God's Growing Garden: Old Fashioned Sunday Hymn #45

Sunday, September 4, 2016

Old Fashioned Sunday Hymn #45

Welcome to the 45th Old Fashioned Sunday Hymn Sing!

I miss the old hymns that I remember from my childhood - there were no drums, no electric guitar and no mind numbing beat. It was just voices and maybe a piano or an organ. The choir led the congregation in singing - and the words of these hymns are poetic. I realize that there is a need for the modern "seeker oriented" worship music - but it is also necessary to have deeper songs (no offense intended to anyone who prefers the newer church songs).

I decided to have an "Old Fashion Sunday Hymn Sing" once a month on this blog.

I personally do NOT have a great singing voice - I used to play the guitar & piano but my voice is NOT an instrument. That's the great thing about this digital hymn sing, you can warble along without being embarrassed or without offending anyone else.

The hymns that we will be studying are taken from an old hymnal from a Baptist church that is no longer in existence - "The North American Hymnal" published in 1956 by "THE ROGER WILLIAMS PRESS"

I will also try to find a version of the featured hymn on "YouTube" to share with you each month.

Today's featured hymn is "I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say" written by Horatius Bonar, (1808-1889).
This composer was born in Edinburgh and followed in his father's footsteps by becoming a pastor (his father was actually a church ruler). Horatius began by writing verse for the youth because at the time, during Sunday school the youth only sang metrical Psalms. Pastor Bonar found that they youth were not interested and could not relate. Once Horatius began writing verse he discovered how much he enjoyed it and then began writing adult hymns.

I had actually never heard this song before writing this post. It is very "Celtic" sounding and I absolutely love that style of music so this hymn almost seemed modern to me. I have included 2 YouTube videos of this lovely hymn! The first one is very Scottish sounding and the second one sounds more traditional - ENJOY!

Turn with me to number 231 in your hymnals and let's sing:

I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say

written by Horatius Bonar, (1808-1889)

1. I heard the voice of Jesus say, "Come unto Me and rest; Lay down, thou weary one, lay down Thy head upon My breast." I came to Jesus as I was, Weary, and worn, and sad; I found in Him a resting place, And He has made me glad.

2. I heard the voice of Jesus say, "Behold, I freely give The living water thirsty one, Stoop down, and drink, and live." I came to Jesus and I drank Of that life giving stream: My thirst was quenched, my soul revived, And now I live in Him.

3. I heard the voice of Jesus say, "I am this dark world's light; Look unto Me; thy morn shall rise, And all thy day be bright." I looked to Jesus and I found in Him my Star, my Sun, And in that light of life I'll walk Till all my journey's done.

A special thanks to "AdventNatt" for sharing this with us!

A special thanks to "nimportequoi" for posting this on YouTube

Other Hymns on this blog:

Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling
Beneath the Cross of Jesus
He Hideth My Soul
Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart
Praise Him, Praise Him!
My Jesus, I love Thee, I Know Thou Art Mine
My Savior's Love
Jesus, Thy Boundless Love To Me
Jesus, I Come
Hallelujah What a Savior!
Safe in the Arms of Jesus
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