Saturday 27 April 2019

Aspiration

I wonder what your attitude is to hymns and songs is these days.  Many lament the loss of old hymns that are rich in scripture and doctrine.  Some grumble that there is too much emphasis on subjective personal experience rather than being about God. Some delight in the newer songs and in setting old words to new snappy tunes,  We will certainly not all agree.  As I have written on other occasions I find delight in some newer hymns and songs as well as in some older 'traditional' hymns.  What does annoy me is the slavish sticking with old English when some sensible modest adjustment to the language would make older hymns more accessible for those who have not grown up with that language.

Over the years I have used various hymn books, but count myself extremely fortunate to have been introduced to the 1955 revised edition of Redemption Hymnal.  This collection was originally published in 1951 to serve the growing number of Pentecostal churches at that time.  However, you should not run away with the idea that it would therefore be full of 'happy clappy' hymns.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  There are a reasonable number of joyful songs including Philip Doddridge's "O happy day".  Doddridge was a Congregational contemporary of Charles Wesley and continued the hymn revolution begun by the earlier Congregationalist, Isaac Watts, whose hymns have found their way as favourites across the denominations.

But alongside joyful celebrations of faith in the Redemption Hymnal there are to be found many profound hymns that reflect the deep faith and biblical knowledge of the Pentecostals that preceded the later charismatic movement.  It is extraordinary that it was their very longing for more of God that brought an experience of the baptism of the Holy Spirit that led to many being expelled from historic denominations in the first half of the 20th century.

In the 800 hymns that make up the Redemption Hymnal there are some 18 hymns within a section entitled "Aspiration" which is followed by a similar number under the title of "Communion" (not specifically about breaking of bread or Eucharist for which there is another excellent selection elsewhere in the book),  I deeply lament the gathering of hymns in alphabetical sections in newer books.  When planning a service the thematic collection of hymns made intelligent selection easier for both ministers, and for members of the congregation where open worship was practised,

I was introduced to this hymn book around 1966 and we used it in the church where I served my first pastorate in 1968 to 1989.  For me, this treasury has proved a wonderful aid to personal devotion to Christ.  Each hymn is headed by a simple scripture quotation and reference, so that it is possible to move between Bible reading and hymns in a way that causes my heart to overflow in its extravagance.

On a few previous occasions, I have used Praise and Prayer News to share favourite hymns (old and new) that have special meaning to me.  Today, during some moments of prayerfulness, a verse from a hymn by Ian Macpherson, one time Principal of the Welsh Apostolic College.  Immediately, various biblical concepts began flooding my mind and overflowing into my heart.  Despite its use of 'Thees and Thous' the words of this hymn are treasured by me and I recall singing them in the past during services devoted to worship.

If I but knew Thee as Thou art O loveliness unknown;
With what desire, O Lord, my heart would claim Thee for its own.

Thy glory would my shame conceal, Thy purity my dross;
I should rejoice with Thee to feel the sorrow of the cross.

But I am dull and blind, O Lord, unapt of Thee to learn;
Thee I but dimly in Thy word as in a glass discern.

With faith's warm finger through the veil I seek to touch Thy hand;
I feel the imprint of the nail, and partly understand.

But, ah, my lonely spirit tires of knowing Thee in part.
O Jesus, how my soul desires to see Thee as Thou art.


I especially love that fourth verse.  The hymn evokes reflections on Moses who longed to see the glory of God (Exod. 33:18), of the Greeks who wanted to see Jesus (John 12: 20-22), of the disciples on the mount of transfiguration (Luke 9:28 -36) , of their desire to see the Father (John 14:8), and Paul's longing to know Jesus (Philippians 3:7-11).

The hymn is set to a perfect tune attributed to Anon.  You may have your own favourite aspirational hymn.  Do let me know or, if you are reading this on the blog, add a comment.

Barry Osborne 28th April 2019