"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O LORD: Teach me Thy statutes. With my lips have I declared All the judgments of Thy mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Thy testimonies, As much as in all riches." Psalm 119:11-16 KJV.
Music written about scripture is important because it helps us learn and remember vital truths shared in God's Word. This week's choice is no exception because it reminds us of the importance of hiding God's Word in our hearts for our spiritual growth.
The song was written in 1908 by Ernest O. Sellers (1869-1952). Following his graduation from high school in Lansing, Michigan, he became an apprentice to a surveyor and civil engineer. Five years later he was appointed city engineer and superintendent of public works. Then he was converted at the Lansing YMCA and he enrolled as a student with the Moody Bible Institute at Chicago, IL in 1895. From 1901 to 1905, he served as a YMCA secretary at Macon, GA, then Washington, DC, and finally Wilmington, DE. For the next two years, he was an assistant minister with the Euclid Ave. Baptist Church in Cleveland, OH, but in 1908 and for the next ten years he returned to Moody as an assistant director of the Music Department. It was during this time that Sellers paraphrased portions of Psalm 119 for this hymn..
He also produced many articles, poems, and other hymns. In 1921, he provided a tune for words by Anna B. Russell entitled "A Song in the Heart" beginning, "There is never a day so dreary" to create the hymn "Wonderful, Wonderful Jesus,". This is perhaps his best known work.
Stanza 1 of this week's hymn is based on verse 105, stanza two on verses 89 and 90, stanza three on verses 164, 62, and 57, with the chorus on verse 11. Stanza 1 says that the Word guides and saves us. Stanza 2 says that it tells us about God's faithfulness. Stanza 3 shares that it reveals that the Lord is our portion and stanza 4 foretells the coming of the Savior. The chorus emphasizes the necessity of having this word in our hearts to help us not to sin against the Lord.
Let this simple song remind us daily of our need to commit God's Word to our hearts. May this be a daily goal for each of us
Music written about scripture is important because it helps us learn and remember vital truths shared in God's Word. This week's choice is no exception because it reminds us of the importance of hiding God's Word in our hearts for our spiritual growth.
The song was written in 1908 by Ernest O. Sellers (1869-1952). Following his graduation from high school in Lansing, Michigan, he became an apprentice to a surveyor and civil engineer. Five years later he was appointed city engineer and superintendent of public works. Then he was converted at the Lansing YMCA and he enrolled as a student with the Moody Bible Institute at Chicago, IL in 1895. From 1901 to 1905, he served as a YMCA secretary at Macon, GA, then Washington, DC, and finally Wilmington, DE. For the next two years, he was an assistant minister with the Euclid Ave. Baptist Church in Cleveland, OH, but in 1908 and for the next ten years he returned to Moody as an assistant director of the Music Department. It was during this time that Sellers paraphrased portions of Psalm 119 for this hymn..
He also produced many articles, poems, and other hymns. In 1921, he provided a tune for words by Anna B. Russell entitled "A Song in the Heart" beginning, "There is never a day so dreary" to create the hymn "Wonderful, Wonderful Jesus,". This is perhaps his best known work.
Stanza 1 of this week's hymn is based on verse 105, stanza two on verses 89 and 90, stanza three on verses 164, 62, and 57, with the chorus on verse 11. Stanza 1 says that the Word guides and saves us. Stanza 2 says that it tells us about God's faithfulness. Stanza 3 shares that it reveals that the Lord is our portion and stanza 4 foretells the coming of the Savior. The chorus emphasizes the necessity of having this word in our hearts to help us not to sin against the Lord.
Let this simple song remind us daily of our need to commit God's Word to our hearts. May this be a daily goal for each of us
1 Thy Word is a lamp to my feet,
A light to my path alway,
To guide and to save me from sin,
And show me the heav'nly way.
Refrain:
Thy Word have I hid in my heart,
That I might not sin against Thee;
That I might not sin, that I might not sin,
Thy Word have I hid in my heart.
2 Forever, O Lord, is Thy Word
Established and fixed on high;
Thy faithfulness unto all men
Abideth for ever nigh. (Refrain)
3 At morning, at noon, and at night
I ever will give Thee praise;
For Thou art my portion, O Lord,
And shall be thro' all my days! (Refrain)
4 Thro' Him whom Thy Word hath foretold,
The Savior and Morning Star,
Salvation and peace have been bro't
To those who have strayed afar. (Refrain)
Listen to it here. THY WORD
https://youtu.be/hlsPO_9z7YE
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