HALLELUJAH PRAISE JEHOVAH

          Psalm 148, (KJV)  "Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise him in the heights.  Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.  Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.   Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.  Let them praise the name of the Lord: for he commanded, and they were created.  He hath also established them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.  Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps:  Fire, and hail; snow, and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling his word:  Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars:  Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl:   Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:  Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children:   Let them praise the name of the Lord: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.  He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the Lord."

          It was this Psalm that inspired the writing of this week's hymn choice, an old hymn of praise written in 1893. Despite its emphasis on praise, it probably is never sung anymore in today's modern worship services. There are some sources that say the author is unknown but others claim that William J. Kirkpatrick either wrote it or at least arranged it.  The hymn reminds us that all of God's creation speaks of Him and brings praise to Him.  The universe, nature, the birds and animals, as well as the act of creation itself should remind us of His greatness.  Everywhere we see reminders of His power and greatness and they should cause us to shout, "hallelujah, praise Jehovah". His name alone is high and His glory is exalted far above the earth and sky.  May this hymn stir us, "young men and maidens,aged men and children small" to join all of nature throughout this week in praising and exalting Jehovah!  May He be praised!

1.     Hallelujah, praise Jehovah,

From the heavens praise His name;

Praise Jehovah in the highest,

All His angels praise proclaim.

All His hosts together praise Him,

Sun, and moon, and stars on high;

Praise Him, O ye heav'n of heavens,

And ye floods above the sky.

Refrain:

Let them praises give Jehovah,

For His name alone is high,

And His glory is exalted,

And His glory is exalted,

And His glory is exalted,

Far above the earth and sky.

2.     Let them praises give Jehovah,

They were made at His command,

Them forever He established;

His decree shall ever stand.

From the earth, oh, praise Jehovah,

All ye floods, ye dragons all;

Fire, and hail, and snow, and vapors,

Stormy winds that hear His call.

Refrain:

Let them praises give Jehovah,

For His name alone is high,

And His glory is exalted,

And His glory is exalted,

And His glory is exalted,

Far above the earth and sky

3.     All ye fruitful trees and cedars,

All ye hills and mountains high,

Creeping things, and beasts, and cattle,

Birds that in the heavens fly.

Kings of earth, and all ye people,

Princes great, earth's judges all,

Praise His name, young men and maidens,

Aged men and children small.

Refrain:

Let them praises give Jehovah,

For His name alone is high,

And His glory is exalted,

And His glory is exalted,

And His glory is exalted,

Far above the earth and sky

You can listen to it being sung right here.  PRAISE JEHOVAH

THE POWER OF THE CROSS

During this Easter season you have probably heard and maybe even sung numerous hymns about the cross and the blood that Jesus shed there for our salvation.  Over the centuries this has been a common theme for numerous hymn writers.  But now there are some newer, powerful hymns also proclaiming the same themes.  One of my favorites is this week's choice which was written by Stuart Townend and Keith Getty.  Keith Getty and his wife Kristen and veteran British English songwriter and worship leader Townend, have been reinventing the traditional hymn form.   It has been estimated that their hymns are sung by 100 million people in churches around the world each year.  Keith Getty has said,  "I do not pretend to be qualified to write a theological treatise on this particular subject. Congregational singing is a holy act, and as I organize my thoughts, I hear my old pastor, Alistair Begg, reminding me that in our song worship, we have to be spiritually alive ..."  1 Corinthians 1:18 (AMP) says, "For the story and message of the cross is sheer absurdity and folly to those who are perishing and on their way to perdition, but to us who are being saved it is the manifestation of the power of God."  About this hymn, Keith Getty has said, "The Power of the Cross is a meditation on the sufferings of Christ. Over the past couple of years, we have been working through the Apostles Creed and writing hymns teaching the fundamental beliefs of Christianity. The Creed teaches that "He suffered under Pontius Pilate," and in communion we are commanded to "remember his death 'til he comes." In the New Testament, Paul and the Apostles often preached and prayed in more detailed and visual ways about the cross, turning all of our senses to Christ's sufferings and their significance. Stuart and I considered how the reality of His sufferings should penetrate our worship services and were challenged by the need to explain the overwhelming significance and implications these have for our lives. In our congregational worship the sufferings of Christ have often only been given a surface glance, and it is hardly surprising that the theological meaning often remains confused.

    This the power of the cross; Christ became sin for us.

    Took the blame, bore the wrath, We stand forgiven at the cross.

Our hope is that the hymn, The Power of the Cross, will be a resource to the church as a declaration of what we believe is a challenging reflection on Christ's sufferings and a powerful song for Easter or Communion services. It is also our hope that people will be challenged again by the wonder and the power of the Cross."   May we daily reflect upon the power of the cross and the glorious exhibition of God's love.   In the cross we see the way to victory.  He is risen!

Oh, to see the dawn
Of the darkest day:
Christ on the road to Calvary.
Tried by sinful men,
Torn and beaten, then
Nailed to a cross of wood. 

CHORUS:

This, the pow'r of the cross:

Christ became sin for us;

Took the blame, bore the wrath—

We stand forgiven at the cross. 

Oh, to see the pain

Written on Your face,

Bearing the awesome weight of sin.

Ev'ry bitter thought,

Ev'ry evil deed

Crowning Your bloodstained brow. 

Now the daylight flees;

Now the ground beneath

Quakes as its Maker bows His head.

Curtain torn in two,

Dead are raised to life;

"Finished!" the vict'ry cry.

Oh, to see my name

Written in the wounds,

For through Your suffering I am free.

Death is crushed to death;

Life is mine to live,

Won through Your selfless love. 

FINAL CHORUS:

This, the pow'r of the cross:

Son of God-slain for us.

What a love! What a cost! 

We stand forgiven at the cross."

Listen to it here.   POWER

Stuart Townend & Keith Getty Copyright © 2005 Thankyou Music (Adm. by CapitolCMGPublishing.com excl. UK & Europe, adm. by Integrity Music, part of the David C Cook family, songs@integritymusic.com)

HE WAS WOUNDED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS

          "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."  Isaiah 53:5  This powerful verse was the inspiration for Thomas Chisholm (1866-1960) to pen the words to this great hymn in 1941.  Chisholm was born in a log cabin in Franklin, Kentucky.  He received his education in a rural schoolhouse in the area, but they were dirt poor and he never got past an elementary school education.  However, by the age of sixteen he was a teacher.   Five years later, at the age of twenty-one, he was the associate editor of his hometown weekly newspaper, The Franklin Advocate.  In 1893, Henry Clay Morrison, the founder of Asbury College and Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky, held a revival meeting in Franklin and Chisholm attended and accepted Jesus Christ into his heart and life. Later, at Morrison's invitation, Chisholm moved to Louisville, Kentucky and became an editor for the Pentecostal Herald.  In 1903, he became an ordained Methodist Minister.  Sometime around 1903, he also married Katherine Hambright Vandevere.   Due to ill health, Chisholm was only able to serve one year in the ministry.  After leaving his ministry in Scottsville, Kentucky he and his wife relocated to Winona Lake, Indiana for the open air.  After a time in Indiana, he then moved to Vineland, New Jersey where he sold insurance.  He suffered from health issues the rest of his life and had periods of time when he was confined to bed and unable to work. But over the years more than eight hundred of his poems were published, and a number of these were set to music and have found their way into our hymn books. Great Is Thy Faithfulness is one of these.  One of his lesser known works, this week's hymn choice, is based on Isaiah chapter 53. It didn't actually begin as a hymn, but as a short chorus. He sent it to gospel musician Merrill Dunlop, asking if he could write a tune for it. But Dunlop saw potential in the song to become a full-fledged hymn and asked the author to add some other stanzas. He did so, and Mr. Dunlop provided the tune. The hymn exalts Christ as our perfect Substitute, dying to pay our debt of sin.  As we enter another Easter season, take time this week to meditate on these words which share again the great sacrifice that was made for our salvation. And don't forget the final verse of victory, "Millions, dead, now live again, myriads follow in His train!  Victorious Lord, victorious Lord, Victorious Lord and coming King!"  Hallelujah!

He was wounded for our transgressions,

He bore our sins in His body on the tree;

For our guilt He gave us peace,

From our bondage gave release,

And with His stripes, and with His stripes,

And with His stripes our souls are healed.

He was numbered among transgressors,

We did esteem Him forsaken by His God;

As our sacrifice He died,

That the law be satisfied,

And all our sin, and all our sin,

And all our sin was laid on Him.

We had wandered, we all had wandered

Far from the fold of "the Shepherd of the sheep";

But He sought us where we were,

On the mountains bleak and bare,

And bro't us home, and bro't us home,

And bro't us safely home to God.

Who can number His generation?

Who shall declare all the triumphs of His Cross?

Millions, dead, now live again,

Myriads follow in His train!

Victorious Lord, victorious Lord,

Victorious Lord and coming King!

Listen to it here by an orchestra and choir   WOUNDED

Listen here as a solo    TRANSGRESSIONS

I SHALL KNOW HIM (TH)

TIMELESS HYMN - A special feature where I highlight some of my favorite hymns that have been featured previously in this blog.  These entries are revised and expanded and shared again for our encouragement and challenge.  This hymn was first shared here on  January 10, 2010       

          Most of us have appreciated many of the over 8,000 hymns that were written by the blind author Fanny Crosby. Near the end of the nineteenth century, Fanny was visiting the Lake Chautauqua Institute, in western New York State. In those days this was a place for Christian fellowship, great preaching, and singing of wonderful hymns. It was here that she met John R. Sweney. After a busy day at the camp meeting, both were taking a rest on the front porch of the grand hotel when John asked an interesting question of Fanny. "Fanny," he asked, "do you think we'll recognize our friends in heaven?" Initially her response was positive. She then added, "John, that's not what you really want to know. You wonder how an old lady who has been blind all her life could even recognize one person, let alone her Lord and Savior. Well I've given it a lot of thought and I don't think I'll have a problem. But if I do, when I get to heaven, I'm going to look around and when I see the one who I think is my Savior, I'm going to walk up to Him and say, 'May I see your hands?' When I see the nail prints in the hands of my Savior, then I'll know I've found my Jesus." "Oh Fanny," John said, "that would make a great song." "No thank you," she replied. "I'm tired, I'm going to bed". Well the next morning, bright and early, Fanny met John for breakfast and before they went their separate ways, she dictated the words of this great hymn. It has always been one of my favorite hymns because it is about heaven and the hope of each Christian to see our Lord, face to face.  And we will know Him by the prints of the nails in His hands - a vivid reminder of Hs cruel death on Calvary to secure our redemption and our future with Him in glory. What a wonderful day that will be!

(1)      When my life work is ended, and I cross the swelling tide,

When the bright and glorious morning I shall see

I shall know my Redeemer when I reach the other side,

And His smile will be the first to welcome me.

Chorus:

I shall know Him, I shall know Him

And redeemed by His side, I shall stand.

I shall know Him, I shall know Him,

By the print of the nails in His hand.

(2)      Oh, the soul thrilling rapture when I view His blessed face

And the luster of His kindly beaming eye;

How my full heart will praise Him for the mercy, love, and grace

That prepared for me a mansion in the sky.

Chorus"

I shall know Him, I shall know Him

And redeemed by His side, I shall stand.

I shall know Him, I shall know Him,

By the print of the nails in His hand.

(3)      Oh, the dear ones in glory, how they beckon me to come,

And our parting at the river I recall;

To the sweet vales of Eden they will sing my welcome home,

But I long to meet my Saviour first of all.

Chorus:

I shall know Him, I shall know Him

And redeemed by His side, I shall stand.

I shall know Him, I shall know Him,

By the print of the nails in His hand.

(4)      Thro' the gates of the city in a robe of spotless white,

He will lead me where no tears will ever fall;

In the glad song of ages I shall mingle with delight,

But I long to meet my Saviour first of all.

Chorus:

I shall know Him, I shall know Him

And redeemed by His side, I shall stand.

I shall know Him, I shall know Him,

By the print of the nails in His hand.

Listen to it here.   NAILS