There are many features to being ready for death, but the essential foundation is to be rightly related to the Son of God.
“I belong to Jesus, he will keep my soul
when the deathly waters dark round about me roll.
I belong to Jesus, and ere long I’ll stand
with my precious Savior there in the glory land.”
(Hymn “I Belong to Jesus,” vs. 5)
Belong to Jesus and, whatever the method or the timing, you will not be alone in the dying.
Excerpt from "Are We Christians Dying to Meet Him?"
Showing posts with label Hymns. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hymns. Show all posts
Monday, August 13, 2012
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Our God Our Help In Ages Past
Isaac Watts wrote this hymn in the early 1700’s. He had become a bit weary of strict adherence to the psalms. He wrote many hymns which are still familiar to us. He was a pastor in London, but hymn writing was his strong suit. He was much beloved of his congregation and indeed lived in the home of one of his members, Sir Thomas Abney, for 36 years! He was a short man, only about 5 feet tall.
This hymn is modeled on Psalm 90, especially the first part of the psalm. The flood of Noah is alluded to clearly. Our identification with those who drowned in the flood is indicated in Psalm 90 (verse 7 ff) in that we, too, are sinners as were they. Our security from the same fate is only by His good pleasure. Our life is short, and we should respect His anger.
Our God, our help in ages past
Note the identification of the singer with the Church through the ages.
We today are a bit too prone to think only of God’s provision for us in our own brief and narrow experience. Think of how David wrote psalms about events that were centuries old by the time he wrote them.
shadow of Thy throne, still may we dwell secure
Think of how our security comes from God. Stormy blasts, trials in this life, we can expect.
Before the hills
God’s eternity looking backward in time is extolled. Some of our hymns major in how we feel and what is on our mind, and on our response. This hymn focuses on God, returning His thoughts to Him from Psalm 90.
A thousand ages
God’s eternity looking forward in time is extolled. He stands above time.
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