May our hearts and voices be filled with song as we celebrate the Lord's presence in our lives. During this time today when we read Scripture and worship in our homes through song, may we turn our eyes and souls completely toward our Savior, the source of comfort, hope and joy for the coming week and for all eternity.
If you would like to hear any of your favorite hymns from past "Notes of Glory" posts again, here is an alphabetical list, with each hymn linked to the post where it first appeared (dating back to the very first post on March 22, 2020).
Complete "Notes of Glory" Song List
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PRELUDE
(to help you prepare to worship)
O Thou, In Whose Presence
Words by Joseph Swain. "Meditation" hymn tune attributed to Freeman Lewis. Arranged for solo piano by Franklin Ritter
The text for the uplifting hymn "O Thou, in Whose Presence" was penned by British Baptist pastor and hymn writer Joseph Swain (1761-1796). Orphaned at a young age, Swain had a conversion experience at age 21 and was baptized the following year. He began writing and publishing spiritual poems and hymns and ministered for four years at the East Street Baptist Chapel in Walworth, South London, which grew greatly under his leadership. Swain died at the age of 35, and a final collection of his poetic works, Walworth Hymns, was published posthumously.
The tune most frequently matched with this very British text is an American creation, "Meditation," attributed to Freeman Lewis (1780-1859) who was a surveyor and school teacher as well as composer and hymn compiler. However, the hymn tune may have originally been a folk song. It first appeared in John Wyeth's Repository of Sacred Music, Part Second in 1813.
This solo piano arrangement by Franklin Ritter has an folk/Appalachian feel with its simple, open voicing, the perfect fifths which begin the piece in the treble, and the way that the melody is later presented in parallel fourths.
Exodus 33:14
And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
1 Chronicles 16:33-35
Let the trees of the forest sing,
let them sing for joy before the Lord,
for he comes to judge the earth.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
Cry out, “Save us, God our Savior;
gather us and deliver us from the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name,
and glory in your praise.”
Psalm 23:1-4
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
O Thou in whose presence my soul takes delight,
On whom in affliction I call,
My comfort by day and my song in the night,
My hope, my salvation, my all!
Where dost Thou, dear Shepherd, resort with Thy sheep,
To feed them in pastures of love?
Say, why in the valley of death should I weep,
Or alone in this wilderness rove?
Oh, why should I wander, an alien from Thee,
Or cry in the desert for bread?
Thy foes will rejoice when my sorrows they see,
And smile at the tears I have shed.
He looks! and ten thousands of angels rejoice,
And myriads wait for His word.
He speaks! and eternity, filled with His voice,
Re-echoes the praise of the Lord.
Dear Shepherd! I hear and will follow Thy call;
I know the sweet sound of Thy voice.
Restore and defend me, for Thou art my all,
And in Thee I will ever rejoice.
HYMNS TO SING AT HOME
Come Thou, Almighty King
Words: author unknown. Music by Felice de Giardini
and the Ancient of Days took his seat;
his clothing was white as snow,
and the hair of his head like pure wool;
his throne was fiery flames;
its wheels were burning fire.
At one time the authorship of this hymn was attributed to Charles Wesley, because it was paired with another Wesley hymn, "Jesus, Let Thy Pitying Eye" in a 1757 published collection edited by evangelist George Whitefield. But "Come, Thou Almighty King" is not in a poetic meter that Wesley ever used, and it is now considered to have been composed by an anonymous author. The original title of this poem was "A Hymn to the Trinity," which appropriately reflects the Trinitarian emphasis of the text. In 1769, the English text was matched with a tune by Italian composer and violinist Felice de Giardini (1716-1796) in A Collection of Psalms and Hymn Tunes by Martin Madan.
You can read more about the history of this hymn here, and can hear a contemporary recording of this hymn by singer and guitarist Mark Miller here.
Let the trees of the forest sing,
let them sing for joy before the Lord,
for he comes to judge the earth.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
Cry out, “Save us, God our Savior;
gather us and deliver us from the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name,
and glory in your praise.”
Psalm 23:1-4
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
John 10:14-15
I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.O Thou in whose presence my soul takes delight,
On whom in affliction I call,
My comfort by day and my song in the night,
My hope, my salvation, my all!
Where dost Thou, dear Shepherd, resort with Thy sheep,
To feed them in pastures of love?
Say, why in the valley of death should I weep,
Or alone in this wilderness rove?
Oh, why should I wander, an alien from Thee,
Or cry in the desert for bread?
Thy foes will rejoice when my sorrows they see,
And smile at the tears I have shed.
He looks! and ten thousands of angels rejoice,
And myriads wait for His word.
He speaks! and eternity, filled with His voice,
Re-echoes the praise of the Lord.
Dear Shepherd! I hear and will follow Thy call;
I know the sweet sound of Thy voice.
Restore and defend me, for Thou art my all,
And in Thee I will ever rejoice.
HYMNS TO SING AT HOME
Come Thou, Almighty King
Words: author unknown. Music by Felice de Giardini
Daniel 7:9
As I looked, thrones were placed,and the Ancient of Days took his seat;
his clothing was white as snow,
and the hair of his head like pure wool;
his throne was fiery flames;
its wheels were burning fire.
Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Ephesians 6:16-18
In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.
John 14:25-26
These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
Revelations 19:6
Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.At one time the authorship of this hymn was attributed to Charles Wesley, because it was paired with another Wesley hymn, "Jesus, Let Thy Pitying Eye" in a 1757 published collection edited by evangelist George Whitefield. But "Come, Thou Almighty King" is not in a poetic meter that Wesley ever used, and it is now considered to have been composed by an anonymous author. The original title of this poem was "A Hymn to the Trinity," which appropriately reflects the Trinitarian emphasis of the text. In 1769, the English text was matched with a tune by Italian composer and violinist Felice de Giardini (1716-1796) in A Collection of Psalms and Hymn Tunes by Martin Madan.
You can read more about the history of this hymn here, and can hear a contemporary recording of this hymn by singer and guitarist Mark Miller here.
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| Public domain. Courtesy Hymnary.org |
Come, thou Almighty King,
help us thy name to sing,
help us to praise.
Father, all glorious,
o'er all victorious,
come and reign over us,
Ancient of Days.
Come, thou Incarnate Word,
gird on thy mighty sword,
scatter thy foes.
Let thine almighty aid
our sure defense be made,
our souls on thee be stayed;
thy wonders show.
Come, Holy Comforter,
thy sacred witness bear
in this glad hour.
Thou who almighty art,
now rule in ev'ry heart,
and ne'er from us depart,
Spirit of power.
To the great One in Three
eternal praises be,
hence evermore.
His sov'reign majesty
may we in glory see,
and to eternity
love and adore.
May the Mind of Christ My Savior
Words by Kate Barclay Wilkinson. "St. Leonards" hymn tune by Arthur Cyril Barham-Gould
Philippians 2:5-7
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
Colossians 3:1-2
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
Words by Kate Barclay Wilkinson. "St. Leonards" hymn tune by Arthur Cyril Barham-Gould
Philippians 2:5-7
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
Colossians 3:1-2
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
Colossians 3:15-16
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
Very little is known about Kate Barclay Wilkinson (1859-1928), the author of "May the Mind of Christ My Savior." She was born in Cheshire, England (her father was a mechanical engineer) and married Frederick Wilkinson, a cashier/clerk in London in 1891. Sources describe her as having some kind of notable ministry among women/girls in London. Wilkinson's poem "May the Mind of Christ My Savior" inspired composer Arthur Cyril Barham-Gould (1891-1953) to write a tune specifically for it (titled "St. Leonards, as Barham-Gould was living at St. Leonards-by-the-Sea in England at the time), and the two were published together in the London children's hymn book Golden Bells in 1925. If this hymn is new to you and you'd like to hear a recording of it with congregational singing, click here.
Very little is known about Kate Barclay Wilkinson (1859-1928), the author of "May the Mind of Christ My Savior." She was born in Cheshire, England (her father was a mechanical engineer) and married Frederick Wilkinson, a cashier/clerk in London in 1891. Sources describe her as having some kind of notable ministry among women/girls in London. Wilkinson's poem "May the Mind of Christ My Savior" inspired composer Arthur Cyril Barham-Gould (1891-1953) to write a tune specifically for it (titled "St. Leonards, as Barham-Gould was living at St. Leonards-by-the-Sea in England at the time), and the two were published together in the London children's hymn book Golden Bells in 1925. If this hymn is new to you and you'd like to hear a recording of it with congregational singing, click here.
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| Public domain. Courtesy of Hymnary.org |
*I will first play the entire hymn through once on the recording to give you a feel for the melody before starting with the verses.
May the mind of Christ, my Savior,
live in me from day to day,
by his love and pow'r controlling
all I do and say.
May the Word of God dwell richly
in my heart from hour to hour,
so that all may see I triumph
only through his pow'r.
May the peace of God my Father
rule my life in ev'rything,
that I may be calm to comfort
sick and sorrowing.
May the love of Jesus fill me
as the waters fill the sea;
him exalting, self abasing:
this is victory.
May I run the race before me,
strong and brave to face the foe,
looking only unto Jesus
as I onward go.
(Some hymnals include this lovely additional verse: I've included it in the recording)
May His beauty rest upon me
as I seek the lost to win,
and may they forget the channel,
seeing only Him.
Higher Ground
Words by Johnson Oatman, Jr. Music by Charles H. Gabriel
Psalm 61:1-2
Hear my cry, O God,
listen to my prayer;
from the end of the earth I call to you
when my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock
that is higher than I,
for you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the enemy.
Micah 4:1-2
It shall come to pass in the latter days
that the mountain of the house of the Lord
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and it shall be lifted up above the hills;
and peoples shall flow to it,
and many nations shall come, and say:
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.”
that the mountain of the house of the Lord
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and it shall be lifted up above the hills;
and peoples shall flow to it,
and many nations shall come, and say:
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.”
Philippians 3:12-14
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Johnson Oatman Jr. (1856-1922) of New Jersey was ordained as a Methodist minister at age 19 but also worked full time in the retail and insurance industries. During his free time, he wrote hymn texts...lots of them (over 5,000, many of which are listed here)! Some of his best known hymns include "Higher Ground," "Count Your Blessings" and "No, Not One." The melody for "Higher Ground" was composed by Charles H. Gabriel, a well-known gospel song writer who was featured in our May 24 post as the music composer for both "His Eye is On the Sparrow" and "My Savior's Love."
You can learn more about this uplifting hymn and its history here. If "Higher Ground" is new to you, you can hear a powerful solo recording of this by Ghanian singer Loretta Adjetey (aka "Lor") here.
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| Public domain. Courtesy of Hymnary.org |
I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining every day;
Still praying as I’m onward bound,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”
Refrain:
Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
By faith, on Heaven’s tableland,
A higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Though some may dwell where those abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.
I want to live above the world,
Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled;
For faith has caught the joyful sound,
The song of saints on higher ground.
I want to scale the utmost height
And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I’ll pray till heav’n I’ve found,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”
POSTLUDE
(to send you forth with joy!)
Just a Closer Walk with Thee
Traditional African-American spiritual, arranged by Craig Curry
Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
Isaiah 41:10
Fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Philippians 4:11-13
Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Philippians 4:11-13
James 4:8
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.
2 Corinthians 5:6-7
So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.
This beautiful spiritual was most likely composed by African-American slaves during the 19th century. It was first recorded in 1941 by the Selah Jubilee Singers, who were the first gospel group to perform in New York City's renowned Apollo Theater.
"Just a Closer Walk with Thee" has since been recorded by scores of musical artists representing multiple musical styles and has become a fixture at New Orleans jazz funerals.
The idea of walking with God and walking in His way (as opposed to walking in darkness, as in 1 John 1:6) permeates Scripture, dating to Enoch in Genesis 5:22-24 and Abraham in Genesis 24:40 (also see instances listed above). Many hymn writers also focused on the idea of walking with God as a metaphor for the Christian life.
British poet and hymn writer William Cowper wrote "O! For a Closer Walk with God" in 1772 which begins this way:
O for a closer walk with God,
a calm and heav'nly frame,
a light to shine upon the road
that leads me to the Lamb!
Other hymns based on the idea of walking with God include "Trust and Obey" ("When we walk with the Lord in the light of His way") by John Sammis, "O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee" by Washington Gladden, "Closer Walk with Thee" by Fanny Crosby and "We Walk by Faith and Not By Sight" by Henry Alford.
To learn more about the history of "Just a Closer Walk with Thee," click here.
I am weak but Thou art strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I'll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.
Refrain:
Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
Thro' this world of toil and snares,
If I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee. [Refrain]
When my feeble life is o'er,
Time for me will be no more;
Guide me gently, safely o'er
To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore. [Refrain]
Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
Thro' this world of toil and snares,
If I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee. [Refrain]
When my feeble life is o'er,
Time for me will be no more;
Guide me gently, safely o'er
To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore. [Refrain]
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