Sunday, September 27, 2020
Friday, September 25, 2020
"By Grace I'm Saved"
About a year ago, I happened to notice a feature in "By Grace I'm Saved." It's sung to the tune "O dass ich tausend Zungen hätte" (there are two hymn tunes in LSB with this title; this one was written by Cornelius Heinrich Dretzel), and the first phrase (repeated as the third phrase) has a cross inscription:
The first line of the first verse is "By grace I'm saved, grace free and boundless." "By grace I'm saved" is what's sung to the cross inscription, illustrating that it's through Christ's death and resurrection - not by our own works or merit - that we are saved.
The third line of the second verse is "God in His love sent our Redeemer." "God in His love" is what's sung to the cross inscription here, pointing out the connection between God's love and the crucifixion. As Romans 5:8 says: "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
The first line of the first verse is "By grace I'm saved, grace free and boundless." "By grace I'm saved" is what's sung to the cross inscription, illustrating that it's through Christ's death and resurrection - not by our own works or merit - that we are saved.
The third line of the second verse is "God in His love sent our Redeemer." "God in His love" is what's sung to the cross inscription here, pointing out the connection between God's love and the crucifixion. As Romans 5:8 says: "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Wednesday, September 23, 2020
LSB #538 "Praise Be to Christ"
Biblical citation in the hymnal: Colossians 1:15-20
Colossians 1:15-20: "15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross."
Colossians 1:15-20: "15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross."
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The hymn text adheres fairly closely to this passage from Colossians. Verses 15-16 are the basis for the first verse: "Praise be to Christ in whom we see / The image of the Father shown, / The firstborn Son revealed and known... Through whom creation came to birth." Verses 17-18 appear in the hymn's second verse: "Praise be to Him whose sov'reign sway / And will upholds creation's plan... Lord of the Church, its life and head... Alive, the firstborn of the dead, / To reign as all-in-all supreme." Verses 19-20 form the hymn's third verse: "Praise be to Him who, Lord Most High, / The fullness of the Godhead shares... Who came as man to bleed and die. / And from His cross there flows our peace... That so might sins and sorrows cease / And all be reconciled to God."
The description "The truth and grace of deity" in the first verse seems to come from John 1:14: "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."
The description "The truth and grace of deity" in the first verse seems to come from John 1:14: "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."
Sunday, September 20, 2020
"Gethsemane" (TLH #174)
Last time I recorded this tune, I transposed it from Eb major to D major. To do something different this time, I transposed it up from Eb major to F major.
Friday, September 18, 2020
"Christ the Eternal Lord"
Last November, I noticed a small feature in "Christ the Eternal Lord," sung to the tune "Diademata." In the third verse, there are the lines "Inspire our hearts, we pray, / To tell Your love abroad." The second of those two lines is sung to this phrase:
The two syllables of "abroad" are sung to a large interval (a sixth: E to C#), and this musical breadth gives a sense of the word's meaning.
The two syllables of "abroad" are sung to a large interval (a sixth: E to C#), and this musical breadth gives a sense of the word's meaning.
Wednesday, September 16, 2020
LSB #537 "Beautiful Savior"
Biblical citations in the hymnal: Hebrews 1:1-13; John 1:1-4, 14; Luke 1:30-33; John 12:46
Hebrews 1:1-13: "1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
"5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, 'You are my Son, today I have begotten you'? Or again, 'I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son'? 6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, 'Let all God's angels worship him.' 7 Of the angels he says, 'He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.' 8 But of the Son he says, 'Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.' 10 And, 'You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; 11 they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, 12 like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.' 13 And to which of the angels has he ever said, 'Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet'?"
John 1:1-4: "1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men."
John 1:14: "14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."
Luke 1:30-33: "30 And the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.'"
John 12:46: "'I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.'"
Hebrews 1:1-13: "1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
"5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, 'You are my Son, today I have begotten you'? Or again, 'I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son'? 6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, 'Let all God's angels worship him.' 7 Of the angels he says, 'He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.' 8 But of the Son he says, 'Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.' 10 And, 'You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; 11 they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, 12 like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.' 13 And to which of the angels has he ever said, 'Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet'?"
John 1:1-4: "1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men."
John 1:14: "14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."
Luke 1:30-33: "30 And the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.'"
John 12:46: "'I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.'"
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The text is public domain:
Beautiful Savior,
King of creation,
Son of God and Son of Man!
Truly I'd love Thee,
Truly I'd serve Thee,
Light of my soul, my joy, my crown.
Fair are the meadows,
Fair are the woodlands,
Robed in flow'rs of blooming spring;
Jesus is fairer,
Jesus is purer,
He makes our sorr'wing spirit sing.
Fair is the sunshine,
Fair is the moonlight,
Bright the sparkling stars on high;
Jesus shines brighter,
Jesus shines purer
Than all the angels in the sky.
Beautiful Savior,
Lord of the nations,
Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor,
Praise adoration
Now and forevermore be Thine!
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Most of the Biblical citations appear in the first verse. "King of creation" - paralleled with "Lord of the nations" in the last verse - seems to come from both the Hebrews text and John 1:1-4. "Son of God and Son of Man" (which also appears in the last verse) combines the text from Hebrews (for "Son of God") with John 1:14 (for "Son of Man"). The text from Luke could also be cited for "King of creation" and "Son of Man."
The light mentioned in John 1:4 and 12:46 seems to appear in the line "Light of my soul, my joy, my crown" in the first verse and in the lines "Jesus shines brighter, / Jesus shines purer / Than all the angels in the sky" in the third verse.
This may be coincidental, but "my joy, my crown" from the end of the first verse is very similar to a phrase in Philippians 4:1: "Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved."
The light mentioned in John 1:4 and 12:46 seems to appear in the line "Light of my soul, my joy, my crown" in the first verse and in the lines "Jesus shines brighter, / Jesus shines purer / Than all the angels in the sky" in the third verse.
This may be coincidental, but "my joy, my crown" from the end of the first verse is very similar to a phrase in Philippians 4:1: "Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved."
Sunday, September 13, 2020
Friday, September 11, 2020
"Praise Him, Praise Him"
Near the end of last year, I was thinking about "Praise Him, Praise Him," which - if I remember aright - I learned in Sunday school many years ago. According to hymnary.org, the text is anonymous and in the public domain:
The first verse, at least, seems to come from a number of Psalms. Psalm 148:1-4 also has this repeated "Praise Him," as does the entirety of Psalm 150. The range of temporal elements ("in the morning... in the noontime... when the sun goes down") is something of a merism, and it seems to come from Psalm 113:3: "From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised!"
Hymnary.org doesn't have a melody, but from what I remember, it's something like:
The "sun goes down" part of the line "Praise Him when the sun goes down" is sung to a descending group of notes (B A G in my notation), musically giving a sense of that "go[ing] down."
Praise Him, praise Him,Subsequent verses simply replace "praise" with an-other verb: "love," "trust," and "serve." (Hymnary.org also has a fifth verse that replaces "Praise Him" with "Jesus," although I don't remember singing that one.)
Praise Him in the morning,
Praise Him in the noontime.
Praise Him, praise Him,
Praise Him when the sun goes down.
The first verse, at least, seems to come from a number of Psalms. Psalm 148:1-4 also has this repeated "Praise Him," as does the entirety of Psalm 150. The range of temporal elements ("in the morning... in the noontime... when the sun goes down") is something of a merism, and it seems to come from Psalm 113:3: "From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised!"
Hymnary.org doesn't have a melody, but from what I remember, it's something like:
The "sun goes down" part of the line "Praise Him when the sun goes down" is sung to a descending group of notes (B A G in my notation), musically giving a sense of that "go[ing] down."
Wednesday, September 9, 2020
LSB #536 "One Thing's Needful"
Biblical citations in the hymnal: Luke 10:42, Philippians 3:7-8, Hebrews 9:14, John 13:15-17
Because LSB notes that "Stanza 2 may be reserved for occasions when Luke 10:38-42 is read," I'm also including those verses.
Luke 10:38-42: "38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who say at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, 'Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.' 41 But the LORD answered her, 'Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.'"
Philippians 3:7-8: "7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ"
Hebrews 9:14: "how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God."
John 13:15-17: "15 'For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.'"
Because LSB notes that "Stanza 2 may be reserved for occasions when Luke 10:38-42 is read," I'm also including those verses.
Luke 10:38-42: "38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who say at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, 'Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.' 41 But the LORD answered her, 'Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.'"
Philippians 3:7-8: "7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ"
Hebrews 9:14: "how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God."
John 13:15-17: "15 'For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.'"
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The text is public domain:
One thing's needful; Lord, this treasure
Teach me highly to regard.
All else, though it first give pleasure,
Is a yoke that pressed hard!
Beneath it the heart is still fretting and striving,
No true, lasting happiness ever deriving.
This one thing is needful; all others are vain -
I count all but loss that I Christ may obtain!
How were Mary's thoughts devoted
Her eternal joy to find
As intent each word she noted,
At her Savior's feet reclined!
How kindled her heart, how devout was its feeling,
While hearing the lessons that Christ was revealing!
All earthly concerns she forgot for her Lord
And found her contentment in hearing His Word.
Wisdom's highest, noblest treasure,
Jesus, is revealed in You.
Let me find in Your my pleasure,
And my wayward will subdue,
Humility there and simplicity reigning,
In paths of true wisdom my steps ever training.
If I learn from Jesus this knowledge divine,
The blessing of heavenly wisdom is mine.
Nothing have I, Christ, to offer,
You alone, my highest good.
Nothing have I, Lord, to proffer
But Your crimson-colored blood.
Your death on the cross has death wholly defeated
And thereby my righteousness fully completed;
Salvation's white raiments I there did obtain,
And in them in glory with You I shall reign.
Therefore You alone, my Savior,
Shall be all in all to me;
Search my heart and my behavior,
Root out all hypocrisy.
Through all my life's pilgrimage, guard and uphold me,
In loving forgiveness, O Jesus, enfold me.
This one thing is needful; all others are vain -
I count all but loss that I Christ may obtain!
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The text from Luke 10 is the primary source. The entirety of the second verse is drawn from it. The clause "'one thing is necessary'" from verse 42 appears near the end of the hymn's first and fifth verses ("one thing's needful"), combined with the text from Philippians 3 ("I count all but loss that I Christ may obtain!").
Hebrews 9:14 seems to appear in the fourth verse, although the hymn's phrase "Salvation's white raiments" bears more resemblance to Revelation 7:13-14: "13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, 'Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?' 14 I said to him, 'Sir, you know.' And he said to me, 'These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."
The "example" from John 13 is rendered as "In paths of true wisdom my steps ever training" in the hymn's third verse, and "'If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them'" is paraphrased as "If I learn from Jesus this knowledge divine, / The blessing of heavenly wisdom is mine."
Sunday, September 6, 2020
"Herzlich tut mich" (TLH #172)
Friday, September 4, 2020
"On What Has Now Been Sown"
One of the hymns in an online church service I watched a few weeks ago was "On What Has Now Been Sown," sung to the tune "Darwall's 148th." I noticed a small feature near the end of the first verse. The penultimate line is "Do Thou in grace the harvest raise," sung to this phrase:
"The harvest raise" is sung to an ascending group of notes (C to F), so there's a musical sense of that "rais[ing]."
"The harvest raise" is sung to an ascending group of notes (C to F), so there's a musical sense of that "rais[ing]."
Wednesday, September 2, 2020
LSB #535 "How Wide the Love of Christ"
Biblical citation in the hymnal: Ephesians 3:17b-18
Ephesians 3:17b-18 (plus verse 19): "that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
Ephesians 3:17b-18 (plus verse 19): "that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
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Each of the first four verses of this hymn focuses on one attribute from "the breadth and length and height and depth." Here are the first lines:
The fifth verse is something of a doxology (it begins, "All praise to You, O Christ"), and these four adjectives are repeated: "For love whose depth and height, / Whose length and breadth fill time and space."
How wide the love of Christ!
How long the love of Christ!
How high the love of Christ!
How deep the love of Christ,The remainder of each verse then provides an example of how this love of Christ is shown.
The fifth verse is something of a doxology (it begins, "All praise to You, O Christ"), and these four adjectives are repeated: "For love whose depth and height, / Whose length and breadth fill time and space."
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