"O Christ, be thou our lasting joy, our ever great reward."

"O Christ, be thou our lasting joy, our ever great reward."

Hymn: “O Christ, Our Hope, Our Heart’s Desire” – 8^th Century Latin Hymn
      [Translated by John Chandler – 1806-1876]

Tunes: BRADFORD, MANOAH

I am often drawn to very old hymn texts like this one from the 8^th Century. Fortunately, these have been translated from the Latin for us to sing in our own tongue… for most of my readers, that would be English!

This entire hymn is a sung prayer, and the line I have pulled from it is one that seems to pop off the page whenever I’m in a service where this hymn is sung – or even just reading through hymnals. Yes, I hate to admit it, but I truly enjoy doing that!

In asking God to be the joy that lasts, continues, lives on, we are imploring the continuation of the state of joy which is ours as followers of him. The Bible never mentions the word ‘fun,’ but it uses the word joy throughout… almost from cover to cover. Indeed, there are heights of joy at which we find ourselves: at church camp, on prayer retreats, at intense times of worship… at the birth of a child, the marriage of that grown-up child, the birth of a grandchild. There are too many joys attached to our lives to begin to make even a short list. But joy CAN be our perpetual state of being.

O Jesus, please be that joy that keeps on bubbling up within us. Do not allow us to fall into hopeless despair.

The last phrase of this hymnline – “our ever great reward” – seems to indicate that this joy that I have that the world didn’t give to me is destined to be my eternal great reward. In fact, if the joy of the Lord that is my everyday strength were my ONLY reward, it would be a good one to have experienced and to have relished in this life. My belief system includes an afterlife awaiting, and I am certain that life will be the culmination of this life’s lasting joy, our ever great reward.

O Jesus, if joy were my only reward for being your follower, that would be plenty. Let us more fully enjoy the joy.

From the Westminster Catechism, the first question: What is the chief end of man? To glorify God and enjoy him forever.

I couldn’t find an online recording of this hymn.

"Hallelujah! I have found him whom my soul so long has craved!"

"Hallelujah! I have found him whom my soul so long has craved!"
Hymn: “Satisfied” – Clara T. Williams (1858-1937)

Tune: SATISFIED

Eureka! This expression of delight at finally succeeding would be a great word to begin this hymnline; if it had another syllable, Clara T. Williams might have chosen it. Not that the word “hallelujah” isn’t a wonderful word for use in hymns, but “eureka” gets to the point of the excitement of having found that which has been long-sought.

Do you ever have a craving… an insatiate desire? Some people say they crave chocolate, but what they mean is “I’d sure like to have something that originated in Hershey, Pennsylvania, about now.” I’ve learned that whatever food for which I suddenly have a craving will be one that is not in our cupboard or fridge! I sometimes get a hankering for a Boberry biscuit – a decadent, sugar-drizzled breakfast item we learned to love from Bojangle’s fast-food restaurants in North Carolina. One of the reasons I can almost smell and taste that morning treat is that I know I cannot have one now that we’ve moved to the Bojangle’s-less state of Texas.

That’s how those kinds of yearnings usually turn out: unfulfilled.

But when our souls hunger and thirst for God, they are totally satisfied; God’s cupboard is well-stocked with all the spiritual blessings we can think of… and he knows exactly which shelf they rest on in order to get them to us quickly.

Jesus tells us in the beatitudes of Matthew 5 to hunger and thirst after righteousness. If we understand righteousness not as some condition of perfection but as the state being rightly related to God in Christ, it is not only something we might crave: it is a craving we can gratify. It is a positional relationship, not a conditional one.

Robert Browning said, “God’s in his heaven, all’s right with the world.” Great quote, of course. Better yet, “God’s in his heaven, and all’s right between him and me.” I find that to be a much better view of what righteousness means.

I can easily sing the refrain of this gospel song and mean it. Whether I say eureka or hallelujah, it is true of my own personal, spiritual longing… because the next line says, “Jesus satisfies my longings.”

Today, may you be given the deepest desires of your heart. Can I get an “amen”? Or a “eureka”?!

Gaither Vocal Band Sings This Hymn

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=8F1FaREThYw

"Shall I fear to own his cause, or blush to speak his name?"

"Shall I fear to own his cause, or blush to speak his name?"

Hymn: “Am I a Soldier of the Cross?” – Isaac Watts (1674-1748)

Typical Tune: ARLINGTON

Long before Baynard Fox wrote the hymnline “I’m not ashamed his name to bear” [from “I’ll Tell the World that I’m a Christian”], Isaac Watts was posing the same question. It is a haunting question for all of us who claim the cross… and a query we need not take too lightly.

Patriotic songs like “I’m Proud to Be an American” seem to be easy for some of us to sing… perhaps because being proud of one’s country is an acceptable behavior and a tolerated attitude. I am however concerned that displaying the red-white-and-blue star-spangled banner by the curb is easier than planting a cross in my front yard.

I am not suggesting that we should erect crosses and other symbols around the exterior of our homes, but I am suggesting that we not be ashamed of our faith… that we not blush to speak the name of Jesus outside the walls of our sanctuaries and Bible study rooms. T-shirts, bumper stickers, highway billboards – I’m not sure those are the best way to be unashamed. But I am sure that we should not cower from opportunities to say, “Yes, I believe in Christ,” or “Yes, as a matter of fact I am a Christian.” If necessary, I may have to give definition to what I mean by that so they’ll know what I mean by those church-y phrases.

We avoid the use of soldier-ing hymns nowadays; martial hymns with battle analogies are not as politically correct – and I get that. But if I fear to take ownership of the cause of Christ, or if my face turns red when confronted with my position in the Kingdom – then I am concerned. And I must admit, this sometimes happens for me.

I – and perhaps you – need to make some adjustments in our own sense of pride… the good kind of pride… and say that we are PROUD to be children of the King, followers of the Lamb, people of the cross. May our fearful, blushing days be behind us. May we be confident with heads-held-high when the name of Christ is mentioned, and we have opportunity to stand up, stand up for Jesus as soldiers of the cross.

"He sees not labels but a face, a person and a name."c

Hymn: “When Christ Was Lifted from the Earth” – Brian Wren (1936-   )

Various Tunes – Most common ST. BOTOLPH

One of the most insightful hymn writers of the 20^th Century into this century is Brian Wren. As one who applies himself to the penning of an occasional hymn or anthem text, I marvel at Wren’s ability to word his faith so bluntly and creatively.

In this hymnline, Wren speaks a loud and clear word of acceptance, saying that Christ overlooks the human-attached labels and sees instead the individual – the face, the person, the name. I believe that is exactly how Christ observes all people… and I am convinced that his example of acceptance should be imitated by those of us who say that we are followers of the King. [By the way, he concludes the hymn with an admonition to accept as Christ has accepted us.]

Probably no group on earth is more involved in the needless act of labeling than the Christian community… especially the more fundamental, narrow fringes. Why do we do that? What gives us the right to overlook the “judge not” passages? (Matthew 7:1, Luke 6:37, etc.) Even those of us who would never voice our label-attachments may mentally do so. Shame on us!

It’s something we need to stop doing… and we need to speak out against those who do. Tagging is not Christlike behavior – accepting by grace is. If the perfect One can look beyond our faults, shouldn’t we do that to our fellow strugglers?

I also like the way Wren says that Christ sees a face, a person, and a name. That tells me that if I get to know some of the people whom I might be inclined to brand – if I got to know their name, their circumstance, their plight – I might be less inclined.

This is a powerful, needed message for those of us who are serious about acting out our faith. Even though it is tucked away in the middle of a hymn you may not know, it should leap off the page and into our hearts to change us if need be.

I’ve heard that we should always err on the side of grace. This hymnline echoes that adage.

ST. BOTOLPH Tune with Lyrics

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=W_atN2OvjBU

(I couldn’t find a recording online with voices!)

"I sing because I'm happy! I sing because I'm free!

“I sing because I’m happy! I sing because I’m free!”

Hymn: “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” – Civilla D. Martin (1860-1948)

Tune: SPARROW

Most of us think this is an African American spiritual because it has been so often sung by some of our favorite black singers and was made popular by Ethel Waters’ singing of it at the Billy Graham crusades in the 1950’s and 60’s. But the text writer was a Canadian white lady, and the man who wrote the music provided us with many other familiar hymns and gospel songs like “Since Jesus Came into My Heart,” “Just When I Need Him Most,” and “I Stand Amazed in the Presence.” That’s enough hymnology for today, class.

Ever wonder WHY you sing hymns, gospel songs, anthems, choruses? Why you spend several minutes in a service of worship placing great words on top of musical pitches? If it’s just for the musical experience, you are missing the point.

According to this song, after a week of discouragement, life in the shadows, loneliness, homesickness, temptation and care-filled existence, we stand together and ask ourselves the question that opens this hymn: “Why should I be discouraged” when Jesus is my constant friend?

Sing because you are happy, you are free… redeemed, included, loved, graced, privileged – and the list goes on.

No other religion relies as heavily on singing their beliefs as Christians do. No other group gives voice to their tenets and testimonies in song like we do. It is a privilege and an honor to sing together. So do! And do it with all joy and enthusiasm – whether the song is loud or quiet, exuberant or meditative.

In worship this week, fold not thine arms and listen; open up thy mouth and sing. Thou hast good reason.

Whitney Houston Sings This Hymn

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=eRdYSDSYTVY

Ethel Waters at Hawaii Billy Graham Crusade

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=C0Jmu0zG9rE