LSB #693 "O Holy Spirit, Grant Us Grace"

Biblical citations in the hymnal:  Romans 5:1-5, 1 Corinthians 12:3, 1 Peter 2:21-25, 1 Corinthians 9:24-25

Romans 5:1-5:  "1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  3 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."

1 Corinthians 12:3:  "Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says 'Jesus is accursed!' and no one can say 'Jesus is Lord' except in the Holy Spirit."

1 Peter 2:21-25:  "21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.  22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.  23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.  24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.  By his wounds you have been healed.  25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls."

1 Corinthians 9:24-25:  "24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize?  So run that you may obtain it.  25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things.  They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable."

+++

The text is public domain:

O Holy Spirit, grant us grace

That we our Lord and Savior

In faith and fervent love embrace

And truly serve Him ever.

The hour of death cannot bring loss

When we are sheltered by the cross

That cancelled our transgressions.

Help us that we Thy saving Word

In faithful hearts may treasure;

Let e'er that Bread of Life afford

New grace in richest measure.

O make us die to ev'ry sin,

Each day create new life within,

That fruits of faith may flourish.

And when our earthly race is run,

Death's bitter hour impending,

Then may Thy work in us begun

Continue till life's ending,

Until we gladly may commend

Our souls into our Savior's hand,

The crown of life obtaining.

+++

Romans 5:1-5, 1 Corinthians 12:3, and 1 Peter 2:21-25 all seem to be present in the first verse, with the texts from Romans and 1 Corinthians in the first half and the text from 1 Peter (particularly verse 24) in the second half.  The lines "Help us that we Thy saving Word / In faithful hearts may treasure" in the second verse may also come from 1 Corinthians 12:3.

The title "Bread of Life" in the second verse comes from John 6:35, 48.

The passage from 1 Corinthians 9 appears at the beginning of the third verse:  "And when our earthly race is run," although instead of a wreath, the hymn mentions "the crown of life," which could refer to either James 1:12 or Revelation 2:10.

The lines "Then may Thy work in us begun / Continue till life's ending" in the third verse are something of a paraphrase of Philippians 1:6:  "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."

"All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name"

Registration:

Upper:  42 8875 543

Lower:  00 5645 322

Pedal:  44

Played with the "mellow" drawbar organ sound on my Hammond SKX, with the Hammond XPK-130G pedals

"Gott sei gelobet" (TLH #313)

"Lift High the Cross"

Years ago, I wrote about the first half of the refrain in "Lift High the Cross."  Last month, I was thinking about the hymn again and realized something about the second half of the refrain:

(The tune is "Crucifer.")

The text is "Till all the world adore His sacred name."  The words in the phrase "all the world" are all sung to different pitches (spanning a sixth:  E G C), musically giving a sense of the breadth or entirety of that "all."

LSB #692 "Praise to You and Adoration"

Biblical citations in the hymnal:  2 Thessalonians 2:15-17; Matthew 20:26-28; John 10:27-28; 14:18

2 Thessalonians 2:15-17:  "15 So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.

"16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word."

Matthew 20:26-28:  "26 'It shall not be so among you.  But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'"

John 10:27-28:  "27 'My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.  28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.'"

John 14:18:  "'I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.'"

+++

The text is public domain:

Praise to You and adoration,

Blessed Jesus, Son of God,

Who, to serve Your own creation,

Came to share our flesh and blood.

Guide me that I never may

From Your fold or pastures stray,

But with zeal and joy exceeding

Follow where Your steps are leading.

Hold me ever in Your keeping;

Comfort me in pain and strife.

In my laughter and my weeping

Be with me throughout my life.

Give me greater love for You,

And my faith and hope renew

In Your birth, Your life, and passion,

In Your death and resurrection.

+++

Matthew 20:26-28 appears in the lines "Blessed Jesus, Son of God, / Who, to serve Your own creation, / Came to share our flesh and blood."  John 10:27-28 appears in the lines "Guide me that I never may / From Your fold or pastures stray, / But with zeal and joy exceeding / Follow where Your steps are leading," although there seems to be a bit of overlap with "stand[ing] firm and hold[ing] to the traditions" from the passage from 2 Thessalonians, too.

John 14:18 appears in the second verse, although from a different perspective:  "Hold me ever in Your keeping" and "Be with me throughout my life."  The comforting mentioned near the beginning of the verse ("Comfort me in pain and strife.") seems to come from 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17.

"What a Friend We Have in Jesus"

Registration:

Upper:  00 3676 532

Lower:  00 4321 000

Pedal:  22

Played with the "mellow" drawbar organ sound on my Hammond SKX, with the Hammond XPK-130G pedals

"Herr, wie du willst" (TLH #312)

"Heavenly Hosts in Ceaseless Worship"

A couple years ago, I noticed some features in "Heavenly Hosts in Ceaseless Worship," sung to the tune "Love's Light."  Here's the first musical phrase:

In the second verse, the text here is "All creation, all redemption" (the sense is completed in the following line:  "Join to sing the Savior's worth").  "Creation" is sung with a melisma (D F F D), and "redemption" is sung to notes of all different pitches, spanning a fifth (F A C).  Both of these articulations provide a sense of the breadth or entirety of those "all"s.

Here's the last musical phrase:

In the first verse, the text here is "Fall before the Father's throne."  Generally, the melody descends, so there's a sense of this "fall[ing]."

In the second verse, the text is "And to everlasting days!"  "Everlasting" is sung with a melisma (A F G F E), and since the word is stretched out, there's a sense of that duration.

LSB #691 "Fruitful Trees, the Spirit's Sowing"

Biblical citations in the hymnal:  John 15:1-9, Galatians 5:22-23, Ephesians 5:8-10, Luke 6:43-45

John 15:1-9:  "1 'I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.  2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.  3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.  4 Abide in me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.  5 I am the vine; you are the branches.  Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.  6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.  7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.  9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.  Abide in my love.'"

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

Ephesians 5:8-10:  "8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.  Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord."

Luke 6:43-45:  "43 'For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, 44 for each tree is known by its own fruit.  For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.  45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.'"

+++

The imagery of bearing fruit in John 15:1-9, Ephesians 5:8-10, and Luke 6:43-45 appears throughout the hymn.  Psalm 1:3 may also figure into this ("He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.").  The text from John is a bit more prominent than the others at the beginning of the third verse:  "Rooted deep in Christ our Master."

At the end of each of the hymn's verses, three of the fruits from the passage from Galatians are listed, although the order is shuffled a bit (the second verse ends with patience, kindness and gentleness, and the third with goodness, faith, and self-control) and love, joy, and peace are listed twice (at the end of the first and fourth verses).

"Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus"

Registration:

Upper:  88 8888 003

Lower:  00 7643 234

Pedal:  54

Played with the "mellow" drawbar organ sound on my Hammond SKX, with the Hammond XPK-130G pedals

"Jesus Christus, unser Heiland" (TLH #311)

"Christ, Mighty Savior"

A couple years ago, I noticed a feature in "Christ, Mighty Savior," sung to the tune "Innisfree Farm."  Here's the first musical phrase:

In the first verse, the text here is "Christ, mighty Savior, Light of all creation."  "Creation" is sung with a melisma (E E C D), musically giving a sense of the entirety of "all."

Here's the third musical phrase:

In the third verse, the text here is "With all creation joining hearts and voices."  Again, "creation" is sung with a melisma (F# G F# E), giving a sense of that "all."

LSB #690 "Hope of the World"

Biblical citations in the hymnal:  1 Timothy 1:1, Colossians 2:13-15, Psalm 146:5-10, John 8:12

1 Timothy 1:1:  "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope"

Colossians 2:13-15:  "13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by cancelling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands.  This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.  15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him."

Psalm 146:5-10:  "5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, 6 who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; 7 who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry.

"The LORD sets the prisoners free; 8 the LORD opens the eyes of the blind.  The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous.  9 The LORD watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.  10 The LORD will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations.  Praise the LORD!"

John 8:12:  "Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'"

+++

The hymn's title phrase ("Hope of the world"), which occurs at the beginning of each verse, seems to come from both 1 Timothy 1:1 and Psalm 146:5.  There are other references to Psalm 146 through the hymn.  The description "who gives food to the hungry" in verse 7 appears in the hymn's second verse as "Bringing to hungry souls the bread of life" (which also incorporates John 6:35, 48, where Jesus calls Himself "the bread of life"); "the LORD watches over the sojourners" in verse 9 appears in the hymn's third verse as "Showing to wand'ring souls the path of light" (which also incorporates John 8:12); and "the LORD will reign forever" in verse 10 comes at the end of the hymn's last (fifth) verse:  "Thou art our Lord!  Thou dost forever reign!"

The passage from Colossians 2 appears in the first half of the fourth verse ("Hope of the world, who by Thy cross didst save us / From death and dark despair, from sin and guilt") and in the first half of the fifth verse ("Hope of the world, O Christ, o'er death victorious, / Who by this sign didst conquer grief and pain").

"When I Survey the Wondrous Cross"

Registration:

Upper:  74 8745 325

Lower:  00 6543 322

Pedal:  55

Played with the "mellow" drawbar organ sound on my Hammond SKX, with the Hammond XPK-130G pedals

"St. Michael" (TLH #310)

"You Are God; We Praise You"

A couple years ago, I noticed a small feature in "You Are God; We Praise You" (LSB #939, in the Biblical Canticles section).  About a third of the way into the hymn, there's the line "heaven and earth are full of Your glory," sung to this musical phrase:

"Glory" is sung with a melisma (Eb F F), musically giving a sense of the abundance that the description "full of" implies.

LSB #689 "Let Me Be Thine Forever"

Biblical citations in the hymnal:  Psalm 119:10, Ephesians 1:7, 2 Timothy 1:8-10, John 8:31

Psalm 119:10:  "With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!"

Ephesians 1:7:  "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace"

2 Timothy 1:8-10:  "8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel"

John 8:31:  "So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, 'If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples'"

+++

The text is public domain:

Let me be Thine forever,

My faithful God and Lord;

Let me forsake Thee never

Nor wander from Thy Word.

Lord, do not let me waver,

But give me steadfastness,

And for such grace forever

Thy holy name I'll bless.

Lord Jesus, my salvation,

My light, my life divine,

My only consolation,

I make me wholly Thine!

For Thou hast dearly bought me

With blood and bitter pain.

Let me, since Thou hast sought me,

Eternal life obtain.

And Thou, O Holy Spirit,

My comforter and guide,

Grant that in Jesus' merit

I always may confide,

Him to the end confessing

Whom I have known by faith.

Give me Thy constant blessing

And grant a Christian death.

+++

Psalm 119:10 and John 8:31 both seem to be present in the lines "Let me forsake Thee never / Nor wander from Thy Word" (and perhaps even extending into "Lord, do not let me waver, / But give me steadfastness") in the first verse.  There's a stronger resemblance between "Nor wander from Thy Word" and "let me not wander from your commandments" from Psalm 119:10.  "'Abide in my word'" from John 8:31 has basically the same the meaning, just lookt at from a different perspective.

Ephesians 1:7 appears in the second verse:  "For Thou hast dearly bought me / With blood and bitter pain."

2 Timothy 1:8-10 seems to bridge the first and second verses, with verse 8 ("Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord...") appearing at the end of the hymn's first verse ("Lord, do not let me waver, / But give me steadfastness") and verses 9-10 ("who saved us and... brought life and immortality to light through the gospel") at the beginning of the hymn's second verse ("Lord Jesus, my salvation, / My light, my life divine, / My only consolation").

"Take My Life and Let It Be"

Registration:

Upper:  00 3675 210

Lower:  00 4321 000

Pedal:  22

Played with the "mellow" drawbar organ sound on my Hammond SKX, with the Hammond XPK-130G pedals