For the Living of These Days, 2

We are reading seasonal (Lenten) hymns to guide our hearts' preparation for Easter. The hymns each reference or allude to the biblical span of 40 days, as examples of such preparation. Forty days Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness, before his public ministry began. We cannot miss the connection to the 40 days Moses spent on Mount Sinai ("the covenant so long revealed to those of faith in former time"). And we will later see the beautiful symmetry of the 40 days Jesus spent with his disciples after the resurrection. But today...

Now let us all with one accord,
in company with ages past,
keep vigil with our heavenly Lord
in his temptation and his fast.
   The covenant, so long revealed
   to those of faith in former time,
   Christ by his own example sealed,
   the Lord of love, in love sublime.
Your love, O Lord, our sinful race
has not returned, but falsified;
Author of mercy, turn your face
and grant repentance for our pride.
   Remember, Lord, though frail we be,
   in your own image were we made;
   help us, lest in anxiety,
   we cause your name to be betrayed.
Therefore we pray you, Lord, forgive;
so when our wanderings here shall cease,
we may with you forever live,
in love and unity and peace.

Latin hymn (6th century); trans. James Quinn, 1972 (alt.)

LM tune

The sentiment of this Lenten hymn is not the sackcloth and ashes of self-denial. Rather, it is the Chrisitan practice of humility, repentance, and longing to be made complete in Christ.

On your walk to Easter,

Sing on!

For the Living of These Days

The season lasts 40 days - not counting Sundays - and is set apart by many in the church, for reflection, prayer, and even fasting. The design is that our Easter worship might be informed by a richer understanding of what it took for Jesus to do this mighty work for us.

There is nothing explicitly "biblical" about observing Lent. That is to say, we are never instructed to set aside these days. Of course, there is ample biblical example that has prompted Christians in many times and places to observe "40 days." (And not only "those liturgical types," either! Some of you will recall Chapel of the Air's call to 40 days; Campus Crusade's Bill Bright and his 40 day fasts; and Rick Warren's purpose driven 40 days.) Whether your spiritual disciplines change at all during these weeks leading up to Easter is, ultimately, immaterial. What is of importance for us all is that we never enter the Easter season assuming life and worship "as usual."

So beginning today, Ash Wednesday for some, Knowing the Score will highlight hymns that highlight the 40 days. May these biblical reflections in poetry (and melody) prepare our hearts for the grand celebration we will enjoy together on April 4.

The glory of these forty days
we celebrate with songs of praise;
for Christ, through whom all things were made,
himself has fasted and has prayed.
   Alone and fasting Moses saw
   the loving God who gave the law;
   and to Elijah, fasting, came
   the steeds and chariots of flame.
So Daniel trained his mystic sight,
delivered from the lions' might;
and John, the Bridegroom's friend,
became the herald of Messiah's name.
   Then grant us, Lord, like them to be
   full oft in fast and prayer with thee;
   our spirits strengthen with thy grace,
   and give us joy to see thy face.
O Father, Son, and Spirit blest,
to thee be every prayer addressed,
who art in three-fold name adored,
from age to age, the only Lord.

Latin hymn "clarum decus jejunii (10th century)

translated Maurice F. Bell, 1906; alt.

Long Meter text; set to the tune ERHALT UNS, HERR

Historically, we fail to see that Lent, and its culmination on Good Friday, is in Jesus' view "glory." I appreciate how this text takes us into the season not as mourners, but as those perceiving glory, and giving praise.

Sing on!

For Your Gift of God the Spirit

We've been considering the spiritual gifts and their role, their necessity, in music ministry. A church music program that runs on musical talent alone will not fully - I would say, cannot adequately - be a ministry of the Word. Even if its materials are completely solid biblically and theologically, there will be that certain something missing. It is hard to define, but I think we know the difference. "Deep calls to deep," and worshipers will know in their hearts when the "spirit" is missing.

So, today, a prayer for church musicians. The author, Margaret Clarkson (1915-2008) was one of North America's finest and most prolific hymn writers. Here is today's hymn - a prayer of praise, thanksgiving, and commitment - a rather rich theology of the Holy Spirit. The hymn serves at so many levels: it is prayer; it is instruction; it is devotion. The hymn is affirmation (this we believe), affection (this changes our hearts, mind, will), and it is action (therefore we live).

For your gift of God the Spirit,
power to make our lives anew,
pledge of life and hope of glory,
Savior, we would worship you.
Crowning gift of resurrection
sent from your ascended throne;
fullness of the very Godhead
come to make your life our own.
    He, who in creation's dawning
    brooded on the lifeless deep,
    still across our nature's darkness
    moves to wake our souls from sleep;
    moves to stir, to draw, to quicken,
    thrusts us through with sense of sin;
    brings to birth and seals and fills us -
    saving Advocate within.
He, himself the living Author,
wakes to life the sacred Word;
reads with us its holy pages
and reveals our risen Lord.
he it is who works within us
teaching rebel hearts to pray,
he whose holy intercessions
rise for us both night and day.
    He, the mighty God, indwells us;
    his to strengthen, help, empower;
    his to overcome the tempter -
    ours to call in danger's hour.
    In his strength we dare to battle
    all the raging hosts of sin,
    and by him alone we conquer
    foes without and foes within.
Father, grant your Holy Spirit
in our hearts may rule today,
grieved not, quenched not, but unhindered,
work in us his sovereign way.
Fill us with your holy fullness,
God the Father, Spirit, Son;
in us, through us, then, forever
shall your perfect will be done.

Margaret Clarkson 1959, rev. 1984

(c) 1960, 1976 Hope Publishing Company

generally sung to the hym tune BLAENWERN, William Rowlands, 1905

We are not alone in this work, as we

Sing on!