31 Days of Hymns - Day 10

Alas, and Did My Savior Bleed

This enduring hymn showing our great need and gratitude for a savior was written over 300 years by Issac Watts. Through the years it has been sung to many melodies with lyric variations and in some versions with additional lyrics by other writers.

Here are several:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iphQddrDmtk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sB--oTlLAM

Altered version but so beautiful, so worth listening to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PyDYRXKswY

 Alas! and did my Savior bleed?
And did my Sovereign die?
Would he devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I?

[Thy body slain, sweet Jesus, thine,
And bathed in its own blood,
While all exposed to wrath divine
The glorious Suff'rer stood!]

Was it for crimes that I had done
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!

Well might the sun in darkness hide,
And shut his glories in,
When God, the mighty Maker, died
For man, the creature's sin.

Thus might I hide my blushing face,
While his dear cross appears;
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
And melt my eyes to tears.

But drops of grief can ne'er repay
The debt of love I owe;
Here, Lord, I give myself away;
'Tis all that I can do.



Psalms and Hymns of Isaac Watts, The #II.9


More contemporary version:

Alas! and did my Savior bleed,
and did my Sovereign die!
Would he devote that sacred head
for sinners such as I.


Was it for crimes that I have done,
he groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! Grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!


Well might the sun in darkness hide,
and shut its glories in,
when God, the mighty maker, died
for his own creature's sin.


Thus might I hide my blushing face
while his dear cross appears;
dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
and melt mine eyes to tears.


 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.


Learn more about this hymn here:
http://www.hymnary.org/text/alas_and_did_my_savior_bleed

31 Days of Hymns - Day 9

What Wonderous Love is This

No one knows who penned these words showing great gratitude and deep devotion to God and the Lamb, perhaps many people, over many centuries, helped write this beautiful song, "What Wondrous Love is This".

Incredibly beautiful rendition with video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Hj1Y__cYeg

Another beautiful version with additional words:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xMgWC87W38

 
What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul,
what wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss
to bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
to bear the dreadful curse for my soul!

When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,
when I was sinking down, sinking down,
when I was sinking down beneath God's righteous frown,
Christ laid aside his crown for my soul, for my soul,
Christ laid aside his crown for my soul!


To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing,
to God and to the Lamb, I will sing;
to God and to the Lamb who is the great I AM,
while millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing;
while millions join the theme, I will sing!


And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on;
and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing and joyful be,
and through eternity, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
and through eternity I’ll sing on.

Learn more about this hymn:
http://www.hymnary.org/text/what_wondrous_love_is_this_o_my_soul_o_m

31 Days of Hymns - Day 8

Rock of Ages, Cleft For Me

Written in 1776, "Rock of Ages, Cleft For Me", written by Augustus Tolady, continues to this day, to be a beloved hymn.

My first deep encounter with this hymn was 15 years ago when I attended Bible Study Fellowship's "Moses" study. It was during this study that I became familiar with Exodus 33:21-24 And the LORD said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.” As you listen and sing this song consider the meaning of how Christ is the Rock, the place where we are protected and saved. God in His grace and mercy has provided this rock, this cleft for us. Christ is our rock, our salvation, our protector, our eternal hope.

Listen here:
http://www.hymnary.org/text/rock_of_ages_cleft_for_me_let_me_hide

Contemporary rendition solemnly sung
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQ4erQPekfk


Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee;
let the water and the blood,
from thy wounded side which flowed,
be of sin the double cure;
save from wrath and make me pure.

 Not the labors of my hands
can fulfill thy law's demands;
could my zeal no respite know,
could my tears forever flow,
all for sin could not atone;
thou must save, and thou alone.


 Nothing in my hand I bring,
simply to the cross I cling;
naked, come to thee for dress;
helpless, look to thee for grace;
foul, I to the fountain fly;
wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
when mine eyes shall close in death,
when I soar to worlds unknown,
see thee on thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee.

More about this hymn:
http://www.hymnary.org/text/rock_of_ages_cleft_for_me_let_me_hide

For your edification, A sermon by Charles H. Spurgeon:
http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/3120.htm

 

31 Days of Hymns - Day 7

Holy Bible, Book Divine

 

Written over 200 years ago by an earnest Baptist Sunday School teacher in Nottingham, this beautiful hymn about God's Word is still sung today. His name was John Burton. He is known to have penned at least 43 hymns with this one being the most sung.

Listen here: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwwoL-BR6lM
Sing along here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDT0un4_mAY


Holy Bible, book divine,
Precious treasure, thou art mine;
Mine to tell me whence I came;
Mine to teach me what I am;


Mine to chide me when I rove;
Mine to show a Saviour's love;
Mine you are to guide and guard;
Mine to punish or reward;


 Mine to comfort in distress,
Suff'ring in this wilderness;
Mine to show by living faith,
Man can triumph over death;


Mine to tell of joys to come,
And the rebel sinner's doom;
O thou holy book divine,
Precious treasure, you are mine.

Read more about this hymn and the writer here:

http://www.hymnary.org/text/holy_bible_book_divine

31 Days of Hymns - Day 6

Precious Bible! What a Treasure!

Today’s hymn was very popular over 200 years ago but has become almost non-existent since the late 1940’s. It’s been sung with four different melodies and its writer is John Newton who wrote one of the most beloved hymns of today “Amazing Grace”.

Listen and sing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lU5UXZuXpfE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiZgrIIcp5Y

Precious Bible! what a treasure
Does the Word of God afford?
All I want for life or pleasure,
Food and med’cine, shield and sword:

Let the world account me poor,
Having this I need no more.
Food to which the world’s a stranger,
Here my hungry soul enjoys;

Of excess there is no danger,
Though it fills, it never cloys:
On a dying Christ I feed,
He is meat and drink indeed.

When my faith is faint and sickly,
Or when Satan wounds my mind,
Cordials, to revive me quickly,
Healing med’cines here I find:

To the promises I flee,
Each affords a remedy.
In the hour of dark temptation
Satan cannot make me yield;

For the Word of consolation
Is to me a mighty shield
While the scripture truths are sure,
From his malice I’m secure.

Vain his threats to overcome me,
When I take the Spirits’ sword;
Then with ease I drive him from me.
Satan trembles at the word:

’Tis a sword for conquest made,
Keen the edge, and strong the blade.
Shall I envy then the miser
Doting on his golden store?

Sure I am, or should be, wiser,
I am rich, ’tis he is poor:
Jesus gives me in his word,
Food and med’cine, shield and sword.

Read more about this hymn and John Newton:
http://www.hymnary.org/text/precious_bible_what_a_treasure

31 Days of Hymns - Day 5

It Is Well with My Soul

Penned by Horatio Gates Spafford  after a series of devastating events including a family tragedy, these words confidently express deep trust in God and His Word as written in Romans 8:28 “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”.

God never promises that we will not have difficulties while on this earth, but He does promise to those who know Him that He will work it all for good. As I grow older, the suffering I see becomes clearer, more present, and painfully sharp, yet, my confidence in the promises of God are still my comfort and my hope. This hymn is my testimony that "It Is Well with My Soul".

Listen here:

Beautiful A Capella version song at church - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCeSccazL8I

Enhanced version by Hillsong - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cv5V3bY6qlI

When peace like a river attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
"It is well, it is well with my soul."


Refrain (may be sung after final stanza only):
It is well with my soul;
it is well, it is well with my soul.


Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
let this blest assurance control:
that Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
and has shed his own blood for my soul. Refrain


My sin oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
my sin, not in part, but the whole,
is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more;
praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! Refrain

O Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight, the clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
the trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend;
even so, it is well with my soul. Refrain

More about this hymn:

http://www.hymnary.org/text/when_peace_like_a_river_attendeth_my_way