MY JESUS AS THOU WILT

            Commitment - a promise or a firm decision to do something. Unfortunately, the term has little meaning in today's world.

          Athletes often break their contracts and leave their teams for more money.  Politicians break their promises for political gain. But maybe even more common today, husbands and wives break their commitments to each other and leave their marriages.  Breaking of commitments is just too common today.

          Today's hymn deals with this matter in our spiritual lives. After the decision to obey the gospel and accept God's provisions for our salvation, the next most important decision is to continue living after God's will, regardless of what the circumstances are or what the future may bring. At the same time, one of the hardest attitudes to maintain in time of adversity is following God's will.  Therefore, we need to be reminded that God can empower us to live victoriously for Him only as we have the attitude, "My Jesus, As Thou Wilt."

          Today's text was written by Benjamin Schmolke (sometimes spelled Schmolk), who was born at Brauchitzchdorf in Silesia, Germany, in December, 1672, the son of Martin Schmolke, a German Lutheran minister.  Like his father, he became a Lutheran minister. Probably as the result of his exhausting labors he had a stroke of paralysis in 1730 at age 58, which for a time laid him aside altogether, and after which he never recovered the use of his right hand. For five more years he was still able to officiate, preaching for the last time in 1735. But two more strokes of paralysis followed, and then cataract came on, relieved for a time by a successful operation, but returning again incurably. For the last months of his life he was confined to bed, till his passing, on the anniversary of his wedding, Feb. 12, 1737.

          Credited with the authorship over 900 hymns, he first published this one in his 1704.  Schmolke's only surviving hymn was translated into English by Jane Laurie Borthwick (1813-1897). The translation was probably made around in 1853 was first published the following year in a book, Hymns from the Land of Luther, which consisted of 114 translations of German hymns by Jane and her sister, Sarah Borthwick Findlater.

          This hymn is a prayer that we should daily share. "My Jesus, as Thou wilt: O may Thy will be mine!" "Through sorrow or thro' joy, Conduct me as Thine own." "All shall be well for me; Each changing future scene, I gladly trust with Thee."

          This is a hymn of resignation and resolution - no matter what your life is or what you will do, God's will will be done.   Have you made such a commitment?  Can you say, "My Jesus As Thou Wilt?"

 

1     My Jesus, as Thou wilt:

O may Thy will be mine!

Into Thy hand of love

I would my all resign.

Through sorrow or thro' joy,

Conduct me as Thine own,

And help me still to say,

My Jesus as thou wilt.

2.    My Jesus, as Thou wilt! 

If needy here and poor,

Give me Thy people's bread, 

their portion rich and sure;

The manna of Thy Word 

Let my soul feed upon;

And if all else should fail, 

my Lord, Thy will be done.

3.      My Jesus, as Thou wilt:

Tho' seen thro' many'a tear,

Let not my star of hope

Grow dim or disappear.

Since Thou on earth hast wept

And sorrowed oft alone,

If I must weep with Thee,

My Lord, Thy will be done.

4.      My Jesus, as Thou wilt:

All shall be well for me;

Each changing future scene

I gladly trust with Thee.

Straight to my home above

I travel calmly on,

And sing in life or death,

"My Lord, Thy will be done."

Listen to it here.  COMMITMENT

THE SOLID ROCK (TH)

TIMELESS HYMNS - A feature in which I choose a hymn that I have shared in the past, revise it and post it once again.  This hymn was first posted on May 2, 2012.

          Edward Mote (1797-1874) was a hard working cabinet maker and at age 34 he opened his own shop. He also enjoyed writing articles and poems. 

          As he walked to work one morning, he developed this chorus. Upon arriving at his shop, he gave instructions to his workers, and then slipped into his office to pen the words. He wrote four verses that day, and then later added two more verses before the poem was finished. 

         He gave his local newspaper a report of the account of this hymn The Solid Rock it said: "One morning it came into my mind as I went to labor, to write an hymn on the "Gracious experience of a Christian." As I went up Holborn I had the chorus, 'On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.' In the day, I had the first four verses complete, and wrote them off." 

         "On the Sabbath following, I met Brother King as I came out of the Lisle Street Meeting who informed me that his wife was very ill, and asked me to call and see her. I had an early tea and called afterwards. He said that it was his usual custom to sing a hymn, read a portion, and engage in prayer, before he went to the meeting. He looked for his hymnbook, but could find it nowhere. I said, 'I have some verses in my pocket; if you like, we could sing them.' We did, and his wife enjoyed them so much that after the service he asked me, as a favor, to leave a copy of them for his wife.  I went home, and by the fireside composed the last two verses, wrote them off, and took them to Sister King." 

          The poem was so well received, he printed out 1,000 copies to distribute.  The music commonly used with the hymn was written by William B. Bradbury in 1863. An alternative tune sometimes used is "Melita" by John B. Dykes,  more commonly remembered as the music to "Eternal Father, Strong to Save" or otherwise known as "The Navy Hymn." 

          Mote's hymn states clearly where our faith lies - on the solid rock of Jesus Christ, His shed blood and righteous life.  In a time when change is everywhere, it is a great reminder that we can build our life and hopes on something secure, the solid rock, Christ Jesus.

          Are you standing on the solid Rock?

(1)   My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus' blood and righteousness;

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

But wholly lean on Jesus' name.

Refrain: 

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;

All other ground is sinking sand,

All other ground is sinking sand.

(2)  When darkness veils His lovely face,

I rest on His unchanging grace;

In every high and stormy gale,

My anchor holds within the veil.

Refrain: 

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;

All other ground is sinking sand,

All other ground is sinking sand.

(3)  His oath, His covenant, His blood

Support me in the whelming flood;

When all around my soul gives way,

He then is all my hope and stay.

Refrain: 

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;

All other ground is sinking sand,

All other ground is sinking sand.

(4)  When He shall come with trumpet sound,

Oh, may I then in Him be found;

Dressed in His righteousness alone,

Faultless to stand before the throne.

Refrain: 

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;

All other ground is sinking sand,

All other ground is sinking sand.

Listen to it being sung here.   ROCK

HE IS COMING AGAIN

          In August one of my granddaughters began her college education at my alma mater. She was the sixth of my grandchildren to attend college but the first to make the same college choice that I had made. It brought back many memories of my experiences over 60 years ago.

          Now while I had been away from home many times, especially in the summers, I remember experiencing homesickness for the first time during my first few weeks at college.  And I remember the anticipation I experienced when I was waiting for the first visit from my family.  I thought the day and then the hour of their coming would never arrive.  But finally they arrived, just as they promised

          Today believers should also anticipate the call of Jesus Christ, just as He promised.  And, the rapture could even be today.

          Mabel J. Camp (1871-1937) was a banker's daughter.  She was a gifted pianist and singer.  She married a lawyer, Norman H. Camp, and together they became Christians at one of Dwight Moody's Bible Union classes taught by William Newell.  They were members of the Moody Memorial Church.

          Mabel isn't really known for writing hymns except for this week's hymn choice.  But she too must have been living in anticipation of the Lord's coming. Before the Lord Jesus Christ left this earth to return to heaven, He said, "I will come again." These words have been the hope and comfort of millions of believers for the past twenty centuries. He, as the glorified Christ, repeated these words to the apostle John on the lonely island of Patmos. Here He sharpened His promise and delivered it in a dramatic way, "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me."  (Rev. 22:12).  And the rapture is the next promised event to occur.

          In her hymn she described the world we live in. "Dark was the night, sin warred against us; Heavy the load of sorrow we bore." "Creation waits redemption to see."  What a description for our sick world today.

          But Camp also contrasts our present world with what will happen after the rapture and the second coming of Christ. "Our hearts glow within us, joy's cup runneth o'er!"  "Thy transcendent glory forever shall shine!"  "Caught up in clouds, soon we shall meet Thee, O blessed assurance, forever with Thee!"

          So, friend, are you tired of this dark world with all of its troubles?  Are you getting homesick for heaven?  Then remember His promise to take you home.  Live daily in the anticipation that the rapture could be today.

1    Lift up your heads, pilgrims aweary,

See day's approach now crimson the sky;

Night shadows flee, and your Beloved,

Awaited with longing, at last draweth nigh.

Refrain:

He is coming again, 

He is coming again,

The very same Jesus, rejected of men;

He is coming again, 

He is coming again,

With pow'r and great glory, 

He is coming again!

2    Dark was the night, sin warred against us;

Heavy the load of sorrow we bore;

But now we see signs of His coming;

Our hearts glow within us, joy's cup runneth o'er! Refrain:

He is coming again, 

He is coming again,

The very same Jesus, rejected of men;

He is coming again, 

He is coming again,

With pow'r and great glory, 

He is coming again!

3    O blessed hope! O blissful promise!

Filling our hearts with rapture divine;

O day of days! Hail Thy appearing!

Thy transcendent glory forever shall shine! Refrain:

He is coming again, 

He is coming again,

The very same Jesus, rejected of men;

He is coming again, 

He is coming again,

With pow'r and great glory, 

He is coming again!

4    Even so come, precious Lord Jesus;

Creation waits redemption to see;

Caught up in clouds, soon we shall meet Thee;

O blessed assurance, forever with Thee! Refrain:

He is coming again, 

He is coming again,

The very same Jesus, rejected of men;

He is coming again, 

He is coming again,

With pow'r and great glory, 

He is coming again!

Listen to an instrumental version here.   COMING
Listen to a vocal version here.  VOCAL

 

GOD IS SO GOOD

          "God is so good, He's so good to me!"  A profound truth that is shared in a classic chorus sung all over the world.

          It was many decades ago that the Greiner Family of Family Christian Inspiration shared this chorus with us in a series of meetings in our church.  And since then we've sung it and used it in our ministry, both with children and adults.  In Awana we used it when we went to prayer and also as a lead into our award time.

          When I decided to share it in this blog I was surprised, not that I couldn't find the author, but that there were so many different claims of its authorship.

          Some books claim that the song is an "African Melody" or that it was written by an anonymous person. Or they make no claim at all.  Along the same line some attribute it to Paul Makaia, a leader in the Evangelical Church of Zambia since 1978 and the Dean of Students at Namibia Evangelical Theological Seminary in Windhoek, Namibia. He has wrote and composed numerous songs, most of which have been credited as "Anonymous" or "African Traditional."  It could be him.

          Other sources claim a Velna A. Ledin wrote it in 1933.  They say she wrote it to help pass the time on a long road trip.  She or her companions wrote the first verse and many others were added later.  I guess that is possible.

          But another source is Child Evangelism Fellowship.  They claim that in 1961 a young Burundian diplomat knew that God was calling him to work with children. He and his wife and three children lived comfortably in Bujumbura, the capital city. After a serious accident that left Stephen Rutuna on his back in a hospital, unsure if he'd ever walk again, he finally submitted to God's call.

          Shortly after making his commitment to the Lord, the king of Burundi told Stephen that he wanted him to serve as the Prime Minister. Stephen told the king that he would serve for one year to give the king time to find a replacement, but that God had called him to work with children, and he had to obey God. The king agreed to this arrangement. After serving a year, Stephen reminded the king of their agreement. The king told Stephen that he had two choices: Work for him or work for no one and be put to death. Stephen told the king that he had to obey God. As a result, Stephen was imprisoned.

          Stephen was in a cell with others who were to be executed for various "crimes." The day arrived for the execution and one by one the men were removed from their cells and executed. By the time it was Stephen's turn, evening had set and the king decided to wait until the next morning to kill Stephen.

          That evening, all alone in his cell, Stephen began to reflect upon his life. As he reflected on these things, he could only say, "God is so good, God is so good, God is so good, He's so good to me." God placed this simple song into Stephen's heart, and he sang it over and over that evening.

          The next morning, the soldiers came to take Stephen to the place of execution.  However, just as they got to the place where the execution would take place, a violent storm erupted, and lighting struck the ground very near where Stephen stood, knocking him unconscious.

          When the soldiers came to their senses, they refused to kill Stephen. They told the king, "We cannot kill this man! His God has done this and He is more powerful. We are afraid to touch him!" The king agreed and set Stephen free. The king warned that if anyone helped Stephen, they would be put to death.

           Stephen returned to his home to check on his family. When he arrived, he found his home had been burned to the ground. He sought out the CEF missionaries and found his family hiding in their home.

          When the soldiers came to torch the missionaries' house and kill everyone, including Stephen's family, Stephen's youngest son had defiantly looked at the soldiers and exclaimed, "You can kill us, but God will remember." The soldiers were afraid and let the family go before torching the house.

          For several months, the Rutuna family hid with the CEF missionaries until they were all able to escape to Uganda. They settled in Uganda and began the CEF work there. Later, under the reign of Idi Amin, the Rutuna's again had to flee for their lives.  His son's need for surgery allowed the family to escape into Kenya where Stephen served with CEF, first as the National Director and later as the Regional Director for East and Central Africa.

          Now I still don't know who actually wrote the chorus and it really doesn't matter.  Over the years many additional verses have been added and sung in various places.

         The truth is, God is so good as we've all experienced.  He cares for us.  He answers our prayers.  And we should sing this chorus daily and praise His name.

 

1.     God is so good,

      God is so good,

           God is so good,

      He's so good to me!

 

     2.   God answers prayer,

     God answers prayer,

     God answers prayer,

     He's so good to me!

 

      3.   He cares for me,

      He cares for me,

      He cares for me,

      He's so good to me!

 

4.    I love Him so,

I love Him so,

I love Him so,

He's so good to me!

 

5.    I'll do His will,

I'll do His will,

I'll do His will,

He's so good to me!

 

6.    I praise His name,

I praise His name,

I praise His name,

He's so good to me!

 

Listen to it being sung here.   GOOD

 

 

JESUS THOU JOY OF LOVING HEARTS

            This beautiful old hymn speaks so eloquently of who our Lord is experientially - joy of loving hearts, fount of life, light of men, truth unchanged, living bread, the fountain-head, our strength and stay.

          This hymn, generally attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux, was translated from the Latin in 1858. It was a loose paraphrase rather than a strict translation done by Dr. Ray Palmer, a Congregational pastor from Albany, New York.  Some say that the hymn as we know it was written by both Bernard of Clairvaux and Palmer.  Dr. Palmer also wrote several hymns on his own, probably the best known being "My Faith Looks Up to Thee."
          Bernard of Clairvaux was born to well-to-do parents in central France, in what is known as burgundy wine country, near Dijon.  A nobleman by birth, he didn't grow up as a spoiled rich kid.  Actually, his parents, especially his mother, Aleth, taught him the virtues of justice, mercy, and affection for others.
          His mother's death, when he was seventeen, affected Bernard profoundly.  He began to experience a more profound conversion and a call to study theology.  He entered a Benedictine monastery in 1112 A.D.  His talent was soon recognized, and three years later he was asked to establish a monastery at Clairvaux.  That was a successful venture, and a number of other monasteries were established throughout France under his leadership. 
            The monastic life was often one of withdrawal. Monks had their own communities, which were largely self-sufficient. There they could work and pray in relative solitude. But Bernard broke out of that system and became an unusually public figure for a monk. He challenged popes and political leaders to live righteously. He urged professors to teach truth. He launched evangelistic campaigns. He became a confidant of Popes and a preacher to the King of France. 

         In spite of these remarkable achievements, the focus of his life remained twofold, knowing God and serving the needy.

            Even though this hymn was written almost 900 years ago and translated about 150 years ago, we can appreciate the writer's and translator's yearning and appreciation of the Lord.

           "Jesus, Thou Joy of Loving Hearts," like many hymns, is a prayer, in this case, a prayer to Jesus.  It celebrates the joy that we have in Jesus, the peace that his love imparts, and the filling of our souls.  It concludes with a prayer for Christ's continuing presence:
"O Jesus, ever with us stay; make all our moments calm and bright; oh, chase the night of sin away, shed o'er the world thy holy light.
          Is Jesus the joy of your heart?  Do you find Him good?  Is He your all in all?

1     O Jesus, joy of loving hearts,

thou fount of life, thou light of men,

from fullest bliss that earth imparts

we turn unfilled to thee again,

we turn unfilled to thee again.

2     Thy truth unchanged has ever stood,

thou savest those that on thee call;

to them that seek thee, thou art good,

to them that find thee, all in all,

to them that find thee, all in all.

3     We taste thee, O thou living bread,

and long to feast upon thee still;

we drink of thee, the fountainhead,

and thirst our souls from thee to fill,

and thirst our souls from thee to fill.

4     Our restless spirits yearn for thee,

where'er our changeful lot is cast,

glad that thy gracious smile we see,

blest that our faith can hold thee fast,

blest that our faith can hold thee fast.

5     O Jesus, ever with us stay,

make all our moments calm and bright;

chase the dark night of sin away,

shed o'er the world thy holy light,

shed o'er the world thy holy light.

Listen to it here:  JOY

HE LEADETH ME (TH)

TIMELESS HYMNS - A regular feature in which I choose a previous hymn blog, revise it and post it again.  This one was first posted June 24, 2012. 

          We all need good leadership to help us navigate the many challenges we face on our journey through this life here on earth.   We can't do it alone.   This week's hymn choice is one which reminds us of the faithful leadership that God gives believers. 

           The writer, Joseph H. Gilmore (1834-1918), shared how he came to write the words. "As a young man who recently had been graduated from Brown University and Newton Theological Institution, I was supplying for a couple of Sundays the pulpit of the First Baptist Church in Philadelphia. At the midweek service, on the 26th of March, 1862, I set out to give the people an exposition of the Twenty-third Psalm, which I had given before on three or four occasions, but this time I did not get further than the words "He Leadeth Me." Those words took hold of me as they had never done before, and I saw them in a significance and wondrous beauty of which I had never dreamed."  

          "It was the darkest hour of the Civil War. I did not refer to that fact — that is, I don't think I did — but it may subconsciously have led me to realize that God's leadership is the one significant fact in human experience, that it makes no difference how we are led, or whither we are led, so long as we are sure God is leading us. At the close of the meeting a few of us in the parlor of my host, good Deacon Wattson, kept on talking about the thought which I had emphasized; and then and there, on a blank page of the brief from which I had intended to speak, I penciled the hymn, talking and writing at the same time, then handed it to my wife and thought no more about it."

          "She sent it to The Watchman and Reflector, a paper published in Boston, where it was first printed. I did not know until 1865 that my hymn had been set to music by William B. Bradbury. I went to Rochester [New York] to preach as a candidate before the Second Baptist Church. Going into their chapel on arrival in the city, I picked up a hymnal to see what they were singing, and opened it at my own hymn, "He Leadeth Me."  

           And now, for over 150 years, this hymn has been the testimony of many believers.  We can share how He leads us no matter where we may be and no matter how difficult the storm we face.  And He will continue to lead us as we make our journey to our heavenly home.  And in that knowledge and experience we should be content.

          I pray that this hymn may also be your testimony and experience as it is mine.

(1)  He leadeth me, O blessed thought!

O words with heav'nly comfort fraught!

Whate'er I do, where'er I be

Still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me.

He leadeth me, He leadeth me,

By His own hand He leadeth me;

His faithful follower I would be,

For by His hand He leadeth me.

(2)  Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom,

Sometimes where Eden's bowers bloom,

By waters still, over troubled sea,

Still 'tis His hand that leadeth me.

He leadeth me, He leadeth me,

By His own hand He leadeth me;

His faithful follower I would be,

For by His hand He leadeth me.

(3)   Lord, I would place my hand in Thine,

Nor ever murmur nor repine;

Content, whatever lot I see,

Since 'tis my God that leadeth me.

He leadeth me, He leadeth me,

By His own hand He leadeth me;

His faithful follower I would be,

For by His hand He leadeth me.

(4)   And when my task on earth is done,

When by Thy grace the vict'ry's won,

E'en death's cold wave I will not flee,

Since God through Jordan leadeth me.

He leadeth me, He leadeth me,

By His own hand He leadeth me;

His faithful follower I would be,

For by His hand He leadeth me.

Listen to it being sung here.    LEADETH

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RGSSj4uIPU

THERE'LL BE NO DARK VALLEY

          At times we probably all wonder how we will die.  Will it be instant or will we suffer for a length of time.  Will we be alone or with our loved ones?  Many fear it could be a trip through a long, dark valley.

          But the Psalmist reassures us that though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we need not fear.  For God is with us and His rod and staff will be our comfort and protection.  And so many believers have found this true.

          For believers, absent from this life means present with the Lord.  And we will live in the house of the Lord forever.

          Not all believers will die but those who don't will be called home to be with the Lord at the rapture.   So don't fear.  There will be no dark valley when Jesus comes to gather his loved ones home.  And we will not face sorrow again. Nor will there be more weeping.  Instead it will be a glorious time and a time of celebration.

          William Orcutt Cushing (1823-1903) was, for a couple of decades, a successful pastor. A kindly man, he once gave a thousand dollars - all he had, and a huge sum in those days - to a blind girl, so she could get an education. But after the death of his wife in 1870, when he was 47 years old, his health began to fail.  He developed a creeping paralysis that caused him to lose his voice. and he retired from active pastoral ministry.

          By the grace of God, a new kind of ministry opened up, leading to the blessing of countless lives Mr. Cushing could never have touched in person. He turned his attention to writing hymns, and during the latter part of the nineteenth century he wrote over 300 of them. 
          Most hymnbooks give Cushing credit for writing this hymn.  However, it might have actually been written by Ira David Sankey (1840-1908).  Cushimg may have only provided the idea for the theme and Sankey may have added the words and music.
          We do not know what the future will bring to our lives here upon this earth. But by faith we can know what the future will bring to the righteous when this life is over. We may have our days of darkness, sorrow, weeping, and sadness in this world, but when Jesus comes again, we are assured that "There'll Be No Dark Valley."
          Rejoice in this truth this week.

1    There'll be no dark valley when Jesus comes,

There'll be no dark valley when Jesus comes;

There'll be no dark valley when Jesus comes

To gather His loved ones home.

Refrain:

To gather His loved ones home,

To gather His loved ones home;

There'll be no dark valley when Jesus comes

To gather His loved ones home.

2    There'll be no more sorrow when Jesus comes,

There'll be no more sorrow when Jesus comes;

But a glorious morrow when Jesus comes

To gather His loved ones home. [Refrain]

3    There'll be no more weeping when Jesus comes,

There'll be no more weeping when Jesus comes;

But a blessed reaping when Jesus comes

To gather His loved ones home. [Refrain]

4    There'll be songs of greeting when Jesus comes,

There'll be songs of greeting when Jesus comes;

And a joyful meeting when Jesus comes

To gather His loved ones home. [Refrain]

Listen to this hymn here.   VALLEY

 

IF YOU WANT JOY

          "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." - Galatians 5:22-23.

           Joy is one of those things that everyone would like to have.  And folks try to find it in so many wrong ways … Possessions, parties, relationships, money, investments  … are just some of the ways that people try.  But none of these can provide real joy for joy is a fruit of the spirit and comes only in knowing the Lord.

          And that is the truth shared in this chorus. "If you want joy, real joy, wonderful joy, let Jesus come into your heart."

          Joseph D. Carlson penned the words and music of this classic chorus in 1939.  Before he was converted he conducted a dance orchestra in Minnesota.  But after his conversion he wrote these words as his personal testimony. 

          Carlson became primarily interested in evangelism and missions and made annual visits to mission fields. He served as Executive Director of International Christian Ministries and of the Mission to Children, Inc. and he conducted a daily radio ministry.

          Personally, as I have been involved for decades ministering to children, this chorus was one that we often used to share the gospel.  There were others that also shared about joy – "I have the joy, joy, joy down in my heart", "Joy is the flag flown high from the castle of my heart when the king is in residence there", "Jesus, and Others and You, what a wonderful way to spell joy" – but Carlson's chorus really shared the Gospel in a simple and powerful way.

        "Your sins He'll wash away, your night He'll turn to day, your life He'll make it over anew.  If you want joy, real joy, wonderful joy, let Jesus come into your heart."

          Are you looking for real joy in your life?  If you are, then Jesus is your only answer.  Let Him come into your heart today.  Don't delay. 

 

If you want joy, real joy, wonderful joy,

Let Jesus come into your heart;

If you want joy, real joy, wonderful joy,

Let Jesus come into your heart.

Your sins He'll wash away,

Your night He'll turn to day,

Your life He'll make it over anew;

I you want joy, real joy, wonderful joy,

Let Jesus come into your heart.

 

Listen to it here.   JOY

 

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GztK6U95y6Q

HOLY BIBLE BOOK DIVINE

          Robert Raikes, an Anglican layman, is credited with founding the Sunday School movement in England.  His heart went out to the ragged children of the slum, worn down by slave labor, running wild and exposed to all kinds of vice.  There were no state schools of any kind and most children could not even read.

          Mr. Raikes believed that a good education would give children a much better start in life, so he started a school.  His "Sunday School" began in the kitchen of a home, in Gloucester, in July of 1780.  At first it was for boys only, but soon girls came too.  Since the children worked in factories six days a week, his school was held on Sundays.

          One of the first questions the founders of Sunday Schools had to answer was, "What shall we teach?"  Some thought it best to have the children memorize catechisms (principles of Christian doctrine in the form of questions and answers). But Raikes and a young Sunday School teacher named John Burton simply taught the Bible. And, if they needed to teach children to read, they used the Bible to do that, too.
          Burton (1773-1822) played a major role in this new movement.  He believed that music could be used to teach the Gospel to these children.  He wrote and published songs for the Sunday School, and music greatly helped in the teaching and training of those who attended. Committing songs such as this one to memory enabled illiterate children to get their first grasp on eternal truth. 
            Burton was one of the compilers of the Nottingham Sunday School Union Hymn Book in 1812.  This book reached the 20^th edition in 1861.  The first edition contains 43 hymns which have his signature.  But Burton is really known for this week's hymn choice, Holy Bible, Book Divine.
            I can almost hear the children singing this hymn on Sundays and throughout the week.  They would learn that the Bible is a book divine, a precious treasure.  They would learn that the Bible shows a Savior's love.  It  also shares a living faith.  And it tells of joys to come.
          What wonderful truths for these children to learn.  But even greater is the fact that these truths are ours as well.  Precious treasure, thou art mine!  Be reminded of this as you sing these words this week.

1      Holy Bible, book divine,

Precious treasure, thou art mine;

Mine to tell me whence I came,

Mine to teach me what I am:

2      Mine to chide me when I rove;

Mine to show a Savior's love;

Mine thou art to guide and guard;

Mine to punish or reward;

3      Mine to comfort in distress,

Suffering in this wilderness;

Mine to show by living faith,

Man can triumph over death;

4      Mine to tell of joys to come,

And the rebel sinner's doom;

O thou holy book divine,

Precious treasure, thou art mine.

Listen to it here.    BIBLE