10/11/13- Praying the Hymns

A Month in Prayer

 

"Make a joyful noise to the Lord all ye lands! Serve the Lord with gladness. Come into His presence with singing!" (Psalm 100:1)

Praying the Hymns

 
As we learned in our last section, the Psalms were the hymnbook of Israel. The Psalms provided both material for Christians to sing and inspiration to add new prayers of praise set to music. The word hymn derives from a Greek word
that means “a song of praise.” Hymns are the sung prayers of the church. They are often adaptations of Scripture.
As we also saw earlier,  several hymns are preserved in our New Testament  (Examples are  Philippians 2:6-11 and Colossians 1:15-20).  In our hymnal there are dates on the top of each hymn.   This enables us to appreciate that we are praying with   “a great cloud of witnesses” as we sing  the words of the saints throughout the ages. These songs of the saints reflect diverse styles, cultures, languages, denominations, and times.  The music of the Church includes every type of music  from classical to contemporary,  from Gregorian chants to Celtic hymns, from Gospel to blue grass, from the singing of the Psalter to heavy metal Christian rock.  Music speaks to us in a way few other mediums can.  It is a language of the heart.  The Bible is clear that we are to praise God with song  “making a joyful noise to the Lord.”  But nowhere does the Bible proscribe  the style in which we are to do this.  It is important to let others worship God  with music that speaks to their heart.  One of the blessings of our modern world  is it now easier than ever to worship God in song.  With radios, computers, and recordings  we can worship in song almost anywhere and at any time.  It is great to find recordings of the hymns sung at worship   on line and continue to sing them throughout the week.  Much classical music was composed as a way to glorify God.  Learning about composers, their faith,   and the inspiration for their compositions can be  a beautiful devotional exercise.   Contemporary Christian radio stations provide a great way   to turn driving into a spiritual experience.  Have fun exploring the many different ways this strong connection between music and love of Jesus Christ  can be expressed!  "There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual conversation with God." Brother Lawrence

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Songs of the Saints
These hymns feature the joys of praying through music.
We are all invited to praise God
in these three wonderful hymns.
Hopefully this will inspire you and excite you
about praying the hymns these next five days!

Let all Things Now Living
Katherine Davis

Let all things now living a song of thanksgiving To God the creator triumphantly raise.
Who fashioned and made us, protected and stayed us, Who still guides us on to the end of our days.
God's banners are o'er us, Pure light goes before us, A pillar of fire shining forth in the night.
Till shadows have vanished and darkness is banished As forward we travel from light into light.

By law God enforces, the stars in their courses And sun in its orbit obediently shine;
The hills and the mountains, the rivers and fountains, The deeps of the ocean proclaim God divine.
We too should be voicing our love and rejoicing; With glad adoration a song let us raise
Till all things now living unite in thanksgiving: To God in the highest, Hosanna and praise!

Let All Things Now Living

Katherine Kennicott Davis (1892-1980) This hymn was written in the 1920’s after Davis was inspired by a Welsh tune.  It uses Old Testament images of praise to God and tells of all of creation worshipping its Creator and King. Davis wrote many musical compositions in many different styles including the Christmas classic, The Little Drummer Boy

To pray this prayer, you may want to say something like, "Lord, let all thing alive bring you songs of thanks, for you made us, protect us, and keep us.  You guide us to the very end of our lives.  You guard and guide us like a pillar of fire until the evil and confusion of life ceases and we go from light to light.  Amen."

****************O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing
Charles Wesley

O for a thousand tongues to sing My great Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my God and King The triumphs of God’s grace!

Jesus! the name that charms our fears, That bids our sorrows cease;
’Tis music in the sinner’s ears, ’Tis life, and health, and peace.

Christ breaks the power of reigning sin, And sets the prisoner free;
Christ’s blood can make the sinful clean, Christ’s blood availed for me.

My gracious Master and my God, Assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the earth abroad The honors of Thy name.

O For A Thousand Tongues to Sing 

Charles Wesley (1707-1788) This hymn was written in 1749 on the eleventh anniversary of Charles’ Aldersgate Conversion experience. On May 1738, Charles and his brother, John, had an intense spiritual experience while worshipping with Moravians. Both brothers had been serving in the Anglican church even coming to Georgia to minister to the colonists. But at Aldersgate both experienced the power of God in a new and intense way. John went on to found the Methodist Church and Charles became a prolific hymn-writer. “O for A Thousand Tongues to Sing” details Charles’ conversion experience and personal testimony (there are many more stanzas).  It was inspired by the remark of an influential Moravian leader, Peter Bohler, “O Brother Wesley, the Lord has done so much for my life. Had I a thousand tongues, I would praise Christ Jesus with each one of them!”

To pray this prayer you may want to say something like, "Lord I wish I had a million different ways to give you thanks and to tell others of your victory and your grace.  Amen." 

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Come Christians Join to Sing
Christian Henry Bateman

Come, Christians, join to sing, Alleluia! Amen!
Loud praise to Christ our King; Alleluia! Amen!
Let all, with heart and voice, Before His throne rejoice;
Praise is His gracious choice. Alleluia! Amen!

Come, lift your hearts on high, Alleluia! Amen!
Let praises fill the sky; Alleluia! Amen!
He is our Guide and Friend; To us He’ll condescend;
His love shall never end. Alleluia! Amen!

Praise yet our Christ again, Alleluia! Amen!
Life shall not end the strain; Alleluia! Amen!
On heaven’s blissful shore, His goodness we’ll adore,
Singing forevermore, “Alleluia! Amen!”


Come Christians Join to Sing
Christian Henry Bateman (1813-1889) This hymn was originally titled “Come Children, Join to Sing” and first appeared in a collection of songs for Sabbath Schools and families.  Bateman served three Congregational Churches in Scotland and England and then ordained in the Anglican Church. It is an invitation to sing praises to God with great joy and envisions the endless singing in heaven.

To pray this prayer, you may say something like, "Lord, draw all of us together to sing your praises for you are our anointed one and King.  Give us all one heart and one voice, and may our praises come before your presence.  Amen."