Day 25 - Above the voices of the world around me

Ancient and Modern - Hymns and Songs for Refreshing worship (2013) is the ninth edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern first published in 1861. Its current editors write:

“We offer this new edition of Ancient and Modern to the worshipping community, in the belief and hope that it will enable congregations to sing their praises and prayers to the Lord.”

I like reading hymnbooks and the authors of the first ten hymns display the breadth of the anthology: Thomas Ken, Charles Wesley, Percy Dearmer, John Keble, Brian Foley, Timothy Dudley Smith, Isaac Watts, Bell & Maule, Edward Caswall, H F Lyte. Any hymnbook featuring hymns by Watts and Wesley can call itself Ancient; one of the more modern author’s hymn is based on a psalm written over 25 centuries ago; two were definitely written in the 20th century. However, I acknowledge that a “modern” hymn may well be found on the Internet and not yet in any anthology.

Today we are looking at hymn 114, in the Lent section. It is written by Timothy Dudley Smith and is set to the tune Aston Rowant - although Witney Congregational Church will be singing it, as a hymn of confession, to the tune Londonderry Air just like this online version.

The first verse deals with us being called to take up our crosses and follow Jesus, having turned “from our sins and put the past behind” us.

The second verse is where the examination of self really digs deep. All we can offer are “the wastes of sin and self and shame; a mind confused…a tongue unskilled at naming Jesus’ name”. We then confess to having hearts “of stone” and realise that only coming to our Lord in repentance gives us peace.

The third verse echoes Mark 9:22-24, where Jesus is about to heal a boy, whose Father says, “Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.”

“What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”

Immediately the father of the child cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (NRSV)

The Message offers this for v24: “...the father cried, “Then I believe. Help me with my doubts!”

Once we are certain we have received pardon and peace, we ask: “Let me become what you shall choose to make me” and because we are able to sing “Jesus is mine…and in his love my new-born life begins”.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for hymnwriters and publishers who take risks in printing hymnbooks in our digital age.

Jesus, our Redeemer, we thank you for your sacrifice that enables us to have a relationship with you and we thank you for the Bible which teaches us so much, but mostly that, through you, our sins can be forgiven and we can experience peace.

Holy Spirit, we thank you for the inspiration you give to all who write Christian hymns and worship songs. Amen

Elaine Kinchin