I grew up with hymns. My dad was the song leader (that’s what they were called in those days) at some of the churches we went to, so not only did we have hymns at church but I heard them at home as well. I remember the fun of Sunday night hymn sings (boy do I sound old☺!). We had our favorite hymns and all of the young people would shoot up our hands as soon as one was finished so that we could suggest the next one. For all of the hymn singing we did however, I can honestly say that I never thought much about the words. My favorites had more to do with the tune than the content. It wasn’t until I got older that I began to appreciate hymns for the truths that they proclaimed. Not all hymns are equal however. Some are shallow just like some of today’s modern worship music. Just because it is in a hymnal doesn’t make it sacred. I appreciate both modern and older worship music if it proclaims truth and glorifies God.
When I was in Bible school we memorized certain hymns. Jesus I am Resting Resting was one of them. I never appreciated that hymn at all. The tune was a distraction to me for some reason. Several years ago I heard a remake of this hymn with a fresh tune and all of the sudden it’s amazing truth stood out to me. It was like a whole new song for me. Some people have a hard time with changing a hymn in any way but I appreciate it if it makes the content clearer. How many hymns in a hymnal have revisions listed anyway – almost none of them are in the original form or language.
All of that opinion just to introduce a song today. Bob Kauflin has done a wonderful job tweaking some really great hymns. I appreciate the effort he puts into this because it means that songs sung by those saints before us could be enjoyed and appreciated by today’s generation. He has a great album called Upward: The Bob Kauflin Hymns Project that is filled with these gems, but there are some on other albums produced by Sovereign Grace Ministries as well. It’s hard to highlight just one but since I want to proclaim the cross here I will use an old familiar hymn. It’s worth a download in my opinion. What a great way to fill our minds with the gospel!
Rock of Ages
Music and additional lyrics by Bob Kauflin
Lyrics by Augustus Toplady
As recorded on Upward
Lyrics
Rock of Ages, cleft for me
Let me hide myself in Thee
Let the water and the blood
From Thy wounded side which flowed
Be of sin the double cure
Save from wrath and make me pure
All the labors of my hands
Could not meet Thy law’s demands
Could my zeal no respite know
Could my tears forever flow?
All for sin could not atone
Thou must save, and Thou alone
Nothing in my hands I bring
Simply to Thy cross I cling
Naked come to Thee for dress
Helpless, look to Thee for grace
To Thy fountain, Lord, I fly
Wash me Savior or I die
While I draw this fleeting breath
When my eyes shall close in death
When I soar to worlds unknown
See Thee on Thy judgment throne
Rock of Ages, cleft for me
Let me hide myself in Thee
© 1998 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI).
Comments
Apr. 26, 2008 - I Bow Down...
Posted by baronsgirl
So far I think that's my favourite SG song, although I haven't taken a lot of time to listen to a lot of them. It's from the Everlasting cd, back in 1999, I think. My youngest brother introduced me to it when he was in college and I visited him and his then new fiancee. :-) It's always been a very powerful song for me...breaking me and bringing me to my knees.
Thanks for all of your great posts lately - I appreciate them so very much! Love you lots, J
May. 1, 2008 - I Bow Down
Posted by Joyous
J,
Funny you should mention I Bow Down. I heard that song for the first time last April. We were at a leadership conference and RC Sproul had just spoken on God's holiness. There was a hush over the auditorium and we sang that song in response. Tears were streaming down my face. It felt like a holy moment. We just sang that song last Sunday - I was struggling with worship - just feeling a bit out of sorts in my heart- when we sang that song the tears flowed again. You're right God uses that song to break us. It's not so much the emotion of it but the words have a way of ushering you into God's presence. I was thinking about a new post on that song last Sunday after I was reminded of it but my in-laws are here for a couple of weeks so I will probably not post much for awhile.
Love you,
Joy
May. 1, 2008 - Whenever...
Posted by baronsgirl
...you can post that, I'll be excited to read it. And anything else you share. Neat how the Lord has used that song in your life, as well. What a great God He is!!!
Have a good time w/ you family, and we'll be in touch. I'll e-mail you privately with some prayer needs, if you have the time.
Much love and hugs ~ J