Are You Weary, Heavy Laden
Background: Written by Stephen the Sabaite, a nephew to John of
Damascus. John had been tutored by a slave who had later been
freed, and both retired to a monastery in the wilderness of Judea.
Stephen was taken with them to the monastery, and after the death
of his uncle and the slave, Stephen wrote this hymn. It was later
recreated by Dr. Neale in 1862 combining the experience of Stephen
and himself in the sons.
Doctrines portrayed:
* Eternal rest given by Christ
* Sufferings of Christ portrayed
* Kingship of Christ
* Acceptance of Christ
* Blessings of Christ
Applications: Comfort and fellowship because of the undeserved
suffering of Christ. It is a hymn of praise.
Scriptural Basis: Matt. 11:28; John 6:39; Mark 13:31.
Beneath the Cross of Jesus
Background: Written by Elizabeth Clephane near the end of her
life in 1869. She had a glimpse of her eternal future in a better
land and could imagine her footprints leading to that better goal
(Dying Grace concept).
Doctrine:
* Christ, the Rock of salvation in a weary land of sin
* The sufferings of Christ for sins
* Unworthiness of man (Grace)
* Blessings received from the death of Christ
* Eternal love of God
Scripture basis: Matt. 27:36
Blest Be The Tie That Binds
Background: This hymn was written by John Fawcett who was a pastor
in a small Yorkshire village. He was planning to leave his small
church and take a larger and wealthier church in London. But he
and his wife could not bear to leave the people who were so close
to them. So they stayed, and Fawcett wrote this hymn as an expression
of the love of the brethren.
Doctrine:
* Christian Love, verse 1
* Prayer, verse 2
* Responsibilities within the Body, verse 3
* Doctrine of Goodbyes and Hellos, verse 4
Scripture: 1 John 1:7; John 13:34,35
Breathe On Me, Breath of God
Background: Written by Edwin Hatch in 1886. He wrote from his
soul what he imagined that the disciples in the Upper Room had
felt when Jesus was speaking to them; he thought that Christ at
that time breathed the Holy Spirit on them.
Doctrine: The following doctrinal errors are apparent in this
song.
* We do not have to ask for the Holy Spirit. The Spirit indwells
us permanently from the moment of salvation. The Spirit fills
us upon condition of our confession of sin.
* The song refers to the filling of the Spirit, but the principle
of confession is not mentioned.
* The concept of the cleansing of the Holy Spirit at confession
is confused with the process of edification (Verse 2)
* The issue of outward production in Christianity is confused
in verse 3 with the concept of fiery manifestations which showed
up only on the Day of Pentecost.
* The song puts the sealing ministry of the Holy Spirit as something
in the future (verse 4), so it lacks emphasis on the assurance
of the believer as having possession of eternal life (see Ephesians
1:13,14)
Christ the Lord is Risen Today
Background: Written by Charles Wesley out of a desire to elevate
man's thinking by the inspiration of poetry. The message is doctrinal
application and reveals a sense of victory and assurance which
we do not always see in Wesley's somewhat somber background.
Doctrines:
* Christ's resurrection calls for men and angels to rejoice
* Death of Christ on the Cross is evidence of His love and that
He has won the battle. His resurrection overcame death and provides
a release for Old Testament saints. This is correct if it is understood
that this release occurs just preceding the Millennial reign of
Christ.
* Christ as the King, alive, died once for salvation.
* Salvation is for all who believer (Although Wesley apparently
did not believer in universal salvation.)
Scripture: 1 Cor. 15:55-57
Come, Thou Almighty King
Background: Authorship attributed to Charles Wesley, but real
author is unknown. During Revolutionary War days, it was introduced
in a Long Island, NY, church by a group of American patriots when
a band of British soldiers demanded that the congregation sing
"God Save the King." Instead, the church sang "Come,
Thou Almighty King."
Doctrines:
* Sovereignty of God the Father and the Kingship of Christ, verse
1
* Incarnation of Christ, verse 2
* Holy Spirit, verse 3
* Doctrine of the Trinity, verse 4
Application: This is a true devotional hymn, well balanced to
render worship, praise, and self exhortation. It is a prayer of
the heart that the three persons of the Godhead may exercise control
on the one who is singing, that he may be able to praise God in
fullness.
Scripture: Psalm 51:15
Crown Him With Many Crowns
Background: Written by Matthew Bridges when he and a group of
others left the Church of England and joined Roman Catholicism.
The original title was The Song of the Seraphs, one of the poems
found in a volume called The Passions of Jesus.
Doctrines:
* Verse 1: kingship of Jesus Christ in eternity; the crowning
of Christ, victorious and ruling; Jesus Christ as the Lamb of
God
* Verse 2: Christ, the son of God in eternity past; Christ, the
son of man in time; Christ the faithful high priest
* Verse 3: Christ, the resurrected one; Christ, the one who conquered
death of us
* Verse 4: Christ, in a human body, yet glorified; Christ the
eternal one worthy of praise for all eternity
Scripture: Rev. 19:12
Dear Lord and Father of Mankind
Background: Written by John Greanleaf Whittier in 1872, the setting
of this song is actually another poem, The Brewing of Soma, referring
to the brewing of a terrible storm. Whittier wrote this hymn in
contrast to the great tumult and destruction of such a storm.
It reveals the deep calm and peace which stills the souls of those
who hear the message of the Gospel and respond to it in faith.
Doctrine: Bible doctrines are not clearly portrayed in this song...
* The doctrine of the Fatherhood of God is not clear in verse
1.
* The doctrine of forgiveness is not correctly described. It is
portrayed as being asked for rather than as a result of confession
of sin.
* Doctrines of Faith and Obedience are weakly alluded to in verse
2.
* Doctrines of Peace, Stability, Depression are expressed in a
general way in verse 3.
* Misuse of the concept of prayer in verse 4 asking God to manifest
some overt expression to teach spiritual lessons through natural
phenomena.
Scripture: Ostensibly 1 Kings 19:11,12; Isa. 30:15; Mark 1:17,18;
Phil. 4:7
Fairest Lord Jesus
Background: This is a German hymn written in the 17th Century.
Also called the Crusaders Hymn, but there's no proof crusaders
ever sang it. Published in America by Richard Willis in 1850.
The "fairness" is associated with Jesus as a boy of
age 12 and with His growth in wisdom and stature.
Doctrine:
* Jesus as Ruler of universe and nature
* Jesus, the perfect Son of God and Perfect Son of Man
* Jesus, greater than the angels
* Doctrine of Salvation which brings joy and gladness to the sinner.
Scripture: Song 5:16; Isa. 60:2,3
Faith of Our Fathers
Background: Written by Frederick Faber in 1849, probably as a
result of being acquainted with many who had died for their faith
in Christ. This song has long been a hymn of Christian loyalty
and was closely connected with the early faith of the Fathers
who found America.
Doctrine:
* Faith as a quality that never dies; faith lives on in the hearts
of men regardless of the circumstances
* Undeserved Suffering
* Dying Grace
* Evangelization, "winning the nations"
* Liberty, only through the Word
Scripture: Heb. 11:1,13,16; 1 Tim. 6:12
Glory Be to the Father
Background: Part of this hymn dates back to the time of the apostles
and post-apostolic fathers. It is called the Lesser Doxology.
The second part was written in 529 AD and is called the Greater
Doxology. Sung in many churches after sermons and prayers and
at the dedication of churches.
Doctrine:
* Trinity: Father, Son, Holy Spirit
* Praise
* Immutability
* Eternity
Scripture: Jude 25
Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken
Background: Written by John Newton when he was a slave ship captain.
He had been taught the Word of God as a child but he forsook those
teachings and became a rough sailor. After a vicious storm at
sea, he turned to study the Word again and eventually entered
the ministry. This hymn was written in 1779 from this background.
Doctrine:
* Verse 1: the Church pictured as a prepared city; the Word of
God; the Rock; Salvation and Victory
* Verse 2: Family relationship; Grace
* Verse 3: Leadership; Eternal purpose of God
Scripture: Psalm 87:3; 46:4; Rev. 21:2
God of Our Fathers
Background: Written by Rev. Daniel Roberts as a U. S. Centennial
hymn to be sung on the 4th of July in 1876. This was an expression
of praise to God for victory received for our nation and as a
memorial to it.
Doctrine:
* God the omnipotent Creator
* Divine Institutions; God related to our forefathers
* Verse 2: God related to the leadership of the nation; the basis
for law in a nation
* Verse 3: God as national preserver; God's grace and provision
* Verse 4: The Christian Way of Life in trouble, labor, toil
Scripture: Psalm 44:1-3,8
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Background: Written by Charles Wesley in 1739. The hymn was revised,
and some obsolete words were put into better style, by a Mr. Kelly,
Wesley's book steward.
Doctrine:
* Verse 1: Christ as King; Peace; Mercy; Reconciliation
* Verse 2: Christ in eternity past; Fullness of time; virgin birth
of Christ, Incarnation; Hypostatic Union
* Verse 3: Christ as Prince of Peace; Christ our Righteousness;
resurrection; the New Birth
Scripture: Isa. 9:6; Luke 2:13,14
He Leadeth Me
Background: Written by Joseph Gilmore during the darkest hours
of the Civil War (1862). He was attending Brown University and
Newton Theological Institution and was asked to occupy the pulpit
for a couple of weeks at the First Baptist Church in Philadelphia.
He wrote this hymn from Psalm 23, which he had given as an exposition
at a mid-week service.
Doctrine:
* Verse 1: Divine guidance, from the standpoint of comfort
* Verse 2: doctrine of National Disaster and pressure with divine
guidance
* Verse 3: One Day at a Time; Status Quo
* Verse 4: Dying Grace; Eternity
Scripture: Psalm 23:1-3; Rev. 7:17
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty
Background: Written by Reginald Heber in 1827. He attended Oxford
University and received honors for his Latin verse. He was the
vicar at Hadnet for 16 years and wrote many hymns for special
Sundays of the church year.
Doctrine:
* Verse 1: Holiness of the Godhead; Worship; Mercy of God; Trinity
* Verse 2: Worship in Eternity; Angelic Worship of Christ; Immutability
of God
* Verse 3: Sin and Darkness; sinfulness of Man; attributes of
God
* Verse 4: Sovereignty of God; Omnipotence; Creation
How Firm a Foundation
Background: Not much known about the origins of this song. Possibly
written by Robert Keene in 1787
Doctrine:
* Verse 1: Completed Canon; Christ as Refuge of the soul
* Verse 2: Fear and its remedy; provision for the believer in
time; Omnipotence of God
* Verse 3: Undeserved Suffering and Sorrow; Testing
* Verse 4: Testing; sufficiency of Grace; refinement of faith
through testing
* Verse 5: Eternal Security
Scripture: Isa. 43:1,2; Heb. 13:5