Hymns and Songs

When I See the Blood – A hymn by John G. Foote

“When I See the Blood” is a hymn about the Lord Jesus Christ and Passover we sang last week. This is a good hymn for the Easter season.

When I See the Blood
Words & Music by John G. Foote

1. Christ our Redeemer died on the cross,
Died for the sinner, paid all his due;
Sprinkle your soul with the blood of the Lamb,
And He will pass, will pass over you.

Refrain:
When I see the blood,
When I see the blood,
When I see the blood,
I will pass, I will pass over you.

2. Chiefest of sinners, Jesus will save;
As He has promised, that He will do;
Wash in the fountain opened for sin,
And He will pass, will pass over you.

Refrain

3. Judgment is coming, all will be there,
Each one receiving justly his due;
Hide in the saving sin-cleasing blood,
And He will pass, will pass over you.

Refrain

4. Oh, great compassion! Oh, boundless love!
Oh, loving kindness, faithful and true!
Find peace and shelter under the blood,
And He will pass, will pass over you.

Refrain

Analysis

This hymn was written by the evangelist John G. Foote. It gives a strong evangelistic message about the work of Christ’s death using biblical imagery. I will touch on a key image from each verse. See if you can find other imagery.

Verse one uses the language of sprinkling of blood on the heart. This brings to mind the language of the pass over where the blood was sprinkled on the door so that the angel of death would passover. “Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.” (Hebrews 12:28)

Verse two says, “Wash in the fountain open for sin” seems to be referring to Zechariah 13:1, “In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.”

Verse three “Hide it in the savings sin-cleansing blood” seems to be referring to “For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:3)  Of course, all these biblical references are often referring to other previous passages in the Bible.

Verse four speaks of “loving kindness” and “faithful and true.” This seems to refer to the Hebrew phrase “Hesed and Emet” (חסד ואמת).  “Hesed” can mean loving kindness, and “Emet” can meaneither faithful or true. Here the author uses both meanings.

The repeated chorus is a quote from Exodus 12:13, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you.” This passage is a reference to the Passover, and Christ is our Passover (I Corinthians 5:7).

 

Hymns and Songs

Passover Lamb by The Liberated Wailing Wall

Passover Lamb by The Liberated Wailing Wall is a great song from their second album is a great song about Passover and the Messiah.

You can listen to it on YouTube. You can buy this song or the whole album “I am Not Ashamed” at Jews for Jesus.

Lyrics

Passover Lamb
Words by Sam Nadler & Stuart Dauermann, music by Stuart Dauermann

Pharaoh had us all enslaved, lab’ring in his land.
The Lord God heard our cry and freed us by His hand.
And by the blood of the pure and spotless Lamb
We’re free; we are all set free.
Passover’s Lamb’s blood upon the door,
Forming a cross to seal us from death’s jaw.
And by the blood of the pure and spotless Lamb,
We’re free; we are all set free.

Alleluia! Alleluia!
God of Abram,
Thank you for the Lamb.

God gave us Israel, but we turned away.
God gave the Law to us, but we disobeyed.
God gave His only Son to come and set us free.
We’re free, we are all set free.
Yes, we all did turn away and we all were lost.
So we took a perfect Lamb and nailed Him to a cross.
And by the blood of the pure and spotless Lamb
We’re free, we are all set free.

Alleluia! Alleluia!
God of Isaac,
Thank you for the Lamb.

Three days He lay; then Jesus did rise.
So all who will believe never have to die.
And by the blood of the pure and spotless Lamb
We’re free, we are all set free.
Passover Lamb’s blood upon the door,
Forming a cross to seal us from death’s jaw.
And by the blood, of the pure and spotless Lamb,
We’re free; we are all set free.

Alleluia! Alleluia!
God of Jacob,
Thank you for the Lamb.

Alleluia! Alleluia!
God of Israel,
Thank you for the Lamb.

Analysis

This is a great song from Jews for Jesus from the early 70s. It is off their second album, “I am Not Ashamed.” We do not have this one in our Friendship With God Hymnal. Next, some analysis.

This song has three verses and one course that is repeated in varying ways. The first verse is about the Exodus and the Passover lamb. The second verse is about Christ our Passover lamb dying for us. The last verse is about his resurrection (First Fruits/Easter). These verses have a pattern of seven, six, six, four, seven, six, six, four feet to them. This complexity reminds me of Joni Mitchell’s early folk music. The course is repeated once after each of the first two verses and twice after the last. The God of Abram, Isaac, Jacob, and Israel is praise. Note how alleluia is used instead of hallelujah. This is because the open vowels in alleluia work better here.

This is another great song by Stuart Dauermann co-authored with Sam Nadler.

Hymns and Songs

Jewish Evangelism

I Bind Unto Myself Today (Saint Patrick’s Breastplate)

For the St. Patrick’s Day, “I Bind Unto Myself Today  (Saint Patrick’s Breastplate)”. This hymn or poem is adapted from a work attributed to Saint Patrick.

Saint Patrick was a missionary to Ireland in the fifth century. He is known as the Apostle of Ireland. You can listen to a free recording of the “Confession of Saint Patrick” On LibriVox. In it he tells of being captured by pirates, being a slave in Ireland, becoming a Christian, and becoming a missionary to Ireland.

The lyrics below were adapted by Cecil Francis Alexander (1818-1895). She was born in Ireland. Not only was she a poet and hymnwriter, she also cared for the poor and opened a school for the deaf.

You can find lyrics along with sheet music Online Here.

As with many hymns, there are different versions with different verses. Below is one. You can listen to a slightly different one than the one below here on YouTube.

I Bind Unto Myself Today  (Saint Patrick’s Breastplate)

Words St. Patrick adapted by Cecil Frances Alexander & music by Charles V. Stanford

I bind unto myself today
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same
The Three in One and One in Three.

I bind this day to me forever
By power of faith, Christ’s incarnation;
His baptism in the Jordan river,
His death on Cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spicèd tomb,
His riding up the heav’nly way,
His coming at the day of doom
I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself today
The virtues of the star lit heaven,
The glorious sun’s life giving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind’s tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea
Around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need.
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, His shield to ward;
The word of God to give me speech,
His heav’nly host to be my guard.

Against the demon snares of sin,
The vice that gives temptation force,
The natural lusts that war within,
The hostile men that mar my course;
Or few or many, far or nigh,
In every place and in all hours,
Against their fierce hostility
I bind to me these holy powers.

Against all Satan’s spells and wiles,
Against false words of heresy,
Against the knowledge that defiles,
Against the heart’s idolatry,
Against the wizard’s evil craft,
Against the death wound and the burning,
The choking wave, the poisoned shaft,
Protect me, Christ, till Thy returning.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.
By Whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord

This poem or lyric is in iambic pentameter with four feet per line (de-um, de-um, de-um, de-dum). Often at the end of the last line there is an extra unstressed beat (de-dum-de).

Stanza one about the trinity has four lines and a rhyme scheme of second and fourth line rhyming.  

Stanza two through six are eight lines each with an aba’b’cdc’d’ rhyme scheme. That is, the first and third line rhyme, the second and fourth line rhyme, the fifth and seventh line rhyme, and the sixth and eighth line rhyme.

Stanza seven is different from the other stanzas with its poetic power from the repeated words “Christ” and “me”.

Stanza seven concludes with a repetition of stanza one with four more aba’b’ rhyming  lines added.

I do not think a summary of I Bind Unto Myself Today  (Saint Patrick’s Breastplate) would do it justice. But note the scope of subjects brought up and how they all fit together with each other, Christ’s work, and the Trinity in our Christian life. It can also be helpful to see what the focus of the poem is about and what each stanza is about. The focus of the poem is taking on God and his good for Christian life and work, even battle. There are eight stanzas. The first and the last focus on the Trinity. In between these bookends, the stanzas cover the work of Christ, God’s creation, the power of God, two stanzas increasing an emphasis as to the threats to be resisted, and an interlude of sorts about Christ. Again, it concludes with the Trinity; this time in more detail. The best way to understand a poem is to read it and reread it with enjoyment.

Christian Poetry
Hymns and Songs

Acapeldridge – one man, four part harmony of hymns

Family and I found this YouTube channel Acapeldridge. This is one Christian man, Michael Eldridge, who sings hymns doing all four parts of the harmony.

Many of the videos show him and have the lyrics at the bottom. Some of the hymns are ones I had heard before like “Send the Light”

and “Sound the Battle-Cry!

Others I had not heard before, but we’re just as good like “Sing to Me of Heaven”

and one of my new favorites “On Zion’s Glorious Summit”

Also, Acapeldridge has a number of albums without video of him singing HERE on YouTube

HYMNS

Christmas Carols – “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”

“Hark The Herald Angels Sing” is a great Christmas hymn that we sang last Sunday, with some notes about it following it.

“Hark the Herald Angels sing”
Words by Charles Wesley & music by Felix Mendelssohn

Hark the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King:
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With the angelic host proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Christ, by highest Heav’n adored;
Christ, the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come,
Offspring of a virgin’s womb:
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail th’incarnate Deity,
Pleased as man with man to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris’n with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

First, “hark” is an old word meaning “hear”.

Authors

Charles Wesley, who lived in the 1700s, wrote the lyrics was brother to John Wesley. They were founders of the Methodists which had a big influence in spreading Christianity including in the United Kingdom and the United States. They were a big part in spreading a revival in England during their lives.

Felix Mendelssohn, who lived in the early 1800s, wrote the music that was used for this piece. He was a classical composer and a Jewish believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is best known for the song that is commonly called “The Wedding March;” this was music he wrote to go to Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

I like the picture here that we see two believers, Jew and Gentile, whose works are used to praise the birth of the Messiah. This fits with the biblical accounts in the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Luke in which Jews and Gentiles did this originally.

Analysis

“Hark The Herald Angels Sing”  in the hymnal has a pattern of 77. 77. 77. 77. w/refrain. This means that it has four verses with two couplets of seven syllables each and a refrain. It is useful in seeing what other music might be used with it. This is why hymns can be song to different tunes. Of course, I can’t imagine singing this song to any other tune!

We can analyze the structure further by saying there are three verses; each verse is made up of four rhyming trochaic tetrameter couplets that end on a male stress. This is just a poetic way of saying that there are eight lines that are rhymed in groups of two. These lines each have four stressed-unstressed feet (dum-de) with the last one ending on a stress.

Something neat about the course or refrain is note all the long vowels in it. For example, see how long you can say “Hark” versus “Christ“ (first word of verse two). These allow for the words to be sustained which has a strong effect for the course. Of course, they’re not as long as the ones in the course of another Christmas song we sang last Sunday “Angels We Have Heard on High” – “Gloria In Excelsis Deo,Gloria In Excelsis Deo.” But it’s hard to beat Latin for long vowels!

The content of this song is really good, too, and that’s a key that makes it a good song. The first verse calls all to proclaim the birth of Christ; the second tells of his incarnation and birth; and the third of his glorious work. There is significant biblical language and theology in this. For example, note verse three-

“Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace!”

Prince of Peace is one of the titles of Messiah given in Isaiah 9:6

“Hail the Sun of Righteousness!”

Sun of Righteousness is another title for the Messiah at his glorious second coming giving in Malachi 4:2

“Light and life to all He brings,”

This is a reference to the Gospel of John (1:4, 9) where the Lord Jesus is said to be the light gives life to all.

“Ris’n with healing in His wings.”
This is another reference to the Prophet Malachi 4:2 speaking of the work of Messiah at his return.

“Mild He lays His glory by,”

This seems to be a reference to the Apostle Paul‘s Epistle to the Philippians (2:6-8). This passage (2:6-11) may actually be an early hymn of the church.

“Born that man no more may die,”

This seems to be another reference to the Gospel of John, the account of the raising of Lazarus (John 11:26).

“Born to raise the sons of earth,”

This looks like a reference to a dialogue of the Lord Jesus Christ recorded in the Gospel of John (6:40).

“Born to give them second birth.”

This refers to the Lord Jesus’ dialogue with Nicodemus in the Gospel of John chapter 3.

There are a number of ways to sing and enjoy songs like this. One way is to sing it as if you’re singing it for the first time and you’ve never heard of any of it before. Another way is to sing it with the knowledge of all the references and all that is stated and implied in each reference forming a sort of spiritual counterpoint to the experience.

Hymns and Songs

Christmas carols – “ O Come, O Come Emmanuel” and Ceil Rosen

“Oh, Come, Oh, Come, Emmanuel” (or “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”) is the first Christmas song we sang at the Chapel this Christmas season.

“Oh, Come, Oh, Come, Emmanuel”
Text: Latin him from the 1300s; tr. John Mason Neale

1. Oh, come, Oh, come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.

Refrain: Rejoice! rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!

2. Oh, come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them vict’ry o’er the grave.

Refrain: Rejoice! rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!

3. Oh, come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
And drive away the shades of night,
And pierce the clouds and bring us light!

Refrain: Rejoice! rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!

4. Oh, come, Thou Key of David, come
And open wide our heav’nly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high
And close the path to misery

Refrain: Rejoice! rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!

This version has four stanzas each followed by a refrain. There are 4 feet per line and feet are iambic (de-dum, de-dum). The first two lines of each stanza rhyme with each other, and the last two lines of each stanza rhyme with each other, too. Also, the two line of the refrain rhyme with each other.

There is so much biblical imagery in this poem. For example, Emmanuel is from the prophet Isaiah and the Gospel of Matthew meaning “God with us.” “Rod of Jesse” is another messianic title (Isaiah 11:1-2). “Key of David“ is also from the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 22:22).

Ceil Rosen, the wife of Moshe Rosen (The founder of Jews for Jesus) has a connection with this song, too – “The winter I was sixteen, my high school chorus had a major role in our school’s Christmas program…Dressed in long skirts and head scarves to approximate biblical garb, we moved across the stage in a kind of slow dance, singing, ‘O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel.’ Though we had rehearsed those words many times, I suddenly found myself pondering their meaning. Was there something true about Jesus being for us Jews?”

You can read the rest of her testimony and how she helped lead her husband to Jesus the Messiah at Jews For Jesus

Music and singing is not only very enjoyable but a powerful influence, too.

Free “Friendship with God Hymnal” at the Chapel

Get a free “Friendship with God Hymnal” at Mission Valley Community Chapel.

There are many good hymnals out there, but this one has some strengths, too. First, this hymnal by Tom Cantor has numerous old hymns. Second, it has new hymns like “In Christ Alone” by Keith Getty and Stuart Townsend. Third, it has choruses, too. Fourth, it has some Jewish songs praising God. Finally, it has the lyrics (Bible passages) used for Handel’s “Messiah” at the end!

Something I like is it has several of Stuart Dauermann’s early Jews for Jesus songs like “For God So Loved the World.”

Another nice thing about this hymnal is it has a large print; this makes it accessible to more people and easier to use.

So come visit the Chapel and pick one up while supplies last!

Christmas Special Music – “Carol of the Bells (Pentatonix Version)” by the de la Motte Springs

More Christmas music! Listen to another special music by the de la Motte Strings “Carol of the Bells (Pentatonix Version).” The number of musicians they have playing varies; this time they are a string quartet!

The de la Motte’s have moved to further their musical education. We miss them and their music. You can find more of their music on YouTube at de la Motte Strings. And occasionally on Saturdays when they’re visiting you can catch them playing in Balboa Park.

Sunday Hymns – “Everlasting Glory unto Jesus Be”

Last Sunday, we sang, “Everlasting Glory unto Jesus Be” as the closing hymn of our worship service and before our communion service. This song about Christ’s incarnation, death, resurrection, our salvation and proclamation of the gospel, I felt, was a good transition between worship and communion.

Also, the music used is commonly used for “Onward Christian Soldiers,” too. This, to me, was a reminder that Our strength comes from the Lord; we are soldiers for the Lord by his power and the work he has done and does.

Everlasting Glory unto Jesus Be
Words by Hannah K. Burlingham & music by Arthur S. Sullivan

1. Everlasting glory Unto Jesus be! Sing aloud the story Of His victory!
How He left the splendor Of His home on high,
Came, in love so tender, On the cross to die.

Chorus:
Everlasting glory Unto Jesus be!
Sing aloud the story Of His victory.

2. Yes! He came from heaven, Suffered in our stead;
Praise to Him be given, “Firstborn from the dead!”
Jesus, meek and lowly, Came the lost to save;
He the victim holy, Triumphed o’er the grave.

Chorus

3. We in death were lying, Lost in hopeless gloom;
Jesus by His dying Vanquished e’en the tomb!
Burst its iron portal, Rolled away the stone,
Rose in life immortal To the Father’s throne.

Chorus

4. Christ is Lord of Glory, Sing we now today;
Tell abroad the story, Own His rightful sway!
Sing aloud; and never Cease to spread His fame,
Triumph, now and ever, In the Savior’s name.

Chorus

 

Sunday Hymns – Sunlight, Sunlight

Here is an upbeat song we sang last Sunday. It tells the story of someone being saved, living through the hard times with the Lord, the good times with God, journeying in this life, and looking forward to being with the Lord.

“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of the darkness, hath shined in our hearts.” II Corinthians 4:6

Sunlight, Sunlight
Words by Judson W. Van DeVenter & music by Winfred S. Weeden

1. I wandered in the shades of night,
Till Jesus came to me,
And with the sunlight of His love
Bid all my darkness flee.

Chorus:
Sunlight, sunlight in my soul today,
Sunlight, sunlight all along the way;
Since the Savior found me
Took away my sin,
I have had the sunlight of his love within.

2. Though clouds may gather in the sky,
And billows round me roll,
However dark the world may be,
I’ve sunlight in my soul.

Chorus

3. While walking in the light of God,
I sweet communion find;
O press with holy vigor on,
And leave the world behind.

Chorus

4. I cross the wide-extended fields,
I journey o’er the plain,
And in the sunlight of His love
I reap the golden grain.

Chorus

5. Soon I shall see Him as He is,
The light that came to me,
Behold the brightness of his face,
Throughout eternity.

Chorus