As a veritable non-conformist, although we are in Lent, I have not chosen a mournful lament. Instead, as my parents were married on March 9th, I looked for a contemporary wedding hymn. I found this one by Timothy Dudley-Smith:
Fill your hearts with joy and gladness,
sing and praise your God and mine!
Great the Lord in love and wisdom,
might and majesty divine!
He who framed the starry heavens
knows and names them as they shine!
Praise the Lord, his people, praise him!
Wounded souls his comfort know;
those who fear him find his mercies,
peace for pain and joy for woe;
humble hearts are high exalted,
human pride and power laid low.
Praise the Lord for times and seasons,
cloud and sunshine, wind and rain;
spring to melt the snows of winter
till the waters flow again;
grass upon the mountain pastures,
golden valleys thick with grain.
Fill your hearts with joy and gladness,
peace and plenty crown your days;
love his laws, declare his judgments,
walk in all his words and ways;
he the Lord and we his children:
praise the Lord, all people, praise!
Words © 1984 Hope Publishing Company
Hymnary.org suggests these tunes for this 878787-metre hymn: Rhuddlan, Hymn to Joy or Regent Square. If sung to Hymn to Joy (Ode to Joy) the first two lines need to be repeated at the end of each verse. All are available online to listen to, as each adds a different dimension to the words.
Interestingly, the hymn uses the word love only twice; first to say that God is great in love (among other qualities) and secondly to tell the singers to love God’s laws.
The line which begins both the first and last verses encourages the congregation to Fill your hearts with joy and gladness but not just because they are gathered to celebrate a couple being united in marriage. God’s good qualities are recited, giving them many reasons to praise the Lord. With insight, we can understand that the words apply to the forthcoming life together of the couple declaring their vows: there will be hurt, pain and struggles but God has balm for them all. Humility is encouraged – having been married for 46.5 years, I can attest that swallowing pride is essential for marital harmony, as is praying together.
The third verse seems to be about the weather; however, we can again see the imagery that God will be with the newly-wed couple whatever situations they find themselves in and will lead them to safety.
The last verse reminds the couple and congregation to place God first, above even the close ties of a marriage.
Elaine Kinchin
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