Welcome!  Hymns have been and continue to be a real source of inspiration to me.  My desire in this blog is to share special hymns with my readers hoping that the words will minister to them, especially in times of great personal need.  If one of these hymns ministers to you, please take time to leave a comment so that I know that my blog is helping others as much as it helps me. Sometimes I will also provide a link where you can go to hear the hymn played.  So, please join me here each week and sing along as we praise God together.

Sunday, February 28, 2021

THE LOVE OF GOD (TH)


TIMELESS HYMNS - A special feature where every few weeks I choose a hymn that I have written about before, revise and update it, and share it once again because I think it has a powerful message that we need.  This one was shared previously on January 13, 2011. 

          There are some folks who think that this week's hymn is the greatest hymn ever written. I'm not sure how one would judge that, but it is exceptional with a powerful message. And while we think of love, there is no love that even comes close to God's love for us. 
          This hymn is actually of Jewish origin. The third verse dates back to the 11th Century, and was actually written first: Credit for the hymn itself goes to Frederick M. Lehman, though there are prior authors who contributed to it. The arrangement of Lehman's music was done by his daughter, Claudia L. Mays. 
          Though an author and composer of more than 100 published hymns, most of Lehman's songs are not that well-known. Lehman wrote a pamphlet, in 1948, entitled "History of the Song, The Love of God" which tells about the origin of this beloved hymn.  "While at camp-meeting in a midwestern state, some fifty years ago in our early ministry, an evangelist climaxed his message by quoting the last stanza of this song. The profound depths of the line moved us to preserve the words for future generations. Not until we had come to California did this urge find fulfillment, and that at a time when circumstances forced us to hard manual labor". 
          "One day, during short intervals of inattention to our work, we picked up a scrap of paper and, seated upon an empty lemon box pushed against the wall, with a stub pencil, added the (first) two stanzas and chorus of the song. Since the lines (3rd stanza from the Jewish poem) had been found penciled on the wall of a patient's room in an insane asylum, the general opinion was that this inmate had written the epic in moments of sanity. Actually, the key-stanza (third verse) under question as to its authorship was written nearly one thousand years ago by a Jewish songwriter."  In God's providence these words were brought together to form this wonderful hymn which has spoken to so many over the years.  
          Meditate upon them with a heart full of thanksgiving for God's wonderful love.

1.    The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell.
It goes beyond the highest star
And reaches to the lowest hell.
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled
And pardoned from his sin.
O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints' and angels' song.

2.    When years of time shall pass away,
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When men, who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call,
God's love so sure, shall still endure,
All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam's race-
The saints' and angels' song.
O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints' and angels' song.

3.    Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made;
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.
O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints' and angels' song.

When I think of this hymn I think of hearing George Beverly Shea sing it. I have always loved his special voice and the way he ministered whenever he sang. You can listen to him sing it here. LISTEN

Sunday, February 21, 2021

MY SINS ARE BLOTTED OUT

          Merrill Dunlop (1905-2002), the author and composer of this gospel song, gives this account of its origin:
          "It was written in a very few minutes, although only after much deliberation, while I was crossing the Atlantic in 1927 on a liner, The Leviathan, and meditating upon the verses in Micah 7:18, 19 and upon the great dimensions of the sea - the breadth and the depth and what the Bible says about our sins - buried in those depths - removed - blotted out! Then, making it personal, I said: "My sins are blotted out, I know!" The melody came almost simultaneously with the words. I jotted the chorus down aboard the ship, as I walked the deck. Later, in Ireland, I added the words and music to the stanzas. It took hold immediately and quickly spread across America and across the seas."
          Our sins are blotted out and buried.  "Blotted out." is a term that means wiped out, erased, or obliterated. Our sins are completely gone from the record that was against us. After his terrible sins of adultery and murder, David prayed, "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions ... Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities" (Ps. 51:1, 9).
          Unfortunately, many Christians have suffered great emotional, mental, and even physical disorders throughout life because they could never accept the fact that God has totally forgiven them. How important it is to realize that when God offers us His forgiveness, it is never a partial but always a total forgiveness - the slate is forever clean."  Psalm 103:12. "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us." "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" (I John. 1:7).
          Dunlop was educated at Central YMCA College in Chicago and at the Moody Bible Institute.  He played the piano and organ at Moody Church and served as the director of music at the Chicago Gospel Tabernacle.  He is said to have written 700 hymns and Gospel songs.
          This week rejoice in the fact that all of your sins have been blotted out and buried in the deepest sea.  Praise the Lord, you are forgiven!

1.     What a wondrous message in God's Word!
My sins are blotted out, I know!
If I trust in His redeeming blood,
My sins are blotted out, I know!
Chorus
My sins are blotted out, I know! (I know!)
My sins are blotted out, I know! (I know!)
They are buried in the depths of the deepest sea:
My sins are blotted out, I know! (I know!)

2.     Once my heart was sad, but now what joy.
My sins are blotted out, I know!
I have peace that nothing can destroy,
My sins are blotted out, I know!
Chorus
My sins are blotted out, I know! (I know!)
My sins are blotted out, I know! (I know!)
They are buried in the depths of the deepest sea:
My sins are blotted out, I know! (I know!)

3.     I shall stand some day before my King,
My sins are blotted out, I know!
With the ransomed host I then shall sing:
My sins are blotted out, I know!
Chorus
My sins are blotted out, I know! (I know!)
My sins are blotted out, I know! (I know!)
They are buried in the depths of the deepest sea:
My sins are blotted out, I know! (I know!)

Listen to it here.   BLOTTED OUT



Sunday, February 14, 2021

I BELONG TO THE KING

          I am often told that I look and act like my father.  And that is a special complement because my father was a special godly man who I really miss.  I would be thrilled to be half the man that he was.  
         But as honored as I am with those comparisons, nothing can match the knowledge that I belong to the king and I'm a child of His love.  I know that because in 1 John 3:1 we read  "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God."
          Ida Lillard Reed/Smith (1865-1951) had a life of burdensome trials and afflictions but despite that she was able to write "I Belong to the King".  Born and reared in the mountains of West Virginia, her life was one long, continuous burden-bearing journey. For many years she was compelled to do heavy and arduous work on their farm.  This she did in support of an invalid and widowed mother.  
          Broken at last by the strenuous toil and challenges, she was sorely afflicted and bedridden for years.  Even then, in her hours of pain, she wrote poems for publishers to eke out a meager living.  She was removed to a hospital as a last resort, in the hope of prolonging her pain-wracked, yet beautiful life.  From her hospital bed of pain, she wrote the words of this poem.  "I Belong to the King" is a golden nugget from the mine of character of one of God's most humble children.   During these years she penned more than 2,000 hymns. 
           When the attention of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers was called to a financial state that was short of life's bare necessities, they voted her a pension with a monthly allowance that banished anxiety, and assured comfort for the rest of her life.
          What at thrill to know that you can be a child of the King of the universe, a King who never forsaketh His own.  He is our refuge no matter what we may face in life, including pandemics.  And His promise is sure that someday we will be called to His palace above and will dwell by His glorified throne.

1      I belong to the King, I'm a child of His love,
I shall dwell in His palace so fair;
For He tells of its bliss in yon heaven above,
And His children in splendor shall share.
Chorus:
I belong to the King, I'm a child of His love,
And he never forsaketh His own;
He will call me some day to His palace above,
I shall dwell by His glorified throne.

2      I belong to the King, and He loves me I know,
For His mercy and kindness, so free,
Are unceasingly mine wheresoever I go,
And my refuge unfailing is He. 
I belong to the King, I'm a child of His love,
And he never forsaketh His own;
He will call me some day to His palace above,
I shall dwell by His glorified throne.

3      I belong to the King, and His promise is sure,
That we all shall be gathered at last
In His kingdom above, by life's waters so pure,
When this life with its trials is past.
I belong to the King, I'm a child of His love,
And he never forsaketh His own;
He will call me some day to His palace above,
I shall dwell by His glorified throne.

Listen to it here.   KING


Sunday, February 7, 2021

THE NAME OF JESUS

          As I prepare these hymn blogs it becomes very frustrating when I can find little or nothing about the history of a hymn, especially when it is one of my favorite hymns.  And that is the case again this week.  This is a hymn which was sung very often in my church when I was growing up.  The chorus in particular was often sung acapella in our prayer meeting.  At times I can still hear the saints joyfully proclaiming the name of Jesus.. 
          I did find that the hymn was written by William C. Martin (1864-1914) and first published in 1902.  Martin was pastor of the Noank Baptist Church in Noank, Connecticut .. He later served at the East Albany First Baptist Church in Boston, Massachusetts and then at the First Baptist Church in Ft. Myers, Florida, from 1912 until his death. 
         Martin was a prolific hymn writer,  writing hymns such as My Anchor Holds, He Arose, My Father Watches Over Me, Tell Jesus and Still Sweeter Everyday.   Now while I don't know the circumstances behind the writing of this hymn, the name of Jesus is so important because salvation is found in no other name.  Acts 4:12 tells us "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."  Believers should love to hear the name of Jesus because at the name of Jesus every knee should bow and every tongue should confess.  (Philippians 2:9-10)
           Martin's hymn reminds us of how worthy of praise the name of Jesus really is.  In verse one he reminds us that the name of Jesus brings joy.  In verse two, the name of Jesus brings comfort.  The third verse shares that His name brings cheer and verse four tells that it brings sweetness.
           This week let's reflect upon the name of Jesus and what it means to us.  Let's share in Martin's request, "Jesus, let all saints proclaim its worthy praise forever."  Praise His wonderful name!

1.     The name of Jesus is so sweet,
I love its music to repeat;
It makes my joys full and complete,
The precious name of Jesus!
Refrain:
"Jesus," oh, how sweet the name!
"Jesus," every day the same;
"Jesus," let all saints proclaim
Its worthy praise forever!

2.     I love the name of Him whose heart
Knows all my griefs and bears a part;
Who bids all anxious fears depart,
I love the name of Jesus!
Refrain:
"Jesus," oh, how sweet the name!
"Jesus," every day the same;
"Jesus," let all saints proclaim
Its worthy praise forever!

3.     That name I fondly love to hear,
It never fails my heart to cheer;
Its music dries the falling tear,
Exalt the name of Jesus!
Refrain:
"Jesus," oh, how sweet the name!
"Jesus," every day the same;
"Jesus," let all saints proclaim
Its worthy praise forever!

4.     No word of man can ever tell
How sweet the name I love so well;
Oh, let its praises ever swell,
Oh, praise the name of Jesus!
Refrain:
"Jesus," oh, how sweet the name!
"Jesus," every day the same;
"Jesus," let all saints proclaim
Its worthy praise forever!

You can listen to it here.   NAME