1886) was a Canadian pastor, missionary statesman and hymn writer who wrote about 1,200 songs. In 1933, another gospel song writer, A. H. Ackley (1887 - 1960), sent him the manuscript of a tune, asking that Smith see if he could provide words for it. Smith placed the music on the piano in his Toronto home and went right to work.   Ackley had suggested the basic theme and Smith soon had three stanzas to fit the tune. Then, it occurred to him that the holy angels, not personally having experienced salvation through the Calvary work of Christ, couldn't sing such a song from their own experience. That gave him the fourth stanza. He quickly added a refrain. Oswald Smith was pleased with the result, and in later years considered it one of the best he'd written.   The song is a triumphant testimony to the sinner's deliverance through Christ. It was often used by the large choirs in Billy Graham's evangelistic meetings.  It is a joyful song that reminds us of Jesus and His love for us.  It shares how He took our burdened life and forgave us and set the joybells ringing within our heart.  And to Him our praise - the song of the soul set free - shall ever be.  "Joy and peace to me it's bringing ...  and my heart is ever singing, Hallelujah! Hallelujah! The song of the soul set free! "  I hope that this is your testimony and that the song of the soul set free rings within you daily

1.      Fairest of ten thousand is Jesus Christ, my Savior, 

The Lily of the Valley, The Bright and Morning Star. 

He is all my glory, and in this heart of mine 

Forevermore I'm singing a song of love divine. 

'Tis the song of the soul set free, 

And its melody is ringing. 

'Tis the song of the soul set free; 

Joy and peace to me it's bringing. 

'Tis the song of the soul set free; 

And my heart is ever singing, 

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! The song of the soul set free! 

2.      Once my heart was burdened, but now I am forgiven, 

And with a song of gladness, I'm on my way to heav'n. 

Christ is my Redeemer; my Song of Songs is He. 

My Savior, Lord, and Master--to Him my praise shall be.

'Tis the song of the soul set free, 

And its melody is ringing. 

'Tis the song of the soul set free; 

Joy and peace to me it's bringing. 

'Tis the song of the soul set free; 

And my heart is ever singing, 

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! The song of the soul set free!  

3.      When He came to save me, He set the joybells ringing, 

And now I'm ever singing, For Christ has ransomed me. 

Once I lived in darkness; the light I could not see. 

But now I sing His praises, for He was set me free. 

'Tis the song of the soul set free, 

And its melody is ringing. 

'Tis the song of the soul set free; 

Joy and peace to me it's bringing. 

'Tis the song of the soul set free; 

And my heart is ever singing, 

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! The song of the soul set free! 

4.      Angels cannot sing it--this song of joy and freedom, 

For mortals only know it, the ransomed and the free. 

Slaves were they in bondage and deepest misery; 

But now they sing triumphant their songs of liberty.

'Tis the song of the soul set free, 

And its melody is ringing. 

'Tis the song of the soul set free; 

Joy and peace to me it's bringing. 

'Tis the song of the soul set free; 

And my heart is ever singing, 

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! The song of the soul set free! 

Listen to it here.    LISTEN

THANKS TO GOD

          "It is good to give thanks to the LORD, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High (Ps. 92:1).  "Praise the LORD! Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever" (Ps. 106:1).  This week, here in the United States, we will celebrate Thanksgiving Day.  It is a special day when we are encouraged to pause and give thanks for the many blessings we have.  But everyday should be a day of thanksgiving for each believer.  "In everything give thanks" (I Thess. 5:18).  And that certainly is the theme of this week's hymn choice which is of Swedish heritage.  The words were penned by August Ludvig Storm (1862-1914).  He was converted to Christ in a Salvation Army meeting. He joined the Salvation Army Corps and became one of its leading officers. He wrote this hymn's text for the Army publication, Stridsropet (The War Cry), on December 5, 1891. The original Swedish version had four stanzas, with each verse beginning with the word 'tack' (thanks)". The gratitude expressed to God ranges from the "dark and dreary fall" to the "pleasant, balmy springtime," and "pain" as well as "pleasure."  Storm suffered a back ailment at the age of 37 that left him crippled for life. But he continued to administer his Salvation Army duties until his death. Despite this handicap, Storm shared numerous things that he was thankful for. A year before his death, he wrote another poem in which he thanked God for the years of calm as well as pain. This hymn was written in Swedish and was translated into English in 1931, by Carl Ernest Backstrom (1901-1984). In Storm's Swedish version, he lists some thirty-two things to be thankful for.  His hymn could serve as a good outline of things that we should thank the Lord for.  Let me challenge you to use this hymn during your season of thanksgiving this week.

1.     Thanks to God for my Redeemer,

Thanks for all Thou dost provide!

Thanks for times now but a memory,

Thanks for Jesus by my side!

Thanks for pleasant, balmy springtime,

Thanks for dark and stormy fall!

Thanks for tears by now forgotten,

Thanks for peace within my soul!

2.     Thanks for prayers that Thou hast answered,

Thanks for what Thou dost deny!

Thanks for storms that I have weathered,

Thanks for all Thou dost supply!

Thanks for pain, and thanks for pleasure,

Thanks for comfort in despair!

Thanks for grace that none can measure,

Thanks for love beyond compare!

3.     Thanks for roses by the wayside,

Thanks for thorns their stems contain!

Thanks for home and thanks for fireside,

Thanks for hope, that sweet refrain!

Thanks for joy and thanks for sorrow,

Thanks for heav'nly peace with Thee!

Thanks for hope in the tomorrow,

Thanks through all eternity!

Listen to it here.   LISTEN

HOW CAN I KEEP FROM SINGING HIS PRAISE

        Over the years in this blog I have tried to feature the old hymns which the Lord has used in our lives for many years.  But this week I have chosen to go a slightly different direction and feature a song by Chris Tomlin which is much newer and has an excellent challenge. I made this change at the last moment based on a few recent things which have happened in my life.  First, I have been reading through the Psalms once again and I have been challenged by all the verses that talk about praising and thanking the Lord for all the wonderful things He has done.  Our praise should be an "endless song".  His love to us is so amazing. And by His grace He keeps on blessing and blessing us. But secondly, last Sunday in this blog I shared the song "Singing I Go, Along Life's Road." and I was challenged by the words to keep singing and praising the Lord as we travel along life's road. "For Jesus has lifted my load!"  With that song still ringing in my mind, that Sunday morning I went to our early worship service and the very first song that we sang was "How Can I Keep From Singing His Praise."  Wow, what a double reminder that the Lord knew I needed.  And maybe you need that reminder, too. Unfortunately, that isn't always the way we live our daily lives. I knew then that I had to change the song that I had planned to share this week. But little did I know then of the new difficult challenges that would come our way this past week.  I have been especially challenged by the words, "I can sing in the troubled times. Sing when I win. I can sing when I lose my step and fall down again.  I can sing 'cause You pick me up. Sing 'cause You're there.  I can sing 'cause You hear me Lord when I call to You in prayer. I can sing with my last breath, sing for I know, that I'll sing with the angels and the saints around the throne."   Is that your testimony today?  If it is, how can you keep from singing His praise?  Now I know some folks have trouble carrying a tune.  Some may have voice problems and find it hard to sing.  Personally, I was involved in singing solos and singing in groups for decades, but about 15 years ago I suddenly developed voice problems.  I have seen numerous doctors and therapists who specialize in voice problems, but without much help.  And that has been frustrating.  But while I can't always sing well outwardly anymore, the Lord has allowed me to sing His praises quietly in my heart and mind.  And He continually puts a song in my mind.  What a joy it is to sing His praises even if nobody but Him can hear my songs.  Nothing should keep you from singing His praises.  Remember the words of this song, "I will lift my eyes In the darkest night, for I know my Savior lives.  And I will walk with You, knowing You'll see me through, and sing the songs You give."  "Singing I go along life's road, praising the Lord, praising the Lord ... for Jesus has lifted my load."

There is an endless song

Echoes in my soul

And I hear the music ring

And though the storms may come

I am holding on

To the rock I cling

How can I keep from singing Your praise

How can I ever say enough

How amazing is Your love

How can I keep from shouting Your name

I know I am loved by the King

And it makes my heart want to sing

I will lift my eyes

In the darkest night

For I know my Savior lives

And I will walk with You

Knowing You'll see me through

And sing the songs You give

How can I keep from singing Your praise

How can I ever say enough

How amazing is Your love

How can I keep from shouting Your name

I know I am loved by the King

And it makes my heart want to sing

I can sing in the troubled times

Sing when I win

I can sing when I lose my step

And fall down again

I can sing 'cause You pick me up

Sing 'cause You're there

I can sing 'cause You hear me, Lord

When I call to You in prayer

I can sing with my last breath

Sing for I know

That I'll sing with the angels

And the saints around the throne

How can I keep from singing Your praise

How can I ever say enough

How amazing is Your love

How can I keep from shouting Your name

I know I am loved by the King

And it makes my heart want to sing.

Here are two choices to listen to this week.   LISTEN 1

Now here is a second choice which I really enjoy except that it doesn't include the part of the song that tells us when we can sing.  But it is really an upbeat presentation.   LISTEN2

SINGING I GO

        "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:19).  Singing can be a great way to praise the Lord and uplift your spirits.  It can encourage you in the good times, it can cheer you in the darkest nights. God "gives songs in the night" (Job 35:10).  It can reaffirm your trust in the Lord and in His leading in your life.  I have been uplifted by the many comments left over the years by readers of this blog who have told how  hymns shared here have comforted, encouraged, and helped carry them through tough times. The Bible also shares examples of how music was part of the lives of Bible characters.  When King Saul was gripped by a dark mood, young David would come and play his harp for the depressed king. "Then Saul would become refreshed and well and the distressing spirit would depart from him" (I Sam. 16:23).    When Paul and Silas were beaten and cast into a prison cell in Philippi, with their feet fastened in stocks (Acts 16:23-24), they found joy in serving the Lord. "At midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them" (vs. 25).   It is estimated that since those years probably over a million Christian hymns have been written, many telling of God's faithfulness.  How wonderful it is to have a song in your heart that either flows out through your mouth or captivates your mind. The right songs can cheer us, lift our spirits, and brighten our day. Eliza Edmunds Hewitt (1851-1920) was a school teacher in Philadelphia. But she developed a spinal malady which cut short her career and made her a shut-in for many years. During her convalescence she felt a need to be useful to her church and began writing poems for the primary department. She also wrote hundreds of fine gospel songs, many of which, like this week's hymn choice written in 1898, have a joyful tone.  There was an interesting use of this hymn a couple of decades later when it was adopted for a rather unusual use in the home of another great gospel musician. Billy Graham's longtime soloist, Bev Shea, shared that when growing up, on school days, when it was time for the six children to get out of bed, his mother would sound a chord on the piano. Then she would sing the refrain of this song and call out, cheerfully, "Get up, everybody. One hour till school!" Bev called the song "mother's alarm clock." It remained a favorite of his, and years later he hosted a radio program called Club Time, that used "Singing I Go" as its theme song. "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."  (Colossians 3:16).  "Singing I go along life's road, praising the Lord, praising the Lord. Singing I go along life's road, for Jesus has lifted my load."  May this be true in your life.

1.     The trusting heart to Jesus clings,

Nor any ill forebodes,

But at the cross of Calv'ry, sings,

Praise God for lifted loads!

Singing I go along life's road,

Praising the Lord, praising the Lord,

Singing I go along life's road,

For Jesus has lifted my load.

2.     The passing days bring many cares,

"Fear not," I hear Him say,

And when my fears are turned to prayers,

The burdens slip away.

Singing I go along life's road,

Praising the Lord, praising the Lord,

Singing I go along life's road,

For Jesus has lifted my load.

3.     He tells me of my Father's love,

And never slumb'ring eye,

My everlasting King above

Will all my needs supply.

Singing I go along life's road,

Praising the Lord, praising the Lord,

Singing I go along life's road,

For Jesus has lifted my load.

4.     When to the throne of grace I flee,

I find the promise true,

The mighty arms upholding me

Will bear my burdens too.

Singing I go along life's road,

Praising the Lord, praising the Lord,

Singing I go along life's road,

For Jesus has lifted my load.

You can listen to it here.  LISTEN