The Lord Is My Light

The Lord Is My Light

Text written by James Nicholson (1828-1876)

Tune composed by Dr. J. W. Bischoff (1849-1909)

Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?

V. 1 The Lord is my light; then why should I fear?
By day and by night His presence is near;

He is my salvation from sorrow and sin;

This blessed persuasion the Spirit brings in.

Refrain: The Lord is my light, my joy, and my song;

By day and by night He leads me along;

The Lord is my light, my joy, and my song;

By day and by night He leads me along.

V. 2 The Lord is my light; though clouds may arise,

Faith, stronger than sight, looks up to the skies

Where Jesus forever in glory doth reign:

Then how can I ever in darkness remain?

Refrain

2 Corinthians 5:7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 

V. 3 The Lord is my light, the Lord is my strength;

I know in His might I'll conquer at length;

My weakness in mercy He covers with power,

And, walking by faith, He upholds me each hour.

Refrain

Isaiah 49:26 I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh; they will be drunk on their own blood, as with wine. Then all mankind will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.

Colossians 3:11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. 

V. 4 The Lord is my light, my all and in all;

There is in His sight no darkness at all;

He is my Redeemer, my Savior and King;

With saints and with angels His praises I sing.

Refrain

Nature With Open Volume Stands

Nature With Open Volume Stands

Text written by Isaac Watts (1674-1748)

Sung to ANGELUS, composed in the 17th century by Georg Joseph

Psalm 145:10 All your works praise you, Lord; your faithful people extol you.

V. 1 Nature with open volume stands,

To spread its Maker's praise abroad;

And every labor of His hands

Shows something worthy of our God.

Galatians 6:14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 

V. 2 But in the grace that rescued us

His brightest form of glory shines;

'Tis fairest drawn upon the cross

In precious blood and crimson lines.

1 Corinthians 1:24 ...but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

V. 3 Here His whole name appears complete.

Nor wit can guess, nor reason prove,

Which of the letters best is writ,

The pow'r, the wisdom, or the love.

Revelation 5:12 In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength

and honor and glory and praise!”

V. 4 We would forever speak His name

In sounds to mortal ears unknown,

With angels join to praise the Lamb,

And worship at His Father's throne.

The Spacious Firmament

The Spacious Firmament

Text written in 1712 by Joseph Addison

Sung to CREATION, arranged in 1798 from Franz Joseph Haydn

The Spacious Firmament

Psalm 19:1, 4 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands....Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.

V. 1 The spacious firmament on high,

With all the blue, ethereal sky,

And spangled heavens, a shining frame,

Their great Original proclaim.

Th' unwearied sun from day to day

Does his Creator's power display,

And publishes to every land

The work of an almighty hand.

V. 2 Soon as the evening shades prevail,

The moon takes up the wondrous tale;

And nightly to the listening earth

Repeats the story of her birth;

While all the stars that round her burn,

And all the planets in their turn,

Confirm the tidings as they roll,

And spread the truth from pole to pole.

Psalm 19:3 They have no speech, they use no words;

no sound is heard from them.

V. 3 What though in solemn silence all

Move round the dark terrestrial ball?

What though no real voice nor sound

Amid their radiant orbs be found?

In reason's ear they all rejoice 

And utter forth a glorious voice,

Forever singing as they shine,

"The hand that made us is divine."

Let Us Praise the Name of the Lord

Let Us Praise the Name of the Lord

Text written in 1949 by Ursula Schlenker (1930-?)

Sung to Canon for 4 voices, composed in 1949 by Alfred Stier (1880-1967)

Psalm 148:13 Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.

V. 1 Let us praise the name of the Lord!

Give Him glory, Amen.

Amen, amen,

Amen, amen.

Mark 16:15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation."

V. 2 Go ye into all the world,

Alleluia, Amen.

Amen, amen,

Amen, amen.

Praise the Lord, His Glories Show

Praise the Lord, His Glories Show

Text written in 1834 by Henry Francis Lyte (1793-1847)

Sung to LLANFIAR, composed in 1817 by Robert Williams (c. 1781-1821), arranged in 1837 by John Roberts (1822-1877)

Psalm 148:2 Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his heavenly hosts.

Psalm 150:1 Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary;

praise him in his mighty heavens.

V. 1 Praise the Lord, His glories show,

Alleluia!

Saints within His courts below,

Alleluia!

Angels 'round His throne above,

Alleluia!

All that see and share His love.

Alleluia!

Psalm 148:4, 7 Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies....Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths.

V. 2 Earth to heaven and heaven to earth,

Alleluia!

Tell His wonders, sing His worth,

Alleluia!

Age to age and shore to shore,

Alleluia!

Praise Him, praise Him evermore!

Alleluia! 

V. 3 Praise the Lord, His mercies trace,

Alleluia!

Praise His providence and grace,

Alleluia!

All that He for man hath done,

Alleluia!

All He sends us through His Son.

Alleluia!

Let All the World in Every Corner Sing

Let All the World in Every Corner Sing

Text written by George Herbert (1593-1632)

Sung to LUCKINGTON, composed by Basil Harwood (1859-1949)

Psalm 98:4, 6 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,burst into jubilant song with music;...with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—shout for joy before the Lord, the King.

V. 1 Let all the world in every corner sing,

My God and King!

The heavens are not too high,

His praise may thither fly;

The earth is not too low,

His praises there my grow.

Let all the world in every corner sing, 

My God and King!

V. 2 Let all the world in every corner sing,

My God and King!

The church with psalms must shout,

No door can keep them out;

But, above all, the heart 

Must bear the longest part.

Let all the world in every corner sing,

My God and King!

When Morning Gilds the Skies

When Morning Gilds the Skies

Text is a German text c. 1800, translated in 1858 by Edward Caswall (1814-1878)

Sung to LAUDES DOMINI, composed in 1868 by Joseph Barnby (1838-1896)

V. 1 When morning gilds the skies,

My heart awaking cries,

May Jesus Christ be praise!

Alike at work and prayer,

To Jesus I repair;

May Jesus Christ be praised!

V. 2 Whene'er the sweet church bell

Peals over hill and dell,

May Jesus Christ be praise!

O hark to what it sings,

As joyously it rings,

May Jesus Christ be praised!

V. 3 The night becomes as day,

When from the heart we say,

May Jesus Christ be praised!

The powers of darkness fear,

When this sweet chant they hear,

May Jesus Christ be praised!

Psalm 150:6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord.

V. 4 Ye nations of mankind, 

In this your concord find,

May Jesus Christ be praised!

Let all the earth around

Ring joyous with the sound,

May Jesus Christ be praised!

V. 5 In heaven's eternal bliss

The loveliest strain is this,

May Jesus Christ be praised!

Let earth, and sea, and sky

From depth to height reply,

May Jesus Christ be praised!

V. 6 Be this, while life is mine,

My canticle divine,

May Jesus Christ be praised!

Be this th'eternal song

Through all the ages long,

May Jesus Christ be praised!

Praise the Lord! You Heavens Adore Him

Praise the Lord! You Heavens Adore Him

Text: Stanzas 1 & 2, anonymous, ca. 1801; Stanza 3 written in 1836 by Edward Osler (1798-1863)

Sung to AN DIE FREUDE, anonymous setting of Schiller's Hymn to Joy, Berlin, 1799

Psalm 148:1-13 Praise God from heaven, praise him from the mountaintops;

Praise him, all you his angels, praise him, all you his warriors,

Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, you morning stars;

Praise him, high heaven, praise him, heavenly rain clouds;

Praise, oh let them praise the name of God—he spoke the word, and there they were!

He set them in place from all time to eternity;

He gave his orders, and that’s it!

Praise God from earth, you sea dragons, you fathomless ocean deeps;

Fire and hail, snow and ice, hurricanes obeying his orders;

Mountains and all hills, apple orchards and cedar forests;

Wild beasts and herds of cattle, snakes, and birds in flight;

Earth’s kings and all races, leaders and important people,

Robust men and women in their prime, and yes, graybeards and little children.

Let them praise the name of God—it’s the only Name worth praising.

V. 1 Praise the Lord! you heavens, adore Him;

Praise Him, angels in the height;

Sun and moon, rejoice before Him,

Praise Him, all you stars of light.

Praise the Lord, for He has spoken;

Worlds His mighty voice obeyed;

Laws which never shall be broken

For their guidance He has made.

V. 2 Praise the Lord! for He is glorious;

Never shall His promise fail.

God has made His saints victorious;

Sin and death shall not prevail.

Praise the God of our salvation!

Hosts on high, His power proclaim;

Heaven and earth and all creation,

Laud and magnify His name.

V. 3 Worship, honor, glory, blessing, 

Lord, we offer as our gift.

Young and old, Your praise expressing,

Our glad songs to You we lift.

All the saints in heaven adore You,

We would join their glad acclaim;

As Your angels serve before You,

So on earth we praise Your name.

Praise God, From Whom All Blessings

Praise God, From Whom All Blessings

Text written in 1695 by Thomas Ken (1637-1710)

Sung to OLD HUNDREDTH, composed in 1551 by Louis Bourgeois (c.1510-1561)

Toccata on "Old Hundredth"

Psalm 148:1, 2 Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights above. Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his heavenly hosts.

V. 1 Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

With Songs and Honors

With Songs and Honors

Text written in 1719 by Isaac Watts (1674-1748)

Sung to BEDFORD, composed c. 1723 by William Wheale (? -1727)

With Songs and Honors

Psalm 147:1, 8 How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!...He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills.

V. 1 With songs and honors sounding loud, 

Address the Lord on high;

Over the heavens He spreads His cloud,

And waters veil the sky.

V. 2 He sends His showers of blessing down

To cheer the plains below;

He makes the grass the mountains crown,

And corn in valleys grow.

Psalm 147:15, 16 He sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.

He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes.

V. 3 His steady counsels change the face

Of the declining year;

He bids the sun cut short his race,

And wintry days appear.

Psalm 147:18 He sends his word and melts them;

he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.

V. 4  He sends His word, and melts the snow;

The fields no longer mourn;

He calls the warmer gales to blow,

And bids the spring return.

Psalm 147:20 He has done this for no other nation; they do not know his laws. Praise the Lord.

V. 5 The changing wind, the flying cloud,

Obey His mighty word:

With songs and honors sounding loud

Praise ye the sovereign Lord!

Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

Text written in 1907 by Henry van Dyke (1852-1933)

Sung to HYMN TO JOY, melody from Ninth Symphony, composed in 1824 by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Psalm 81:1 Sing for joy to God our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob!

Isaiah 35:10 And those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

V. 1 Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,

God of glory, Lord of love;

Hearts unfold like flow'rs before Thee,

Hail Thee as the sun above.

Melt the clouds of sing and sadness,

Drive the dark of doubt away;

Giver of immortal gladness,

Fill us with the light of day!

Psalm 96:11, 12 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.

V. 2 All Thy works with joy surround Thee,

Earth and heav'n reflect Thy rays,

Stars and angels sing around Thee,

Center of unbroken praise;

Field and forest, vale and mountain,

Bloss'ming meadow, flashing sea,

Chanting bird and flowing fountain

Call us to reoice in Thee.

Hebrews 2:11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.

V. 3 Thou art giving and forgiving,

Ever blessing, ever blest,

Wellspring of the joy of living,

Ocean-depth of happy rest!

Thou the Father, Christ our Brother--

All who live in love are Thine:

Teach us how to love each other,

Lift us to the joy divine.

My Jesus, I Love Thee

My Jesus, I Love Thee

Text written by William Ralf Featherstone (1845-1873)

Sung to GORDON, composed by Adoniram J. Gordon (1836-1895)

Isaiah 43:3, 14 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead....This is what the Lord says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “For your sake I will send to Babylon and bring down as fugitives all the Babylonians, in the ships in which they took pride."

John 21:17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep."

V. 1 My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;

For Thee all the follies of sin I resign;

My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou;

If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

Mark 15:17 They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. 

1 John 4:19 We love because he first loved us.

V. 2 I love Thee because Thou hast first loved me,

And purchased my pardon on Calvary's tree;

I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow;

If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

Psalm 146:2 I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

V. 3 I'll love Thee in life, I will love Thee 'til death,

And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath;

And say when the death dew lies cold on my brow,

If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

John 14:2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?

Revelation 2:10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.

V. 4 In mansions of glory and endless delight,

I'll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright;

I'll sing with the glittering crown on my brow,

If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

Cause Me to Hear

Cause Me to Hear

Text is based on Psalm 143:8, 9

Hymn tune composed in 1984 by Melvin West (1930 - ?)

Psalm 143:8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.

V. 1 Cause me to hear Thy lovingkindness in the morning, 

for in Thee do I trust.

Cause me to know the way wherein I shall walk

for I lift up my soul to the.

Amen

Have Thine Own Way, Lord

Have Thine Own Way, Lord

Text written by Adelaide Pollard (1862-1934)

Sung to ADELAIDE, composed in 1907 by George C. Stebbins (1846-1945)

Isaiah 64:8 Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.

V. 1 Have Thine own way, Lord! 

Have Thine own way!

Thou art the Potter; 

I am the clay.

Mold me and make me

After Thy will,

While I am waiting, 

Yielded and still.

Psalm 139:23 Search me, God, and know my heart;

test me and know my anxious thoughts.

Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."

V. 2 Have Thine own way, Lord!

Have Thine own way!

Search me and try me,

Master, today!

Whiter than snow, Lord,

Wash me just now,

As in Thy presence

Humbly I bow.

Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one.

Luke 22:51 But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.

V. 3 Have Thine own way, Lord!

Have Thine own way!

Wounded and weary

Help me, I pray!

Power--all power--

Surely is Thine!

Touch me and heal me, 

Savior divine!

Ephesians 3:17 ...so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,....

V. 4 Have Thine own way, Lord!

Have Thine own way!

Hold o'er my being

Absolute sway!

Fill with Thy Spirit

Till all shall see

Christ only, always,

Living in me!

Still, Still With Thee

Still, Still With Thee

Text written in 1853 by Harriet Beecher Stowe (1812-1896)

Sung to CONSOLATION, arranged from Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)

Psalm 139:18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand, when I awake, I am still with you.

V. 1 Still, still with Thee, when purple morning breaketh,

When the bird waketh, and the shadows flee;

Fairer than morning, lovelier than daylight,

Dawns the sweet consciousness, I am with Thee.

V. 2 Alone with Thee, amid the mystic shadows,

The solemn hush of nature newly born;

Alone with Thee in breathless adoration,

In the calm dew and freshness of the morn.

V. 3 Still, still with Thee! As to each newborn morning

A fresh and solemn splendor still is given,

So does this blessed consciousness, awaking,

Breathe each day nearness unto Thee and heaven.

1 Thessalonians 4:17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

V. 4 So shall it be at last, in that bright morning,

When the soul waketh and life's shadows flee;

O in that hour, fairer than daylight dawning,

Shall rise the glorious thought, I am with Thee.

Praise Ye the Father

Praise Ye the Father

Text written in 1859 by Elizabeth Rundle Charles (1828-1896)

Sung to FLEMMING, composed in 1811 by Friedrich F. Flemming (1778-1813)

Psalm 138:2 I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your unfailing love and your faithfulness, for you have so exalted your solemn decree that it surpasses your fame.

Psalm 148:2 Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his heavenly hosts.

V. 1 Praise ye the Father for His lovingkindness,

Tenderly cares He for His erring children;

Praise Him, ye angels, praise Him in the heavens;

Praise ye Jehovah!

Psalm 148:12 Young men and women, old men and children.

Matthew 9:36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

V. 2 Praise ye the Savior, great is His compassion,

Graciously cares He for His chosen people;

Young men and maidens, ye old men and children,

Praise ye the Savior!

Luke 2:25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 

John 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever.

V. 3 Praise ye the Spirit, Comforter of Israel,

Sent of the Father and the Son to bless us;

Praise ye the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

Praise the Eternal Three!

Let Us With a Gladsome Mind

Let Us With a Gladsome Mind

Text written in 1623 by John Milton (1608-1674)

Sung to MONKLAND, composed by John Antes (1740-1811), arranged in 1861 by John B. Wilkes (1785-1869)

Psalm 136:1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. 

His love endures forever.

V. 1 Let us with a gladsome mind

Praise the Lord, for He is kind:

For His mercies shall endure,

Ever faithful, ever sure.

Psalm 136:7 ...Who made the great lights—

His love endures forever.

V. 2 He, with all-commanding might, 

Filled the new-made world with light:

For His mercies shall endure,

Ever faithful, ever sure.

Psalm 136:25 He gives food to every creature.

His love endures forever.

V. 3 All things living He does feed;

His full hand supplies their need:

For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.

Psalm 136:26 Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever.

V. 4 Let us then with gladsome mind

Praise the Lord, for He is kind:

For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.

Jesus Shall Reign

Jesus Shall Reign

Text written by Isaac Watts (1674-1748)

Sung to DUKE STREET, composed by John Hatton (? -1793)

Psalm 72:8-20

Rule from sea to sea, from the River to the Rim.

Foes will fall on their knees before God, his enemies lick the dust.

Kings remote and legendary will pay homage, kings rich and resplendent will turn over their wealth.

All kings will fall down and worship, and godless nations sign up to serve him,

Because he rescues the poor at the first sign of need, the destitute who have run out of luck.

He opens a place in his heart for the down-and-out, he restores the wretched of the earth.

He frees them from tyranny and torture—when they bleed, he bleeds; when they die, he dies.

And live! Oh, let him live! Deck him out in Sheba gold.

Offer prayers unceasing to him, bless him from morning to night.

Fields of golden grain in the land, cresting the mountains in wild exuberance,

Cornucopias of praise, praises springing from the city like grass from the earth.

May he never be forgotten, his fame shine on like sunshine.

May all godless people enter his circle of blessing and bless the One who blessed them.

Blessed God, Israel’s God, the one and only wonder-working God!

Blessed always his blazing glory!

All earth brims with his glory.

Yes and Yes and Yes.

V. 1 Jesus shall reign where'er the sun

Does its successive journeys run;

His kingdom stretch from shore to shore,

Till moons shall wax and wane no more.

V. 2 People and realms of every tongue

Dwell on His love with sweetest song;

And infant voices shall proclaim

Their earthly blessings on His name.

V. 3 Blessings abound where'er He reigns:

The pris'ners leap to lose their chains,

The weary find eternal rest,

And all who suffer want are blest.

V. 4 Let every creature rise and bring

Honors peculiar to our King;

Angels descend with songs again,

And earth repeat the loud amen.

Give to Our God Immortal Praise

Give to Our God Immortal Praise

Text written by Isaac Watts (1674-1748)

Sung to DUNEDIN, composed by Vernon Griffiths (1894-1985)

Psalm 136:1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.

V. 1 Give to our God immortal praise;

Mercy and truth are all His ways:

Wonders of grace to God belong,

Repeat His mercies in your song.

Psalm 136:3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever.

Revelation 19:6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah!

For our Lord God Almighty reigns."

V. 2 Give to the Lord of lords renown,

The King of kings with glory crown:

His mercies ever shall endure

When lords and kings are known no more.

V. 3 He sent His Son with power to save

From guilt and darkness and the grave:

Wonders of grace to God belong,

Repeat His mercies in your song.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 

V. 4 Thro' this vain world He guides our feet,

And leads us to His heav'nly seat:

His mercies ever shall endure,

When this vain world shall be no more.