Thursday, September 28, 2023
Reestablishing order from chaos (no, not our modern world!)
Alas! and did my Savior bleed
1 Alas! and did my Savior bleed,
and did my Sovereign die!
Would he devote that sacred head
for sinners such as I?
2 Was it for crimes that I have done,
he groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! Grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!
3 Well might the sun in darkness hide,
and shut its glories in,
when God, the mighty maker, died
for his own creature's sin.
4 Thus might I hide my blushing face
while his dear cross appears;
dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
and melt mine eyes to tears.
5 But drops of tears can ne'er repay
the debt of love I owe.
Here, Lord, I give myself away;
'tis all that I can do.
Isaac Watts
The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
But they are invincible!
O sacred head, now wounded
1 O sacred Head, now wounded,
with grief and shame weighed down,
now scornfully surrounded
with thorns, Thine only crown.
O sacred Head, what glory,
what bliss till now was Thine!
Yet, though despised and gory,
I joy to call Thee mine.
2 What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered
was all for sinners' gain;
mine, mine was the transgression,
but Thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior!
'Tis I deserve Thy place;
look on me with Thy favor,
vouchsafe to me Thy grace.
3 What language shall I borrow
to thank Thee, dearest Friend,
for this, Thy dying sorrow,
Thy pity without end?
O make me Thine forever!
And should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never
outlive my love for Thee.
Authorship uncertain
Tr. by Paul Gerhardt
Tr. by James W. Alexander
The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition
<idle musing>
I've always liked this hymn, especially the third verse, the final lines:
And should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never
outlive my love for Thee.
Far from being a depressing thought, I find it an encouragement, because I know that the love of God and the power of the Holy Spirit is so strong that I can't help but fall deeper in love with him.
Hymnary.org adds a fourth verse, which I don't recall seeing before:
4 Be near when I am dying,They also note that some attribute the hymn to Bernard of Clairvaux and others to Arnulf, Abbot of Villers-la-Ville, about whom they have no information.
O show Thy cross to me!
And, for my succor flying,
come, Lord, to set me free:
these eyes, new faith receiving,
from Thee shall never move;
for he who dies believing
dies safely in Thy love.
</idle musing>
Tuesday, September 26, 2023
Where's the magic pill?
Hermeneutics (Tozer for Tuesday)
What's the point of righteousness?
<idle musing>
Ouch! How many of us fall into that category? Lord, have mercy!
</idle musing>
There is a fountain
1 There is a fountain filled with blood
Drawn from Immanuel's veins;
And sinners, plunged beneath that flood,
Lose all their guilty stains:
Lose all their guilty stains,
Lose all their guilty stains;
And sinners, plunged beneath that flood,
Lose all their guilty stains.
2 The dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in his day;
And there may I, though vile as he,
Wash all my sins away:
Wash all my sins away,
Wash all my sins away;
And there may I, though vile as he,
Wash all my sins away.
3 Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood
Shall never lose its pow'r,
Till all the ransomed Church of God
Be saved, to sin no more:
Be saved, to sin no more,
Be saved, to sin no more;
Till all the ransomed Church of God
Be saved to sin no more.
4 E'er since by faith I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme,
And shall be till I die:
And shall be till I die,
And shall be till I die;
Redeeming love has been my theme,
And shall be till I die.
5 When this poor lisping, stamm'ring tongue
Lies silent in the grave,
Then in a nobler, sweeter song
I'll sing Thy pow'r to save:
I'll sing Thy pow'r to save,
I'll sing Thy pow'r to save;
Then in a nobler, sweeter song
I'll sing Thy pow'r to save.
Willaim Cowper
The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition
Monday, September 25, 2023
You are NOT rational
<idle musing>
Truth!
</idle musing>
Why are the gods condemned in Psalm 82?
It is finished!
“It is finished!” Man of sorrows!
From thy cross our frailty borrows
Strength to bear and conquer thus.
2. While extended there we view thee,
Mighty Sufferer! draw us to thee;
Sufferer victorious!
3. Not in vain for us uplifted,
Man of sorrows, wonder-gifted!
May that sacred emblem be;
4. Lifted high amid the ages,
Guide of heroes, saints, and sages,
May it guide us still to thee!
5. Still to thee! whose love unbounded
Sorrow’s depths for us has sounded,
Perfected by conflicts sore.
6. Honored be thy cross forever;
Star, that points our high endeavor
Whither thou hast gone before!
Frederick H. Hedge
The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition
<idle musing>
Interestingly, the author is a Unitarian, which would explain the lack of any reference to Jesus as divine! Nevertheless, a good hymn, even if he leaves Jesus as simply a "Guide of heroes, saints, and sages," rather than an enabling presence.
</idle musing>
Sunday, September 24, 2023
O Love divine, what hast thou done?
1. O Love divine, what hast thou done!
The immortal God hath died for me!
The Father's coeternal Son
bore all my sins upon the tree.
The immortal God hath died for me!
My Lord, my Love, is crucified!
2. Is crucified for me and you,
to bring us rebels back to God.
Believe, believe the record true,
ye all are bought with Jesus' blood.
Pardon for all flows from his side:
My Lord, my Love, is crucified!
3. Behold him, all ye that pass by,
the bleeding Prince of life and peace!
Come, sinners, see your Savior die,
and say, "Was ever grief like his?"
Come, feel with me his blood applied:
My Lord, my Love, is crucified!
Charles Wesley
The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition
<idle musing>
I don't recall ever singing this hymn, to my loss. And in the past, whenever I would read a hymn or two devotionally, I would always just read ones I knew. This is the first time I've gone through this hymnal from front to back. It's been fun! And educational, too.
Hymnary.org adds a fourth verse:
4 Then let us sit beneath his Cross,Not sure why they would omit it; it's loaded with good theology!
And gladly catch the healing stream;
All Things for him account but Loss,
And give up all our Hearts to him:
Of nothing speak, or think beside,
But Jesus and him crucify'd.
</idle musing>
Saturday, September 23, 2023
O come and mourn with me a while
1 O come and mourn with me awhile;
O come ye to the Savior's side;
O come, together let us mourn:
Jesus, our Love, is crucified!
2 Have we no tears to shed for Him,
While soldiers scoff and foes deride?
Ah! Look how patiently He hangs:
Jesus, our Lord, is crucified!
3 Seven times He spake seven words of love;
And all three hours His silence cried
For mercy on the souls of men:
Jesus, our Lord, is crucified!
4 O love of God! O sin of man!
In this dread act your strength is tried;
And victory remains with love:
Jesus, our Lord, is crucified!
Frederick W. Faber
The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition
<idle musing>
We go from the exultation of Palm Sunday in yesterday's hymn to the agony of the passion in this one. I do like the fact that the hymn, despite being all about the agony of the garden and the cross, ends on a high note of "victory remains with love."
</idle musing>
Friday, September 22, 2023
Just? Not so much
<idle musing>
If ever there was an understatement, they just made it! Not just ANE gods, but ancient Greek and Roman gods fit that description. Remember, the Greek philosophers bemoaned the moral state of the gods! They were anything but just themselves, although they didn't like injustice among the people and were thought to be quick to judge it.
And this snippet brings up another thing that John Walton has continually pushed in his books: The gods created humanity to serve them so they could party/do their thing. So, basically people aren't valued as people, but as slaves. That's a radically different viewpoint from the biblical one, where humanity ('adam) is created in the image and likeness of God (בְּצַלְמֵ֖נוּ כִּדְמוּתֵ֑נוּ). Not as serving a needy god, but as stewards of his creation. There's a lot to unpack there, but we'll leave it alone today.
</idle musing>
Behold the savior of mankind
1 Behold the Savior of mankind
Nailed to the shameful tree!
How vast the love that Him inclined
To bleed and die for thee!
2 Hark, how He groans, while nature shakes,
And earth's strong pillars bend!
The temple's veil in sunder breaks;
The solid marbles rend.
3 'Tis done! the precious ransom's paid!
"Receive my soul!" He cries;
See where He bows His sacred head!
He bows His head and dies!
4 But soon He'll break death's envious chain,
And in full glory shine;
O Lamb of God, was ever pain,
Was ever love, like Thine?
Samuel Wesley
The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition
<idle musing>
No, not that Wesley! His father Samuel, who also wrote some good hymns. And note that he ends on a high note, looking forward to the resurrection.
I know some people claim we don't dwell enough on the cruxificion and rush through it to Easter, but we are a resurrection people! Yes, Calvary had to happen, but if that were the end of the story, there wouldn't be a story. The resurrection affirmed what happened on Calvary. And the ascension (the part that really tends to get overlooked!) sealed it and proved that Jesus was the Christ, the son of the living God, who then sent the Holy Spirit to his followers that we might live in the victory he won. (I won't get into the weeds as to whether the Spirit comes from the Father through the son or from the Father and the son, the so-called filioque clause in the creeds!)
</idle musing>
Thursday, September 21, 2023
Law-giver or scribe?
Lift high the triumph song!
Lift high the triumph song today!
From Olivet to Calvary;
We tread again that ancient way
Our Saviour rode in majesty.
Let now the loud hosannas ring!
The Prince of Peace is passing by;
The Lord of Life, our Saviour King,
Goes bravely forth, to reign and die.
We climb again the wooded slopes
Of Olivet and Calvary;
We share with Him those radiant hopes,
Which led at last to victory.
Let now the loud hosannas ring!
The Prince of Peace is passing by;
The Lord of Life, our Saviour King,
Goes gladly forth to live-and die.
We join the throng to welcome Him:
From Olivet to Calvary-
Descend the heights to shadows dim,
Thro’ death with Him to liberty.
Let now the loud hosannas ring!
The Prince of Peace is passing by;
The Lord of Life, our Saviour, King,
Goes bravely forth, to serve-and die.
We open wide the gates of love!
By Olivet to Calvary,
Acclaim Him Christ, from God above,
Our King thro’ all eternity.
Let now the loud hosannas ring!
The Prince of Peace is passing by;
The Lord of Life, our Saviour, King,
Goes nobly forth, no more to die.
Ernest F. McGregor
The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition
<idle musing>
It wasn't easy finding out information about this author. Even the link that I do give doesn't tell very much about him. Seems he only wrote three hymns, none of which really caught on. This one only occurs in five hymnals.
I don't recall ever singing this hymn, but here's a link to a piano rendition of the tune.
</idle musing>
Wednesday, September 20, 2023
There is a development of the idea, though
<idle musing>
They must have been reading my mind from yesterday's post! They do believe there is a development of the idea through time. I still think the idea of yesterday that holiness is a status conferred by God is a good one to hang onto. After all, the Corinthians are called holy ones (saints), despite their obvious flaws. So, holiness is deeper than behavior, even while it calls for a change in behavior—remember that the priests had a set of rules that was stricter than the general population on how they were to live, "lest they die."
</idle musing>
Ride on! Ride on! Ride on!
1 O Thou Eternal Christ of God,
Ride on! Ride on! Ride on!
Establish Thou for evermore
The triumph now begun.
A mighty host, by Thee redeemed,
Is marching in Thy train,
Thine is the Kingdom and the power,
And Thou in love shalt reign.
2 O holy Saviour of mankind,
Ride on! Ride on! Ride on!
We bear with Thee the scourge and cross
If so Thy will is done.
And be the road uphill or down,
Unbroken or well trod,
We go with Thee to claim and build
A city unto God.
3 O Thou whose dreams enthrall the heart,
Ride on! Ride on! Ride on!
Ride on till tyranny and greed
Are evermore undone.
In mart and court and parliament
The common good increase,
Till men at last shall ring the bells
Of brotherhood and peace.
4 O Thou who art the Life and Light,
Exalted Lord and King,
We hail Thine august majesty
And loud hosanna sing,
Until in every land and clime
Thine ends of love are won:
O Christ, Redeemer, Brother, Friend,
Ride on! Ride on! Ride on!
Calvin W. Laufer
The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition
<idle musing>
Laufer's biography is interesting. This, from the preface to Hymn Lore, is very good: "To live with hymns and to make them one's own is the only sure way of appreciating their literary beauty and spiritual power."
Indeed! That's what I'm trying to do by blogging my way through this hymnal!
</idle musing>
Tuesday, September 19, 2023
Holiness?
<idle musing>
OK, I come from a Wesleyan/holiness tradition, with a strong emphasis on holy living and holiness. But I see this as a healthy corrective to the common checklist mentality about holiness. And if you read Wesley, he always is stressing that it is God living through you that does the living. It is a gift.
Even so, though, I'm wondering if they aren't creating too strong a binary here. Or perhaps not allowing for a development of the idea throughout the course of scripture?
</idle musing>
Tozer for Tuesday
A Palm Sunday hymn
1 When his salvation bringing,
to Zion Jesus came,
the children all stood singing
hosannas to his name:
nor did their zeal offend him,
but as he rode along,
he let them still attend him,
and smiled to hear their song.
2 And since the Lord retaineth
his love for children still,
though now as King he reigneth
on Zion's heav'nly hill,
we'll flock around his banner
who sits upon his throne,
and cry aloud, "Hosanna
to David's royal Son!"
3 For should we fail proclaiming
our great Redeemer's praise,
the stones, our silence shaming,
would their hosannas raise.
But shall we only render
the tribute of our words?
No, while our hearts are tender,
they too shall be the Lord's.
John King
The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition
<idle musing>
For those of you who might not click through to the bio, this author is extremely obscure. All they know for sure is that he was an Englishman and that he apparently wrote five hymns. He might be the same as Joshua King, about whom we know nothing.
</idle musing>
Monday, September 18, 2023
Priests as holy
<idle musing>
I think they might be overstating things a bit here. What about you? But, we'll see where this is going, if anywhere.
</idle musing>
Gloria, laus et honor (All glory, laud, and honor)
1 All glory, laud, and honor
To Thee, Redeemer, King,
To whom the lips of children
Made sweet hosannas ring!
Thou art the King of Israel,
Thou David's royal Son,
Who in the Lord's name comest,
The King and blessed One!
2 The company of angels
Are praising Thee on high,
And mortal men and all thing
Created make reply
The people of the Hebrews
With palms before Thee went;
Our praise and prayer and anthems
Before Thee we present.
3. To Thee, before Thy Passion,
They sang their hymns of praise;
To Thee, now high exalted,
Our melody we raise.
Thou didst accept their praises;
Accept the praise we bring,
Who in all good delightest,
Thou good and gracious King!
Theodulph of Orleans
Tr. by John M. Neale
The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition
<idle musing>
An old Latin hymn from the ninth century; seems he was placed in his bishopric by Charlemagne. But, I must say that the variations on this one are amazing. I didn't find a single one on hymnary.org that agreed with the version here. You can find the original Latin here. Seems what the Methodist hymnal did is eliminate the chorus and make the six verses into three. The other editions picked and chose which verses and in what order, making adjustment here and there to the translation for language or theological reasons. I'll stick with this version.
</idle musing>
Sunday, September 17, 2023
Lift up your heads!
1 Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates;
behold, the King of glory waits;
the King of kings is drawing near;
the Savior of the world is here!
2 Fling wide the portals of your heart;
make it a temple, set apart
from earthly use for heaven's employ,
adorned with prayer and love and joy.
3 Redeemer, come, with us abide;
our hearts to thee we open wide;
let us thy inner presence feel;
thy grace and love in us reveal.
4 Thy Holy Spirit lead us on
until our glorious goal is won;
eternal praise, eternal fame
be offered, Savior, to thy name!
Georg Weissel
Tr. by Catherine Winkworth
The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition
Saturday, September 16, 2023
Ride on! Ride on in majesty!
1 Ride on, ride on in majesty!
Hear all the tribes hosanna cry;
O Savior meek, pursue Thy road
with palms and scattered garments strowed.
2 Ride on, ride on in majesty!
In lowly pomp ride on to die.
O Christ, Thy triumphs now begin
o’er captive death and conquered sin.
3 Ride on, ride on in majesty!
The winged squadrons of the sky
look down with sad and wond'ring eyes
to see th'approaching Sacrifice.
4 Ride on, ride on in majesty!
In lowly pomp ride on to die,
bow Thy meek head to mortal pain,
then take, O Christ, Thy pow'r and reign.
Henry H. Milman
The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition
<idle musing>
Hymnary.org inserts a fourth verse:
4 Ride on, ride on in majesty!</idle musing>
Thy last and fiercest strife is nigh.
The Father on His sapphire throne
awaits His own anointed Son.
Friday, September 15, 2023
Sacrificing to the ark?
<idle musing>
When I read that, a light bulb went off in my head. I had always wondered about that incident, but had never looked at it that way. Of course! Just as the average Christian (at least in the US) has no clue about some of the finer points of theology—as much as I wish they did—so also David probably didn't either. And just as the average Christian is more heavily influenced by culture than by scripture, so too David probably would be more influenced by the surrounding culture than by the teaching of torah (in whatever form it had at that time). (Don't divinize him just because he's a "man after God's own heart"—that doesn't mean his theology was always correct, let alone his behavior!)
</idle musing>
There's a light upon the mountains
1 There’s a light upon the mountains,
And the day is at the spring,
When our eyes shall see the beauty
And the glory of the King:
Weary was our heart with waiting,
And the night-watch seemed so long,
But His triumph day is breaking,
And we hail it with a song.
2 In the fading of the starlight
We may see the coming morn;
And the lights of men are paling
In the splendors of the dawn;
For the eastern skies are glowing
As with light of hidden fire,
And the hearts of men are stirring
With the throbs of deep desire.
3 There’s a hush of expectation
And a quiet in the air,
And the breath of God is moving
In the fervent breath of prayer;
For the suffering, dying Jesus
Is the Christ upon the throne,
And the travail of our spirit
Is the travail of His own.
4 He is breaking down the barriers,
He is casting up the way;
He is calling for His angels
To build up the gates of day:
But His angels here are human,
Not the shining hosts above;
For the drum beats of His army
Are the heartbeats of our love.
5 Hark! we hear a distant music,
And it comes with fuller swell;
’Tis the triumph-song of Jesus,
Of our King, Immanuel!
Go ye forth with joy to meet Him!
And, my soul, be swift to bring
All thy sweetest and thy dearest
For the triumph of our King!
Henry Burton
The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition
Thursday, September 14, 2023
A look back
As a matter of fact, the purest worship—like the purest gift—has little or nothing to do with the satisfaction fo the worshiper or the giver, but with the satisfaction fo the recipient. We seem to have a good deal of misunderstanding at this point. So frequently we judge worship by the pleasure or fulfillment it gives us. There could hardly be a more dramatic perversion. Worship is not about me; it's about God. When I become absorbed with how much worship benefits my person, I make myself the object of worship rather than the God I profess to adore. If in my worship of God I happen also to be blessed it is a happy coincidence, and I can indeed see it is a blessing, because it isn't the point of worship and I am fortunate therefore to receive it. But God is the issue of worship, not I or my pleasure.—J. Ellsworth Kalas, Grace in a Tree Stump: Old Testament Stories of God's Love, 17Good words that need to be heard even more today than when they were penned eighteen years ago!
No condemnation?
<idle musing>
I've heard the idea about the golden calves being intended as representations of YHWH before (I think it's in John Bright's History of Israel). It's also claimed that the golden calf in Exodus was intended as a manifestation of YHWH. I'm not sure I buy it. But, I must admit it's an attractive idea—almost too attractive, which is probably why I am not convinced.
</idle musing>
Bringing Christ down?
1 We may not climb the heavenly steeps
To bring the Lord Christ down;
In vain we search the lowest deeps,
For Him no depths can drown.
2 But warm, sweet, tender, even yet
A present help is He;
And faith has still its Olivet,
And love its Galilee.
3 The healing of His seamless dress
Is by our beds of pain;
We touch Him in life’s throng and press,
And we are whole again.
4 O Lord and Master of us all:
Whate’er our name or sign,
We own Thy sway, we hear Thy call,
We test our lives by Thine!
John G. Whittier
The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition
Wednesday, September 13, 2023
Offerings to a bed
<idle musing>
Hang onto that thought until tomorrow. They are going somewhere with this…
</idle musing>
O son of God incarnate
1 O Son of God incarnate,
O Son of man divine!
In whom God’s glory dwelleth,
In whom man’s virtues shine;
God’s light to earth Thou bringest
To drive sin’s night away,
And through Thy life so radiant,
Earth’s darkness turns to day.
2 O Mind of God incarnate,
O Thought in flesh enshrined!
In human form Thou speakest
To men the Father’s mind:
God’s thought to earth Thou bringest
That men in Thee may see
What God is like, and seeing,
Think God’s tho'ts after Thee.
3 O Heart of God incarnate,
Love-bearer to mankind!
From Thee we learn what love is,
In Thee love’s ways we find:
God’s love to earth Thou bringest
In living deeds that prove
How sweet to serve all others,
When we all others love.
4 O Will of God incarnate,
So human, so divine!
Free wills to us Thou givest,
That we may make them Thine:
Gods’ will to earth Thou bringest
That all who would obey,
May learn from Thee their duty,
The truth, the life, the way.
Wilbur Fisk Tillett
The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition
<idle musing>
The biography is interesting. Seems he was a professor of theology at Vanderbilt, eventually even dean there.
</idle musing>
Tuesday, September 12, 2023
Consecration vs. holiness
<idle musing>
The book, Born in Heaven, Made on Earth is an excellent book if you are interested in these kinds of things. For that matter, you might find The Image of God in the Garden of Eden interesting also. (No, I don't work for Eisenbrauns anymore, but I do recommend books that I think you might find useful—wherever they are!)
</idle musing>
Tozer for Tuesday
How beauteous were the marks divine
1 How beauteous were the marks divine
That in thy meekness used to shine,
That lit thy lonely pathway, trod
In wondrous love, O Son of God!
2 Oh who like thee, so calm, so bright,
So pure, so made to live in light?
Oh who like thee did ever go
So patient through a world of woe?
3 Oh who like thee so humbly bore
The scorn, the scoffs of men before?
So meek, forgiving, godlike, high,
So glorious in humility.
4 Oh in thy light be mine to go,
Illuming all this way of woe;
And give me ever on the road
To trace thy footsteps, Son of God!
A. Cleveland Coxe
The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition
<idle musing>
Fascinating little tidbit about his hymns that hymnary.org has: "Some of Bishop Coxe's hymns are found in the collections of every religious body in America, except the official collections of his own. This is accounted for by his too scrupulous modesty. As a member of the Hymnal Committee, in 1869–71, he refused to permit the insertion of his own lyrics."
That makes sense when you read the opening and closing lyrics above: "How beauteous were the marks divine /
That in thy meekness used to shine," and "And give me ever on the road /
To trace thy footsteps, Son of God!" We could all use a bit more of that in our self-absorbed, self-obsessed, selfie-taking world!
</idle musing>
Monday, September 11, 2023
Heirloom furniture? Forget about it!
Well, no, you can’t blame social media, as they cite some as claiming. It was happening long before that. I recall when a relative bought a new dining set in the early 1980s. They bought it from the factory in North Carolina, went there specifically to pick it out. They gave us, a poor college couple, their old one, made of oak. The table and chairs they gave us had already survived their four kids rough-housing, it has since survived our two kids and their friends using it for—well things tables and chairs aren’t supposed to be used for—and is now owned by another family member who is in the process of raising two children. Oh, it also survived all of our fifteen or so moves with it, plus another one or two when we gave it to Debbie's parents after we were done with it. It’s still going strong. The other one? Well, about three years after they bought it, the chairs started to come apart. Mind you, this was in the early 1980s. : (
We might be wrong!
Many people today who misread the Bible do so as a result of failing to properly translate its ideas. As a result, some people view the Bible’s text as containing a record of God’s absolute ideals, which were dictated to ancient Israel in an effort to alter their thinking to become like modern people, or at least more like modern people than they already were. This is because we see modern ideas as being better than ancient ideas. While it is reasonable for us to prefer modern ideas (if for no other reason than simply because they are ours), it is not reasonable to project our ideas onto God and ascribe them to him simply because we prefer them. This is why, if we wish to treat the text as a source of authority, it is so important to make sure that we are careful and consistent in describing what it actually says, instead of intuitively describing what we think it should say. We must never appropriate divine authority for ourselves, and we must never assume that our ideals and perspectives correlate with God’s.— The Lost World of the Israelite Conquest, 23–24<idle musing>
Indeed! And a very difficult ideal to maintain. We all bring our own presuppositions and experiences to the text. It's impossible not to! The nineteenth century's neutral interpreter of the facts doesn't exist and never has or will. Joe Friday's, "Just the facts, ma'am," is an illusion.
Of course, that doesn't mean we shouldn't try! It just means we should humbly acknowledge that we might be wrong. What a thought! But a little (better yet, a lot) of humility goes a long way. Hubris/pride always leads to a downfall.
Just an
<idle musing>
What grace and beauty shone
1 What grace, O Lord, and beauty shone
around Your steps below!
What patient love was seen in all
Your life and death of woe!
2 For ever on Your burdened heart
a weight of sorrow hung,
yet no ungentle, murmuring word
escaped Your silent tongue.
3 Your foes might hate, despise, revile,
Your friends unfaithful prove;
unwearied in forgiveness still,
Your heart could only love.
4 O give us hearts to love like You,
like You, O Lord, to grieve
far more for others’ sins than all
the wrongs that we receive.
5 One with Yourself, may every eye
in all of humankind
behold that grace and gentleness
which, Lord, in You we find.
Edward Denny
The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition
<idle musing>
The fourth verse really spoke to me: "O give us hearts to love like You, / like You, O Lord, to grieve / far more for others’ sins than all / the wrongs that we receive."
</idle musing>
Sunday, September 10, 2023
Light of the world, we hail thee
1 Light of the world, we hail Thee,
Flushing the eastern skies;
Never shall darkness veil Thee
Again from human eyes;
Too long, alas, withholden,
Now spread from shore to shore;
Thy light, so glad and golden,
Shall set on earth no more.
2 Light of the world, Thy beauty
Steals into every heart,
And glorifies with duty
Life's poorest, humblest part;
Thou robest in Thy splendor
The simple ways of men,
And helpest them to render
Light back to Thee again.
3 Light of the world, illumine
This darkened land of Thine,
Till everything that's human
Be filled with what's divine;
Till every tongue and nation,
From sin's dominion free,
Rise in the new creation
Which springs from Love and Thee.
John S. B. Monsell
The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition
<idle musing>
I don't recall ever singing this hymn, but, as hymnary.org says, "Dr. Monsell’s hymns are as a whole bright, joyous, and musical." However, they go on to say, "but they lack massiveness, concentration of thought, and strong emotion. A few only are of enduring excellence." Maybe that's why I don't recall it?
</idle musing>
Saturday, September 09, 2023
Don't you just love the passive voice?
In [Rev 13] vv 5–7, the singular aorist passive verb ἐδόθη, ‘was given,’ occurs five times in the identical phrase καὶ ἐδόθη αὐτῷ, ‘and it was given’; in each instance the passive voice of the verb can be construed as a passive of divine activity, i.e., as a circumlocution for the direct mention of God as subject of the action of the verb. This makes it clear that John does not see the conflict between God and Satan (historically manifested in the conflict between Christians and the state) in terms of a cosmic dualism; rather he emphasizes the ultimate sovereignty and control of God over events that occur in the world.—David Aune, Revelation 6–16, WBC 52B (Dallas: Word, 1998) 743Gotta love that!
Good Christian men, rejoice!
1 Good Christian men, rejoice
With heart, and soul, and voice;
Give ye heed to what we say:
News! news! Jesus Christ is born today:
Ox and ass before Him bow,
And He is in the manger now.
Christ is born today!
Christ is born today!
2 Good Christian men, rejoice
With heart, and soul, and voice;
Now ye hear of endless bliss;
Joy! joy! Jesus Christ was born for this!
He has oped the heavenly door,
And man is blessed evermore.
Christ was born for this!
Christ was born for this!
3 Good Christian men, rejoice
With heart, and soul, and voice;
Now ye need not fear the grave:
Peace! peace! Jesus Christ was born to save!
Calls you one and calls you all,
To gain His everlasting hall.
Christ was born to save!
Christ was born to save!
From the Latin
Tr. by John M. Neale
The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition
Friday, September 08, 2023
Now that's a radical claim!
Whoa! That's a radical claim. But they don't stop there:
The actual wording of Leviticus 19:2 bears this out. Most English translations render the statement as an imperative (“make yourselves holy because I am holy”) or at least an admonition (“you ought to, be holy because I am holy”). If holiness is a conferred status, however, these translations are misleading. Fortunately, the Hebrew simply says “you will be holy because I am holy.” The grammatical construction can carry an imperative mood (e.g., 2 Kings 11:8, “ [you will be with] the king,” NIV “stay close to”) but does not necessarily do so. In Deuteronomy 7:14 the same construction is used to say “you will be blessed,” which clearly does not mean “make yourself blessed.”— The Lost World of the Israelite Conquest, 107
<idle musing>
OK. That makes sense. And I find that very freeing, actually. It certainly lines up with the positional statements in Paul's writings: You are seated with Christ; you are saints, etc. Something to bear in mind when you read the rebukes in Galatians and Colossians about those rules and regulations, too.
</idle musing>
What child is this?
1 What Child is this, who, laid to rest,
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
Chorus:
This, this is Christ, the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!
2 Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear: for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.[Chorus]
3 So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh,
Come, peasant, king to own Him.
The King of kings salvation brings;
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.[Chorus]
William C. Dix
The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition
Thursday, September 07, 2023
But, there is a caveat
<idle musing>
They then go on for four or so pages explaining why. I'm not going to summarize those here. If you are really interested, I suggest either buying the book (the link above goes directly to the publisher and I don't get a commission) or checking it out of your local library (if they don't have it, you can use interlibrary loan).
I'm not sure how convinced I am by their arguments. Maybe that's why I'm not going to summarize them?
</idle musing>
Silent Night
1. Silent night, holy night,
all is calm, all is bright
round yon virgin mother and child.
Holy infant, so tender and mild,
sleep in heavenly peace,
sleep in heavenly peace.
2. Silent night, holy night,
darkness flies, all is light
Shepherds hear the angels sing,
Alleluia! hail the king!"
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!
3. Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love's pure light;
radiant beams from thy holy face
with the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
4. Silent night, holy night,
wondrous star, lend thy light;
with the angels let us sing,
Alleluia to our King;
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!
Joseph Mohr
Tr. compiled from various sources
The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition
<idle musing>
I don't recall singing the second verse the way it is in this hymnal—and in fact the 1917 and 1964 versions of the Methodist hymnal both have the more traditional translation:
2. Silent night, holy night,</idle musing>
shepherds quake at the sight;
glories stream from heaven afar,
heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!
Wednesday, September 06, 2023
Command? or principle?
<idle musing>
They could be opening a real can of worms here...
</idle musing>
In the bleak midwinter
In the bleak midwinter
frosty wind made moan,
earth stood hard as iron,
water like a stone:
snow had fallen,
snow on snow, snow on snow,
in the bleak midwinter,
long ago.
2 Our God, heaven cannot hold him,
nor earth sustain;
heaven and earth shall flee away
when he comes to reign:
in the bleak midwinter
a stable place sufficed
the Lord God Almighty,
Jesus Christ.
3 Angels and archangels
may have gathered there,
cherubim and seraphim
thronged the air,
but only his mother,
in her maiden bliss,
worshiped the Beloved
with a kiss.
4 What can I give him,
poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd,
I would bring a lamb,
if I were a wise man
I would do my part,
yet what I can I give him,
give my heart.
Christina G. Rossetti
The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition
<idle musing>
Yes, I know, "bleak midwinter" definitely doesn't describe Israel in the spring (when Jesus was probably born, although that's debated). But, again, look beyond the literal and grab the theology of the hymn. It's written with a simple faith that approaches God, knowing that they have nothing to offer except themselves. And what is greater than that?
Someone else commented on the author's works: "Miss Rossetti's verses are profoundly suggestive and lyrical, and deserve a larger place than they occupy in the hymnody of the church. Her sonnets are amongst the finest in the English language." [Rev. W. Garrett Horder]
Hymnary.org inserts a verse after verse 2:
3 Enough for him whom cherubimI can see why the Methodist hymnal excised it. It doesn't flow as well as the other verses.
worship night and day,
a breastful of milk
and a mangerful of hay:
enough for him
whom angels fall down before,
the ox and ass and camel
which adore.
</idle musing>
Tuesday, September 05, 2023
Reading things into the text
Tozer for Tuesday
We three kings
1 We three kings of Orient are;
bearing gifts we traverse afar,
field and fountain, moor and mountain,
following yonder star.
Refrain:
O star of wonder, star of light,
star with royal beauty bright,
westward leading, still proceeding,
guide us to thy perfect light.
2 Born a King on Bethlehem's plain,
gold I bring to crown him again,
King forever, ceasing never,
over us all to reign. [Refrain]
3 Frankincense to offer have I;
incense owns a Deity nigh;
prayer and praising, voices raising,
worshiping God on high. [Refrain]
4 Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume
breathes a life of gathering gloom;
sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
sealed in the stone-cold tomb. [Refrain]
5 Glorious now behold him arise;
King and God and sacrifice:
Alleluia, Alleluia,
sounds through the earth and skies. [Refrain]
John H. Hopkins
The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition
<idle musing>
This hymn is loaded with good theology, despite the fact that there weren't three kings. That's a Christian tradition based on the three gifts. On more than one occasion, I've mentioned what a great hymn this is, only to have the person get all bent out of shape because it says "three kings." When I point out that the important thing is the theology of the hymn, they just can't get past those three kings.
Sorry, but that is majoring on the minors and missing the point. But, it seems to sum up too many people's (especially evangelicals') approach to all things biblical and theological. I've often said that we need fewer people approaching the scripture (and theology) as engineers and more approaching it with a literary and mystical vision. Scripture isn't a sourcebook for systematic theology as much as it is a rich narrative of God's overarching purpose in history. Yes, Virginia, there is a metanarrative!
By the way, be sure to check out the biography of the author. He was definitely a man of many talents; He even delivered the eulogy at U. S. Grant's funeral!
</idle musing>
Monday, September 04, 2023
Israel's purpose, part 2
O little town of Bethlehem
1 O little town of Bethlehem,
how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
the everlasting light;
the hopes and fears of all the years
are met in thee tonight.
2 For Christ is born of Mary;
and, gathered all above,
while mortals sleep, the angels keep
their watch of wond'ring love.
O morning stars, together
proclaim the holy birth,
and praises sing to God the King,
and peace to men on earth.
3 How silently, how silently,
the wondrous gift is giv'n!
So God imparts to human hearts
the blessings of His heav'n.
No ear may hear His coming,
but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive Him still,
the dear Christ enters in.
4 O holy Child of Bethlehem,
descend to us, we pray;
cast out our sin and enter in;
be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels,
the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
our Lord Emmanuel!
Philip Brooks
The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition
<idle musing>
I've always liked this carol. It seems to speak to the way that God so often works, quietly and mostly unobserved. The angelic host knows what's going on, but humans just blindly bluster along—well most humans. But a few "meek souls will receive Him still," and he will will "cast out our sin and enter in."
Interestingly, this carol was written by Brooks for a Sunday School class based on his visit to Bethlehem two years earlier.
</idle musing>
Sunday, September 03, 2023
There's a song in the air
1 There's a song in the air!
There's a star in the sky!
There's a mother's deep prayer
and a baby's low cry!
And the star rains its fire
while the beautiful sing,
for the manger of Bethlehem
cradles a King!
2 There's a tumult of joy
o'er the wonderful birth,
for the virgin's sweet boy
is the Lord of the earth.
Ay! the star rains its fire
while the beautiful sing,
for the manger of Bethlehem
cradles a King!
3 In the light of that star
lie the ages impearled;
and that song from afar
has swept over the world.
Every hearth is aflame,
and the beautiful sing
in the homes of the nations
that Jesus is King!
4 We rejoice in the light,
and we echo the song
that comes down through the night
from the heavenly throng.
Ay! we shout to the lovely
evangel they bring,
and we greet in his cradle
our Savior and King!
Josiah G. Holland
The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition
<idle musing>
My first memory of this song is in about 4th grade. It was the Christmas pageant and the youth choir (4th–6th grades) was to sing a bunch of Christmas carols. This one stands out in my mind because the older sister (a sixth grader) of one of my friends, whom I thought was very pretty, was to sing the first verse as a solo. For years, I thought that "the beautiful" was girls like her. It wasn't until high school that I realized that the beautiful was a way of referring to the angelic host!
Looking at the author's biography, I find it interesting that they specifically mention that this hymn is included in the Methodist hymnal—and it does appear to be mainly used in the Methodist tradition when you look at the list of hymnals that hymnary.org cites.
</idle musing>
Saturday, September 02, 2023
The first Noel
1 The first Noel the angel did say
was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay,
in fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
on a cold winter’s night that was so deep.
Refrain:
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
born is the King of Israel.
2 They looked up and saw a star
shining in the east beyond them far;
and to the earth it gave great light,
and so it continued both day and night. [Refrain]
3 And by the light of that same star
three wise men came from country far;
to seek for a king was their intent,
and to follow the star wherever it went. [Refrain]
4 This star drew nigh to the northwest;
o’er Bethlehem it took its rest,
and there it did both stop and stay,
right over the place where Jesus lay. [Refrain]
5 Then entered in those wise men three,
full reverently upon their knee,
and offered there in his presence
their gold, and myrrh, and frankincense. [Refrain]
Old English Carol
The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition
<idle musing>
Hymnary.org adds a sixth verse, which I don't know why the Methodist Hymnal excised. I remember singing it as a child, but maybe that's because we had multiple Christmas LPs and sheet music for many Christmas carols (my mom used to play the piano quite a bit when I was growing up):
6 Then let us all with one accord</idle musing>
sing praises to our heavenly Lord,
that hath made heaven and earth of nought,
and with his blood our life hath bought. [Refrain]
Friday, September 01, 2023
ANE vassal treaties and Israel
<idle musing>
This is an important point that frequently gets overlooked in discussions about the land promises in the Hebrew Bible. The land belongs to YHWH as the sovereign. The vassals in ANE treaties are given the land as a concession, holding it conditionally, depending on their faithfulness to the vassal treaty. In the case of some ANE treaties, the conditions are pretty harsh and so the vassals rebel—with predictable results under the Neo-Assyrians (hint: being skinned alive isn't my idea of a fun time!).
When looked at that way, the conditions on the Israelites are pretty lenient. Not that I would have done any better at living under it than they did. That is, if I tried to do it without the power of the Holy Spirit!
</idle musing>
What is the purpose of (ancient) Israel?
O come, all ye faithful
1 O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!
Come, and behold Him, born the King of angels!
Refrain:
O come, let us adore Him;
O come, let us adore Him;
O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord!
2 Sing, choirs of angels; sing in exultation;
sing, all ye citizens of heav'n above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest! [Refrain]
3 Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to Thee be all glory giv'n!
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing! [Refrain]
Anonymous. Latin 18th century
Tr. by Frederick Oakeley and others
The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition
<idle musing>
This is definitely one of the standard Christmas carols. It seems that even if people only know two Christmas carols, this is one of them. I was surprised to discover that hymnary.org says that the author was John Francis Wade, whom I had never heard of—interesting biography, though. They also insert a verse I had never heard as the second verse:
2 God of God, Light of Light,As many of you probably know, the chorus was taken over by the Charismatic Movement in the 1970s and various versions of it were added. I don't hang out in those circles, if they even exist, anymore, so I don't know if it is still prevalent or not. But I do recall that it was a very moving experience to hear thousands of voices singing it in worship.
lo, He abhors not the virgin's womb;
very God, begotten not created; [Refrain]
I must say, this adventure of blogging through the hymnal I grew up singing from has been interesting and carried me into areas where my ignorance is huge. I hope you are enjoying it as well.
</idle musing>
Thursday, August 31, 2023
More on that fourth generation
A failing grade
Thou didst leave thy throne
1 Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown,
When Thou camest to earth for me;
But in Bethlehem's home was there found no room
For Thy holy nativity.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.
2 Heaven's arches rang when the angels sang,
Proclaiming Thy royal degree;
But of lowly birth didst Thou come to earth,
And in great humility.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.
3 The foxes found rest, and the birds their nest
In the shade of the forest tree;
But Thy couch was the sod, O Thou Son of God,
In the deserts of Galilee.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.
4 Thou camest, O Lord, with the living word
That should set Thy people free;
But with mocking scorn, and with crown of thorn,
They bore Thee to Calvary.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.
5 When the heavens shall ring, and the angels sing,
At Thy coming to victory,
Let Thy voice call me home, saying "Yet there is room,
There is room at My side for thee."
My heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus,
When Thou comest and callest for me.
Emily E. S. Elliott
The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition
<idle musing>
I don't recall singing this one very often growing up, but the refrain always struck me; I saw it as a prayer. Even today, it beckons me to turn aside from the cares and bustle of life to meditate on Jesus.
</idle musing>