Posts from the long-running Wednesday Worship series on hymns

Flee as a Bird

Flee as a bird to your mountain,
Thou who art weary of sin;
Go to the clear-flowing fountain,
Where you may wash and be clean;
Fly, for th’avenger is near thee,
Call, and the Saviour will hear thee,
He on His bosom will bear thee;
Oh, thou who art weary of sin,
Oh, thou who art weary of sin.

He will protect thee forever,
Wipe every falling tear;
He will forsake thee oh, never,
Sheltered so tenderly there!
Haste, then, the hours are flying,
Spend not the moments in sighing,
Cease from your sorrow and crying,
The Saviour will wipe ev’ry tear,
The Saviour will wipe ev’ry tear.

Oh, ’twill be joy when I see Him!
See Him and hear Him say, come!
Oh, ’twill be joy when I hear Him,
Saying, my child, welcome home!
Now thou art free from thy sorrow,
There thou shalt ne’er trouble borrow,
Night never comes nor tomorrow,
With Jesus forever to dwell,
With Jesus forever to dwell.

Mary Dana Shindler, 1840
Read Psalm 11:1-7

It seems nothing is certain and stable anymore. “Flee as a Bird” encourages us to trust in God’s unwavering care and to turn to Jesus for comfort and guidance, especially when we feel overwhelmed. Even more importantly, it testifies that the only remedy for our weariness from our sin burden is to seek refuge in in the cleansing work of Christ. Soak in its message of comfort and hope.

Scattering Precious Seed

By Paula Wiseman

Scattering precious seed by the wayside,
Scattering precious seed by the hillside;
Scattering precious seed o’er the field, wide,
Scattering precious seed by the way.

Scattering precious seed for the growing,
Scattering precious seed, freely sowing,
Scattering precious seed, trusting, knowing,
Surely the Lord will send it the rain. [Refrain]

Scattering precious seed, doubting never,
Scattering precious seed, trusting ever;
Sowing the word with prayer and endeavor,
Trusting the Lord for growth and for yield. [Refrain]

Refrain
Sowing in the morning,
Sowing at the noontide;
Sowing in the evening,
Sowing the precious seed by the way.

William Ogden, 1892
Read Luke 8:5-15

This is a simple hymn, but it reminds us that our focus, our responsibility is the sowing. We just have to get the gospel out there. God is responsible for the results. How do we sow? Praying and trusting God. The pressure is off. Sow some good seed today!

Thy Word Have I Hid in My Heart

By Paula Wiseman

Thy Word is a lamp to my feet,
a light to my path alway,
to guide and to save me from sin,
and show me the heav’nly way.

Forever, O Lord, is thy Word
established and fixed on high;
thy faithfulness unto all men
abideth forever nigh. [Refrain]

At morning, at noon, and at night
I ever will give thee praise;
for thou art my portion, O Lord,
and shall be through all my days! [Refrain]

Through him whom thy Word hath foretold,
the Savior and Morning Star,
salvation and peace have been brought
to those who have strayed afar. [Refrain]

Refrain:
Thy Word have I hid in my heart
that I might not sin against thee;
that I might not sin, that I might not sin,
thy Word have I hid in my heart.

Ernest O. Sellers, 1908
Read Psalm 119:9-16

We cannot overestimate how important Scripture is in the life of a believer. It acts as a guiding light, providing wisdom and clarity in times of uncertainty. In its pages we find comfort, inspiration, and a moral compass to navigate the complexities of life. God reveals Himself, His character and His ways through His word. It’s available to us in multiple formats, so it’s accessible almost anywhere we go. Dig in and hide the Word in your heart. you won’t regret it.

Bringing in the Sheaves

By Paula Wiseman

Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness,
Sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve;
Waiting for the harvest, and the time of reaping,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Sowing in the sunshine, sowing in the shadows,
Fearing neither clouds nor winter’s chilling breeze;
By and by the harvest, and the labor ended,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves. [Refrain]

Going forth with weeping, sowing for the Master,
Though the loss sustained our spirit often grieves;
When our weeping’s over, He will bid us welcome,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves. [Refrain]

Refrain:
Bringing in the sheaves,
Bringing in the sheaves,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves;
Bringing in the sheaves,
Bringing in the sheaves,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Knowles Shaw, 1874
Read Galatians 6:7-10

This is an old hymn, but I’d say we don’t know it as well as we think. It’s an encouragement not to lose heart even when we feel we aren’t making any progress or having any impact. Hang in there. There will be a harvest.

Wonderful Story of Love

By Paula Wiseman

Wonderful story of love;
Tell it to me again;
Wonderful story of love;
Wake the immortal strain!
Angels with rapture announce it,
Shepherds with wonder receive it;
Sinner, O won’t you believe it?

Wonderful story of love;
Though you are far away;
Wonderful story of love;
Still He doth call today;
Calling from Calvary’s mountain,
Down from the crystal bright fountain,
E’en from the dawn of creation, [Refrain]

Wonderful story of love;
Jesus provides a rest;
Wonderful story of love;
For all the pure and blest,
Rest in those mansions above us,
With those who’ve gone on before us,
Singing the rapturous chorus, [Refrain]

Refrain
Wonderful story of love,
Wonderful! Wonderful!
Wonderful, wonderful story of love.

J. M. Driver, 1885
Read Psalm 40:1-5

Is it a wonderful story? Or are we so familiar with it that it’s become ordinary? Perhaps we need to take some time to remember where we were when Jesus found us. Consider where we’d be without Him. It’s a story worth telling.

America

By Paula Wiseman

My country, ’tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing:
Land where my fathers died,
Land of the pilgrims’ pride,
From ev’ry mountainside
Let freedom ring!

My native country, thee,
Land of the noble free,
Thy name I love:
I love thy rocks and rills,
Thy woods and templed hills;
My heart with rapture thrills
Like that above.

Let music swell the breeze,
And ring from all the trees
Sweet freedom’s song:
Let mortal tongues awake;
Let all that breathe partake;
Let rocks their silence break,
The sound prolong.

Our fathers’ God, to Thee,
Author of liberty,
To Thee we sing:
Long may our land be bright
With freedom’s holy light;
Protect us by Thy might,
Great God, our King!

Samuel Francis Smith, 1832
Read Psalm 33:12-19

“America” is also known as “My Country ‘Tis of Thee.” We could argue that it’s strange to have a patriotic song as a hymn, but the hymn’s point is that all the great things about America are there because God is the source of liberty, and God alone can preserve it. On this celebration of Independence Day, let us remember that all the blessings, including liberty, come from God.