Praise to the Lord, The Almighty

Joachim Neander (1650-1680) lived a short and turbulent life in Bremen, a town in northwest Germany.

One day, as a 21-year-old student of Latin and poetry, Neander went with two friends to a local church service seeking to mock and criticize its new pastor. “Let’s go have some fun and heckle those stuffy churchgoers!” With a fiendish chuckle, Neander sauntered through the twisting streets of Bremen. That particular morning, Neander had no idea how his life would change.

Entering a church with the intent to disrupt the sermon, his attitude quickly changed from being disrespectful to being reverent as the Holy Spirit opened the young man’s eyes and heart to the Gospel message. Convicted, the rebellious young man repented and gave his life to Jesus Christ.

Neander’s family line included faithful preachers of the Gospel! For four generations, the name “Joachim” had been bestowed upon the family’s baby boys. Joachim’s father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather were all named “Joachim.” 

Neander studied theology in Bremen.  For several years afterward, Neander served as an assistant to the preacher who had led him to the Lord. Next, he began tutoring other young men while holding a position at a school in Dusseldorf.

A vibrant believer, he encouraged prayer and preaching at the school. Not far from Dusseldorf, the Dussel River ran through a beautiful gorge where Neander loved to walk. He went there so often that people eventually began calling it “Neander Valley.”

Neander became a Calvinist educator who was influenced by pietist theologians Philipp Spener and Johann Jakob Schütz.  Johann was also a hymn-writer.  In 1674, Neander became the clergyman of the Latin School at Düsseldorf, a Calvinist German Reformed institution.

The Pietists emphasized individual piety, and instituted small groups for prayer, scripture study, personal accountability, and good works. They believed that trust in Christ rather than correct theology constituted the core of the faith.  This de-emphasis on theology brought the Pietists into conflict with the more traditional Lutherans. Neander experienced considerable opposition there because of his pietism, and was eventually dismissed from that position.

At the age of thirty, Neander was diagnosed with tuberculosis. After only ten years of loving and serving his Savior, the young pastor and teacher passed from this life to heaven. During his illness, he wrote the hymn “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty.”

Neander’s poetic gifts were put to use in his composition of over 60 hymns before his tragic death. Like many of his hymns, his most famous composition, “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty,” was inspired by his love of the beautiful Neander Valley where he walked. The majesty he saw in creation evoked praise of its majestic Creator! 

John Julian described this hymn in 1892 as "a magnificent song of praise to God, possibly the outstanding creation of its author, and of the first rank in its class," and that assessment certainly remains true today! Both its text and its tune have been celebrated for centuries, presented as a triumphant hymn of praise, perhaps most notably by Johann Sebastian Bach, whose 1725 cantata based on this hymn is among the Lutheran composer's most famous works.

The text's greatest strength is its reliance on Scripture, especially the psalms. In particular, this hymn draws heavily from Psalms 146-150, which are known as the "Hallelujah Psalms." This closing section of the Bible's hymn book features repeated exhortations to "Praise the LORD!" followed by descriptions of who God is, what He has done, how He blesses His people, and the limitlessness of His reign.

Verse One

“Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!

O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!

All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near;

Join me in glad adoration.”

1 Chronicles 29:11-14

“Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is Yours. Yours, Lord, is the Kingdom; You are exalted as Head over all. Wealth and honor come from You; You are the Ruler of all things. In Your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give You thanks and praise your glorious name.”

Biblehub.com, Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible: God is possessed of all greatness and immensity, of dignity of nature, and of all perfections; of almighty power, of excellent glory, of superiority to all beings and of honor, and majesty, and all that grandeur, might, and honor in men, and victory over others; the majestic appearance they make, and exaltation above others they have, are all of God: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is Thine; they are both made by Him, and all that is in them, and therefore He has the sole right unto them: Thine is the Kingdom, O Lord; of nature and Providence; He has the sole dominion over all creatures, and the sovereign disposal of all things: and Thou art exalted as Head above all; men on earth, and angels in heaven.

Verse Two

“Praise to the Lord, who o'er all things so wondrously reigneth,

Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!

Hast thou not seen how Thy desires have been,

Granted in what He ordaineth?”

Psalm 91:4

“He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”

Biblehub.com, Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary: He that by faith chooses God for his protector, shall find all in Him that he needs or can desire. And those who have found the comfort of making the Lord their refuge, cannot but desire that others may do so. The spiritual life is protected by Divine grace from the temptations of Satan. Wisdom shall keep them from being afraid without cause, and faith shall keep them from being unduly afraid. Whatever is done, our heavenly Father's will is done; and we have no reason to fear.

Exodus 15:18

“The Lord reigns for ever and ever.”

Biblehub.com, Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible: Even that same Lord that is spoken of throughout this song, and to whom everything in it is ascribed, and who is no other than the Lord Jesus Christ; His reign began in eternity, when He was set up and anointed as King over God's holy hill of Zion, His church, the elect, who were a kingdom put under His care and charge, and which He will deliver up again one day, complete and perfect.

Verse Three

“Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper Thy work and defend Thee!

Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend Thee;

Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,

If with His love He befriend thee.”

 Psalm 119:154

“Defend my cause and redeem me; preserve my life according to your promise.”

Studylight.org, Dr. Constable’s Expository Notes: The writer prayed for deliverance, appealing to his commitment to God’s law . . . the psalmist could have hope because He valued it. The righteous have many enemies who despise God’s revelation. The poet appealed for personal restoration because he loved the righteous law.

 Psalm 111:2

“Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them.”

Biblehub.com, The Treasury of David: He hath made His wonderful works to be remembered. He meant them to remain in the recollection of His people, and they do so: partly because they are in themselves memorable, and because also He has taken care to record them by the pen of inspiration, and has written them upon the hearts of His people by His Holy Spirit . . . Deeds such as God has wrought are not to be admired for an hour and then forgotten, they are meant to be perpetual signs and instructive tokens to all coming generations; and especially are they designed to confirm the faith of His people in the divine love, and to make them know that "the Lord is gracious and full of compassion."

Verse Four

“Praise to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore Him!

All that hath life and breath: come now with praises before Him!

Let the amen sound from His people again!

Gladly forever adore Him.”

2 Peter 3:18

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen.”

Wernerbiblecommentary.org, Hans Werner: Jesus Christ is Lord, in fact, the King of kings and Lord of lords and so in possession of far greater dignity and authority that any human ruler might have. Glory, majesty, or splendor are rightly His, and that is the case now and will be so forever, or throughout all the endless ages to come.

 Psalm 89:2

“I will declare that Your love stands firm forever, that You have established Your faithfulness in heaven itself.”

Studylight.org, Henry’s Complete Commentary on the Bible: We must sing of God's mercies as long as we live, train up others to sing of them when we are gone, and hope to be singing them in heaven world without end; and this is singing of the mercies of the Lord forever. With my mouth, and with my pen (for by that also do we speak), will I make known Thy faithfulness to all generations, assuring posterity, from my own observation and experience, that God is true to every word that He has spoken, that they may learn to put their trust in God . . . However it be, the everlasting covenant is firm and sure.

Biblical worship is both vertical (between God & man) and horizontal (we sing to one another), and this hymn is rich in each. The opening lines of each stanza contain declarations of praise, often addressing one's own soul, much as David did in Psalm 103:1-2. The Lord is worthy of praise because He is our Sovereign Creator and Sustainer, our Provider and our Defender!

No matter what God allows in our lives, whether pleasant or unpleasant, we can trust and praise Him. As we trust God and His goodness in all things, we will develop reverence for Him. We can joyfully worship God, who is worthy of all our praise!

  

I am indebted to the following resources:

Umcdiscipleship.org

Dianaleaghmatthew.com

Sdahymnals.com

En.wikipedia.org

Godtube.com

Iblp.org

Fbchurch.org, John Gardner

Hishymnhistory.blogspot.com

By His Grace . . . 

Wherever He Leads I'll Go

 

It was 1936 and two friends serving together at a Sunday school conference in Alabama were at lunch, sharing what God was doing in their lives.

One, a missionary to Brazil home on furlough, told the other, a hymn writer leading the music for the conference, that a health issue would keep him from returning to the country he had grown to love. The news, received just days before, had broken his heart.

The hymn writer asked, “What will you do?” And through tears, the missionary, R.S. Jones, told the hymn writer, B.B. McKinney, “Wherever He leads, I’ll go.”

McKinney was born to James Calvin and Martha Annis (Heflin) McKinney in Heflin, Louisiana, on July 22, 1886. He was educated at Mt. Lebanon Academy, Louisiana. He served in the United States Army in 1918. On June 11, 1918, he married Leila Irene Routh, to whom two sons were born, Baylus Benjamin, Jr., and Eugene Calvin.

McKinney also studied at Louisiana College, Pineville, La.; Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Tex.; Siegel-Myers School of Music, Chicago, Ill. (B.M., 1922); Bush Conservatory of Music, Chicago, Ill. Oklahoma Baptist University, Shawnee, Okla., awarded him the honorary Doctor of Music degree, 1942.

McKinney was at the top of his career when he traveled to the Alabama Sunday School Convention in January 1936.  The year before, the Heflin, Louisiana native was named editor for the Baptist Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. That’s where he met with his good friend of many years, R. S. Jones, when he heard the famous words, “Wherever He leads I’ll go.”

McKinney was unable to get his friend’s words out of his mind.  Before the convention session that evening, the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary alumni and faculty member, had expanded his friend’s words to write both the lyrics and melody to the hymn, “Wherever He Leads I’ll Go.”

When McKinney shared the previous conversation with the congregation, he then premiered his new hymn as he began to sing, “Take up that cross and follow me.  I heard my Master say.”

McKinney wrote the words and music to 149 hymns and gospel songs. His most famous are "The Nail Scarred Hand" (1924), "Let Others See Jesus in You" (1924), "Satisfied with Jesus" (1926), "Speak to My Heart" (1927), "Neath the Old Olive Trees" (1934), "Breathe on Me" (1937), and "Wherever He Leads I'll Go" (1937). He was also the editor of the widely-used Broadman Hymnal (1940, Nashville).

On Sunday, September 7, 1952, McKinney had just left a conference in Ridgecrest, NC and was headed for another engagement in Gatlinburg, TN.  While near Bryson City, NC, McKinney was killed in a car accident.  In addition to his wife, two sons, and several brothers, he left behind a legacy that included numerous hymns.

His hometown of Heflin holds an annual McKinney song service each July to celebrate his 149 hymns and gospel songs.

According to the Baptist Press, Jones served on the Southern Baptist Convention Foreign Mission Board for thirty-seven years. He and his wife served as missionaries to Brazil from 1920 until 1930. He retired from a life of service in 1958, having served as treasurer to the Foreign Mission Board for the last decade of his service.

Verse One

“Take up thy cross and follow Me,

I heard my Master say;

"I gave My life to ransom thee,

Surrender your all today."

2 Timothy 2:21

“Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.”

Bibleref.com: Paul has in mind both a spiritual and literal understanding here. Timothy is to be set apart and holy. However, he is also still talking about vessels. Clean, set apart vessels are "useful to the master of the house." The Master is a reference to the Lord. Those set apart as holy are "ready for every good work."

Luke 9:23

“Then He said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me.’”

Studylight.org, Dr. Constable’s Expository Notes: Coming after Jesus means becoming a disciple of His. Denying self is more fundamental than denying things. It involves forsaking one’s personal ambitions and desires to fulfill the Will of God. It means living for His sake rather than our own.

Verse Two

“He drew me closer to His side,

I sought His Will to know;

And in that Will I now abide,

Wherever He leads I'll go.”

John 15:4

“Remain in Me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.”

Enduringword.com, David Guzik: Jesus emphasized a mutual relationship. It isn’t only that the disciple abides in the Master; the Master also abides in the disciple. Something of this close relationship is described in Song of Solomon 6:3: “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine.” Jesus used this picture to assure His disciples of continued connection and relationship even though He was about to depart from them. Yet He spoke this in a way that also indicated an aspect of choice on their part. Abiding was something they must choose . . . “When our Lord says: Abide in me He is talking about the will, about the choices, the decisions we make. We must decide to do things which expose ourselves to Him and keep ourselves in contact with Him. This is what it means to abide in Him.” (Boice)

Verse Three

“It may be through the shadows dim,

Or o'er the stormy sea:

I take my cross and follow Him,

Wherever He leadeth me.”

Psalm 23:4

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”

Bibleref.com: David could walk through a dark ravine, perhaps even death, fearlessly, because the Lord walked with him. David explains his lack of fear because "You are with me." It is interesting to observe that the "shadow of death" drew David closer to the Lord. He addresses the Lord as "You," whereas in the peaceful places he called the Lord "He."

Psalm 77:19

“Your path led through the sea, Your way through the mighty waters, though Your footprints were not seen.”

Biblehub.com, Pulpit Commentary: The quiet paths of righteousness and peace remind the poet of the exact opposite - the dark and dismal way through the valley of the shadow of death. Even when so situated, he does not, he will not, fear. I will fear no evil, he says. And why? For Thou art with me. The same Protector, the same gracious and merciful God, will be still with him - leading him, guiding his steps, shepherding him, keeping him from evil. Thou art with me, Thy rod and Thy staff - i.e. Thy shepherd's crook, and Thy staff of defense - they comfort me. They make me feel that, however long and however dreary the way through the dark vale, I shall still have Thy guidance and Thy protection.

Verse Four

“My heart, my life, my all I bring,

To Christ who loves me so;

He is my Master, Lord, and King,

Wherever He leads I'll go.”

Psalm 57:7

“My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music.”

Bibleref.com: The description David claims here is from the Hebrew word nākon, which implies stability, preparation, and firmness. David's faith is well-prepared and entirely committed to the Lord God. He has no intention of abandoning his faith, even in the face of danger. Thriving trust in the Lord leads to thankfulness and praise. While those who reject God bring themselves punishment and shame, a Christian believer's sense of joy can be intensely reassuring.

Refrain

“Wherever He leads I'll go,

Wherever He leads I'll go,

I'll follow my Christ who loves me so,

Wherever He leads I'll go.”

2 Corinthians 2:14

“But thanks be to God, Who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of Him everywhere.”

Biblehub.com, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary: Paul regarded himself as a signal trophy of God's victorious power in Christ. His Almighty Conqueror was leading him about, through all the cities of the Greek and Roman world, as an illustrious example of His power at once to subdue and to save. The foe of Christ was now the servant of Christ. As to be led in triumph by man is the most miserable, so to be led in triumph by God is the most glorious lot that can befall any [Trench]. Our only true triumphs are God's triumphs over us. His defeats of us are our only true victories [Alford]. The image is taken from the triumphal procession of a victorious general. The additional idea is perhaps included, which distinguishes God's triumph from that of a human general, that the captive is brought into willing obedience to Christ, and so joins in the triumph: God "leads him in triumph" as one not merely triumphed over, but also as one triumphing over God's foes with God.

We may not always know where He will lead, but we do know we can choose to follow. The next time we stand at a crossroads of indecision and are asked what we will do, may we have the grace to reply like R.S. Jones and B.B. McKinney, “Wherever He leads, I’ll go.”

  

I am indebted to the following resources:

Dianaleaghmatthews.com

Believersportal.com

Mike Harland

Barryshymns.blogspot.com, Barry Kauffman

Sbhla.org

En.wikipedia.org

Tshaonline.org

 By His Grace . . .

I Will Sing of My Redeemer

Three men, Philip Bliss, James McGranahan and Major Daniel Whittle had a hand in this famous hymn, “I Will Sing of My Redeemer.”

Philip Bliss, author of this hymn, and his wife, Lucy, were traveling by train in 1876. When the train crossed a trestle bridge, it collapsed into the icy ravine below, and neither Philip nor Lucy survived. Their trunk was found and in it was the manuscript for “I Will Sing of My Redeemer.”

There are two stories of how the trunk of Bliss survived the accident. The first is that somehow the trunk wasn’t damaged. The second is that during an earlier transfer the trunk was put on a different train.

However, the trunk survived, and Major Whittle and James McGranahan found it and the manuscript. The manuscript bearing the lyrics is the only well-known Gospel song Bliss wrote for which he did not write a tune.  The lyrics found were titled “My Redeemer.”

Bliss was born in Clearfield County, PA in 1838. His youthful days were spent on a farm or in a lumber camp, where he experienced severe poverty. At an early age, young Bliss displayed unusual talent and interest in sacred music. Although he never received formal training in music, his self-study made him a knowledgeable and proficient musician.

Bliss studied with Professor J. G. Towner. He also studied at the William Bradbury Music Convention in Rome, Pennsylvania. There, he met James McGranahan, another student of Towner.

McGranahan was two years younger than Bliss and was also born in Pennsylvania. McGranahan had developed an early love for music but was discouraged by his father saying that he was needed on the farm. Finally, at the age of seventeen, James hired a man to take his place and moved into town so he could work and study music.

Bliss also worked with D. L. Moody who urged Bliss to full-time service of the Lord. Bliss met Major Daniel Whittle, a former soldier in the civil war, and under Moody’s instruction to preach and sing the gospel as a team, Bliss and Whittle embarked on a trip to find the will of God.

It was here at the sight of the accident, while trying to identify the bodies that Major Whittle and James McGranahan met for the first time. Bliss had often talked to Whittle about his good friend McGranahan and how he desired that he would commit his life to full time service for the Lord.

The Major immediately challenged McGranahan to be the gospel musician God could use to replace Philip Bliss. Major Whittle and James McGranahan returned to Chicago together. McGranahan, age 36 at the time of Bliss’s death, was so moved by the tragedy that he decided to give up his miscellaneous works and succeed Bliss as Whittle’s evangelistic singer.

McGranahan composed the music for “My Redeemer” and the hymn had a great spiritual impact when it was first introduced to a large tabernacle audience in Chicago as Whittle related how the text had been found among Bliss’ belongings. He told how McGranahan had composed the music for this text and how that this musician would now continue the work begun by Bliss.”

Another hymn text found in Bliss’ trunk contained these words: “I know not what awaits me. God kindly veils my eyes.”

Bliss wrote “Hold the Fort”, “Almost Persuaded,” “Hallelujah, What a Savior!” “Let the Lower Lights Be Burning” and “Wonderful Words of Life” among other songs.   He also wrote the tune for Horatio Spafford’s hit, “It Is Well With My Soul.”

While ministering at a meeting in Chicago, Bliss spoke these words to the congregation: “I may not pass this way again, after which he sang, “I’m Going Home Tomorrow.” His words and song would prove to be prophetic.”

Verse One

“I will sing of my Redeemer,

And His wondrous love to me;

On the cruel cross He suffered,

From the curse to set me free.”  

Philippians 2:8

“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!”

Bibleref.com: Jesus came to earth in human form as a servant. In addition, Jesus both was born and died in humility. His humbleness was not for show but was part of being "obedient." In a similar way, Paul encouraged his readers to be humble in obedience to Christ, following both the example of Jesus and of Paul.

 Romans 6:22

“But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.”

Studylight.org, Contending for the Faith: Now that they have obeyed the gospel by faith in Jesus Christ, repentance of sins, and baptism into Christ for the remission of sins, Christians have been set free from sin’s power and have become the slaves of God. Consequently, their obligation is to live obedient and righteous lives marked by the constant development of an even greater degree of holiness. Each day they are to be more closely fashioned into the image of Christ by the unflagging application of the New Testament pattern of teaching to their life.

Verse Two

“I will tell the wondrous story,

How my lost estate to save,

In His boundless love and mercy,

He the ransom freely gave.”

Mark 10:45

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Bibleref.com: "Ransom" is from the Greek root word lutron and refers to the price paid to redeem a slave or captive or a firstborn or recompense for a crime or injury. Jesus is able to "proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound" because He is the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53 who came to bear the iniquities of many, so they can be accounted righteous. By Jesus' death and resurrection, we can be set free from the sin nature that separates us from God. Our freedom releases us from selfishness, arrogance, fear, and the desire to control. Our slavery to God frees us to love others and experience eternal life.

Verse Three

“I will praise my dear Redeemer,

His triumphant power I’ll tell,

How the victory He giveth,

Over sin, and death, and hell.”

1 Corinthians 15:57

“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Biblehub.com, Barnes’ Notes on the Bible: We, who are Christians; all Christians. The victory over sin, death, and the grave. God alone is the author of this victory. He formed the plan; He executed it in the gift of His Son; and He gives it to us personally when we come to die. By His death, thus destroying the power of death; by His resurrection and triumph over the grave; and by His grace imparted to us to enable us to sustain the pains of death, and giving to us the hope of a glorious resurrection.

1 Corinthians 4:20

“For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.”

Bibleref.com: God's Kingdom is not about talk, Paul declares. It is about power. That's easy for all of us to forget. So much of our practice of Christianity focuses on words being preached, read, or prayed. All that talk, though, is meaningless without the legitimate power of God behind it. Paul does not want the Corinthians to forget that he did not just introduce them to big ideas that can be captured and manipulated with words. He introduced them to the power of God available only through faith in Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Verse Four

“I will sing of my Redeemer,

And His heav’nly love to me;

He from death to life hath brought me,

on of God with Him to be.”

1 John 5:20

“We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true. And we are in Him who is true by being in His Son, Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.”

Studylight.org, Coffman’s Commentary on the Bible: This is the third of the three great certainties with which John concluded his epistle; and it is rather an extensive certainty. Note: We know that the Son of God is come in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. He hath given us an understanding (of all things that pertain to life and godliness). We know Christ who is the true one. We are "in Christ," having believed in Him and having been baptized into the "one body," Christ's spiritual body. This is the true God (an unqualified designation of Jesus Christ as God). As a result of Christ's redemptive work, we enjoy eternal life (presently, in the joys of Christian service, and ultimately, throughout all eternity).

Job 19:25

“I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.”

Biblehub.com, Benson Commentary: I [Job] have no knowledge, nor confidence, nor hope of being restored to the prosperities of this life; yet this one thing I know . . . I have a living and powerful Redeemer to plead my cause, and vindicate my person from all severe and unjust censures, and to give sentence for me: a Redeemer, whom I call mine . . . My Redeemer is living, is now living, and I know Him: I am acquainted, truly, experimentally, and savingly acquainted with Him, because He hath revealed Himself to me, and hath given me an understanding to know Him.

Refrain

“Sing, oh sing, of my Redeemer,

With His blood, He purchased me.

On the cross, He sealed my pardon,

Paid the debt, and made me free.”

Ephesians 4:30

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

Studylight.org, Clarke’s Commentary: The Holy Spirit in the soul of a believer is God's seal, set on his heart to testify that he is God's property, and that he should be wholly employed in God's service.

Studylight.org, Contending for the Faith: The Spirit is the seal, or identifying mark, placed on each child of God. Evidently, when the Lord returns to claim the redeemed, each of them will be recognized by the Spirit dwelling within them. Redemption, in one sense, has already taken place at the cross. The final realization of redemption, however, will take place at the end of this age when God will be "revealing...the sons of God" and they will receive "the redemption" of their bodies.

 

I am indebted to the following resources:

Juliakyte.com

Dianaleaghmatthews.com

Enjoyingthejourney.org, Micah Hendry

"101 More Hymn Stories" by Kenneth W. Osbeck

"Amazing Grace," Kenneth W. Osbeck

"How Sweet the Sound" by George Beverly Shea

Studylight.org; Barnes’ Notes on the Whole Bible

Teachingtruth.org; Greg Chandler

By His Grace . . .

He Leadeth Me

 

Gilmore was born in Weston, Vermont, in 1811. Nothing more is known of Gilmore’s early years and family life. He was educated in Vermont and moved to Boston. He was a graduate of Brown University (1858) and Newton Theological Institution (1861) and was ordained as a Baptist pastor (1862), initially serving a Baptist church in Fisherville, New Hampshire.

Gilmore gave this detailed account for the December 1911 issue of The Brown Alumni Monthly: “Nearly half a century ago, as a young man who had recently 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 their mid-week 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 different occasions.

“But this time I did not get farther than the words, ‘He leadeth me’—those words took hold of me as they never had done before. I saw in them a significance and beauty of which I had never dreamed. It was the darkest hour of the War of the Rebellion. 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 the fact of 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 that God is leading us.

“At the close of the meeting a few of us, in the parlor of my host, good Deacon Wattson, who resided next door to the church, 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, handed it to my wife, and thought no more about it. It occurred to her months afterward to send the hymn to “The Watchman and Reflector,” a paper published in Boston, where it was first printed. In the paper it attracted the attention of William B. Bradbury, who slightly modified the refrain and set the hymn to the music which has done so much to promote its popularity. As I wrote the hymn, the refrain consisted of only two lines: ‘He leadeth me! He leadeth me! By His own hand He leadeth me.

"Mr.Bradbury added the lines: ‘His faithful follower I would be, For by His hand He leadeth me.’

'In other respects, the hymn stands just as I wrote it in Deacon Wattson’s parlor, talking and writing at the same time. I did not know that my hymn had been set to music until 1865, when I went to Rochester to preach as a candidate before the Second Baptist Church. Going into their chapel on the day that I reached the city, I took up a hymnal to see what they sang, and it opened to my own hymn, ‘He Leadeth Me’ I accepted it as an indication of divine guidance and have no doubt now that I was right.

“The hymn has been translated into different languages—perhaps more than any other modern hymn, as it appeals especially to the wanderer and the outcast—and I have received many touching testimonials to the comfort and help it has rendered God’s dear children. It was to that end, I take it, that He put it into my mind and heart when, as it must be seen, I hadn’t the faintest conception of what I was doing.”

Gilmore became a professor after serving churches in Philadelphia, New Hampshire, and New York. He was also a professor of English at the University of Rochester from 1868-1911. A prolific writer for newspapers and periodicals, Gilmore also authored three books in his academic field: “The Art of Expression” (1876) and “Outlines of English and American Literature” (1905), as well as a book of poetry, “He Leadeth Me, and Other Religious Poems” (1877).

Working as his father’s private secretary during the Civil War, he also edited the Concord, New Hampshire “Daily Monitor.” Joseph Gilmore died on July 23, 1918, in Rochester, New York.

Verse One

“He leadeth me: O blessed thought!

O words with heavenly comfort fraught!

Whate’er I do, where’er I be,

Still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.”

1 Peter 5:6

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s Mighty Hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”

Biblehub.com, Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible: Under the Mighty Hand of God, a phrase expressive of His Omnipotence, which cannot be stayed, and it would be madness to oppose it; and which is able to cast down the proud, and dash them to pieces, as well as to exalt the humble.

Studylight.com, Dr. Constable’s Expository Notes: God’s Almighty Hand had permitted affliction to touch Peter’s readers. The apostle urged them to submit to God’s working in their lives as to the skillful hand of a surgeon. He assured them that God would raise them up eventually better off for their suffering. Peter had learned to submit to God’s Hand on his own life, though at times he had not been as submissive as he should have been. The Old Testament writers used God’s Hand as a symbol of discipline and deliverance.

Verse Two

“Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom,

Sometimes where Eden’s flowers bloom,

By waters calm, o’er troubled sea,

Still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.”

Psalm 31:3

“Since You are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of Your Name lead and guide me.”

Biblehub.com, Barnes’ Notes on the Bible: For the sake of Thine own Honor, or for the glory of Thy name. Since Thou art my Rock and my Defense - since I put my trust in Thee - show, by leading and guiding me, that my trust is well founded, or that this is Thy character, and that Thou wilt be true and faithful to those who commit their all to Thee.

Biblehub.com, Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible: The psalmist desires the Lord would lead him in the way of truth and paths of righteousness, according to His Word; and guide him with His counsel, and by His Spirit, that so he might walk in the way in which he should go; and this he entreats he would do "for His name's sake"; not for any merit or worthiness in him; but for the glory of His own Name, and for the honor of His free grace and mercy, for which the Lord often does many things; He defers His anger, He purges away the sins of His people, He forgives their transgressions, and remembers their sins no more, for His name's sake.

Verse Three

“Lord, I would clasp Thy hand in mine,

Nor ever murmur nor repine;

Content, whatever lot I see,

Since ’tis my God that leadeth me.”

Proverbs 19:23

“The fear of the Lord leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble.”

Bibleref.com: The person who "rests" in God exhibits a sense of contentment and security. This "fear" is not terror or panic. It's a reverent, humble respect which acknowledges who and what God is. The cornerstone of that recognition leads a person to Christ for salvation. To "fear" the Lord is to believe on Him. Christians do not lead trouble-free lives, but they have hope amidst suffering and teaches that God is ultimately on the side of Christians, therefore no one can gain ultimate victory over them.

Verse Four

“And when my task on earth is done,

When, by Thy grace, the victory’s won,

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

Since God through Jordan leadeth me.”

Acts 20:24

“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the Good News of God’s Grace.”

Biblehib.com, Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary: Thanks be to God that we know not the things which shall befall us during the year, the week, the day which has begun. It is enough for the child of God to know that his strength shall be equal to his day. He knows not what the day before him shall bring forth. The powerful influences of the Holy Spirit bind the true Christian to his duty. Even when he expects persecution and affliction, the love of Christ constrains him to proceed.

1 Corinthians 15:57

“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Studylight.org, Barnes’ Notes on the Whole Bible: The victory over sin, death, and the grave. God alone is the author of this victory. He formed the plan; he executed it in the gift of His Son; and He gives it to us personally when we come to die.

Studylight.org, Contending for the Faith: The Apostle Paul now connects the bodily resurrection and transformation of Christians to his central teaching of justification and forgiveness of sins. He teaches about Christians’ thankfulness to God because He gives us the "victory" through Christ’s death and resurrection. The expression "thanks be to God" seems to be an "exclamation of relief" (Expositor’s Greek Testament, Vol. II 943) because even though "the strength of sin is the law," death no longer has victory over us because our victory is through Christ.

Refrain

“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.”

Though Gilmore wrote other hymns, it is this hurriedly penned text for which he is remembered. The First Baptist Church of Philadelphia where Gilmore was speaking was demolished. However, the words to the first stanza of Gilmore’s hymn appear on a bronze tablet on the large office building that replaced the church with the inscription, “In recognition of the beauty and fame of this beloved hymn, and in remembrance of its distinguished author” (Osbeck, 1982, 88).

 

I am indebted to the following resources:

Dianaleaghmatthews.com

Umcdiscipleship.org

Enjoyingthejourney.org, Micah Hendry

Godtube.com

Hymnologyarchive.com, Chris Fenner

En.wikipedia.org

By His Grace . . .

 

I Have a Hope

I chose this hymn to study for the title alone. The hymn was unfamiliar to me. One of my favorite Scripture verses is Psalm 71:14: “But as for me, I will always have HOPE; I will praise you more and more.”

I write many words about HOPE. It’s what fills me with the strength and courage to face each new day. God’s HOPE thrills my soul.

“Reliable HOPE is Jesus! In His life, death, and resurrection, your life is infused with HOPE . . . The One who is HOPE has infused my life with HOPE . . . To find HOPE, find Him.” Paul David Tripp, New Morning Mercies.

The words to this hymn are simple. I couldn’t find a video on YouTube. There were many videos with that title, but when I watched them, the words were different.

Charles Wesley Naylor was the writer of this hymn. From his bed of affliction came some of the most encouraging songs that have ever been written, as well as books such as “Heart Talks,” and “The Secret of the Singing Heart.” In “The Secret of the Singing Heart”: he wrote: “The secret of the singing heart consists in learning to be what we ought to be and in holding the attitude we ought to hold toward life. It consists in learning to adjust ourselves to our circumstances and to be happy in those circumstances . . . It consists in walking with God, believing in Him, and acting out that belief day by day. Doing this we shall ever be blessed.”

Naylor was born on January 8, 1874, in Athens County, Ohio. His mother died when he was eight years old, and he went to live with his grandparents. At the age of nineteen he left the Methodist Church for the Church of God. He worked for a while at the Gospel Trumpet Company in Grand Junction, Michigan and on some evangelistic tours.

He was seriously injured in 1908, dislocating a kidney and other internal injuries while helping to remove some timbers under a tent at a meeting in Sidney, Florida. A short time later he was injured again in a bus accident. In 1909 he took to his bed, where he remained until his death in 1950, having spent nearly 41 years as an invalid. His body was laid to rest in the Maplewood Cemetery, Anderson, Indiana.

Naylor spoke the song lyrics and thoughts the Lord gave him for articles and books into an Ediphone Wax Cylinder dictating machine. The machine recorded them, then someone would transcribe them for publication.

He is considered one of the most prolific and inspiring songwriters of the Church of God (based in Anderson, Indiana) writing 150 songs. Despite being bedridden, he wrote eight books, a column for the newspaper, a column for “The Gospel Trumpet”, and articles for the Church of God youth magazine, “Young People’s Friend.”

Naylor knew the experience of long and intense suffering with no hope of relief from any human source, and with no other prospect for the future than that of remaining a helpless invalid for life. He learned to trust God for the supply of his temporal needs because there was no other to trust. He learned to commune with God by being deprived of the opportunity of mingling much with his fellow men.

Yet he did not lose the joy out of life. He built up the kingdom of God with his words of good cheer. He demonstrated the efficacy of God's grace to sustain one and give joy in the very discouraging circumstances of life.

Verse One

“I have a hope, serene and sure,

That anchors past the veil;

In all the storms it holds secure,

Nor will it ever fail.”

Hebrews 6:19

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain”

Biblehub.com, Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible: This world is as a sea; the church in it, and so every believer, is as a ship; the port that is bound unto is heaven; Christ is the pilot, and hope is the anchor . . . Christ is often called hope itself, because He is the ground and foundation of it, and Who is at present unseen to bodily eyes; and the anchor of hope without the cable of faith is of little service; but being cast aright on Christ, keeps the soul steady and immovable . . . when hope is in exercise; the anchor of hope is not cast on anything below, but above; and here it is called the anchor of the soul, to distinguish it from any other, and to show the peculiar benefit of it to the soul.

Psalm 107:29

“He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.”

Studylight.org, Barnes’ Notes on the Whole Bible: God does this, and God only can do it. The fact, therefore, that Jesus did it proves that he was Divine. There can be no more striking proof of Divine power than the ability to calm the raging waves of the ocean by a word. This is literally, “He places the tempest to silence.”

Verse Two

“I have a hope that looks away,

From present woes and tears;

To heaven’s bright eternal day,

Till sorrow disappears.”

Hebrews 12:1-2

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Biblehub.com, Benson Commentary: As all who run a race take care to do; let us throw off whatever weighs us down, or damps the vigor of our souls, especially all worldly afflictions and delights; all worldly hopes, fears, cares, and friendships; whatever would encumber us in running, would impede our progress, or draw us from our duty.

Verse Three

“I have a hope that doth not fear,

The silent grave to view;

Nay, doth not shrink though death appear,

For I shall live anew.”

Psalm 34:4

“I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.”

Bibleref.com: Believers today might fear anything from physical injury or illness, to job insecurity, to difficulties in relationships, to political collapse, to the threat of incoming nuclear missiles, and everything in between. However, faith replaces fear. The apostle Paul did not fear an upcoming trial that might result in execution, but he knew the Lord can remove all anxiety when we pray. He counseled in Philippians 4:6-7: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." The prayer of faith and fear are mutually exclusive. While believers are not guaranteed to be taken "out of" harm's way, God has promised to see us "through" any harm

Refrain

“My hope is born of God’s own Word,

And nourished by His grace;

His promise true my soul hath heard,

And hope beholds His face.”

Hebrews 1:3

“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful Word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”

Studylight.org, Clarke’s Commentary:  This is an astonishing description of the infinitely energetic and all pervading power of God. He spake, and all things were created; He speaks, and all things are sustained. The Jewish writers frequently express the perfection of the Divine nature by the phrases, He bears all things, both above and below; He carries all His creatures; He bears His world; He bears all worlds by His power. The Hebrews, to whom this epistle was written, would, from this and other circumstances, fully understand that the apostle believed Jesus Christ to be truly and properly God.

Job 23:12

“I have not departed from the commands of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread.”

Studylight.org, Contending for the Faith: Jesus, the Son of God, has all power; and His power is manifested by His Word. Jesus is not only the Creator but also the foundation, the sustainer, of the universe. By His powerful command, Jesus causes the universe to function as it does. The universe would not continue to exist if it were not that Jesus maintains it. When Jesus speaks, whatever He wants done is done; it may be to calm the winds, to raise the dead, to heal the lame, to forgive sin, or it may involve the creation of the world. Nature and science obey His words. The phrase "upholding all things by the Word of His power" presents an astounding portrayal of the infinitely energetic and all-encompassing power of God.

Remember these words: “Reliable HOPE is Jesus! In His life, death, and resurrection, your life is infused with HOPE . . . The One who is HOPE has infused my life with HOPE . . . To find HOPE, find Him.” Paul David Tripp, New Morning Mercies

Jesus Christ, our living HOPE!

  

I am indebted to the following resources:

Hymnary.org

Songsoftheeveninglight.com

Christiansong-lyrics.com

Hymntime.com

Biblehub.com

By His Grace . . .