"IN THY NAME, O LORD, ASSEMBLING"
"For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matt. 18:20)
INTRO.: A hymn which reminds us that where two or three are gathered in the name of Christ, He promises to be in their midst spiritually is "In Thy Name, O Lord, Assembling." The text was written by Thomas Kelly (1769-1854). It was first published in his 1815 Hymns Not Before Published. Kelly is best known as the author of such hymns as "The Head That Once Was Crowned with Thorns," "Look, Ye Saints, the Sight Is Glorious," and "Praise the Savior, Ye Who Know Him." The traditional tune for this hymn (Raphael Hopkins) was composed in 1862 by Edward John Hopkins. However, the only two of our books to include the hymn use a tune composed by Anthony Johnson Showalter (1858-1924). It was copyrighted in 1900 by the Gospel Advocate Co., but no other information about it is available. Showalter is most remembered as the composer of "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms." Among hymnbooks published by members osf the Lord's church during the twentieth century for use in churches of Christ, "In Thy Name, O Lord, Assembling" appeared in the 1927 Sweeter Than All Songs edited by C. M. Pullias; and the 1935 Christian Hymns (No. 1) edited by L. O. Sanderson.
The song mentions several results in the lives of Christians from assembling together.
I. Stanza 1 says that assembling together helps us to draw near to God
"In Thy name, O Lord, assembling, We, Thy people, now draw near;
Teach us to rejoice with trembling. Speak, and let Thy servants hear:
Hear with meekness, hear with meekness; Hear Thy word with godly fear."
A. The Lord wants us to draw near to Him: Jas. 4:8
B. However, in order to do this, we must have the attitude of Samuel, "Speak, Lord, Thy servant heareth": 1 Sam. 3:9
C. One reason we asssemble is to hear the word of the Lord with godly fear: Acts 10:33, Heb. 12:28
II. Stanza 2 says that assembling together encourages us to give our lives to God
"While our days on earth are lengthened, May we give them, Lord, to Thee;
Cheered by hope, and daily strengthened, May we run, nor weary be,
Till Thy glory, till Thy glory, Without clouds in heaven we see."
A. It is not enough just to assemble with the church; we must also take what we gain from when we are assembled and apply it to our hearts so that we give our lives to the Lord by following Him: Matt. 16:24-25
B. Therefore, in addition to our regular assembling for worship, we must look to the Lord daily that the inner man might be strengthened or renewed and we can run the race: 2 Cor. 4:16, Heb. 12:1
C. One thing that motivates us in this is being cheered by hope and looking forward to that time when we see the Lord in heaven: 1 Pet. 1:3-5
III. Stanza 3 says that assembling together focuses our minds on being in heaven with God
"There, in worship purer, sweeter, Thee Thy people shall adore,
Tasting of enjoyment greater Than we could conceive before:
Full enjoyment, full enjoyment, Full, unmixed, and evermore."
A. "There," in heaven, the saints shall be assembled together in worship that is purer and sweeter: Rev. 5:8-14
B. This worship will be an enjoyment greater than ever before because there will be no tears, death, sorrow, crying, or pain: Rev. 21:1-4
C. It will be full enjoyment and unmixed because it will consist of eternal life: 1 Jn. 2:25
CONCL.: At one time it was a common custom in the worship services of many churches to begin with a hymn which reminded those assembled of their reason for coming together. There is certainly nothing in scripture which demands this practice, but neither is there anything which forbids it. Furthermore as one purpose of singing in worship is to teach and admonish one another, it might be thought of as a possible expedient to help prepare the worshipper for the other activities of the service as we also tell the Lord in song that we are "In Thy Name, O Lord, Assembling."