Sing to the Lord an Old Song
I was over at Julana’s and she has a beautiful photo of a double rainbow. Roger took this photo two days ago when he was out with the dog.
Julana posted about her love for the old hymns and I was amazed because I have been singing this old hymn for a few days now…. It is a surprise to me how many of the old hymns are deeply embedded in my memory - and pop, unbidden into my mind (and mouth) more often than I had realised.
Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessèd, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great Name we praise.
Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might;
Thy justice, like mountains, high soaring above
Thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.
To all, life Thou givest, to both great and small;
In all life Thou livest, the true life of all;
We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
And wither and perish—but naught changeth Thee.
Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight;
But of all Thy rich graces this grace, Lord, impart
Take the veil from our faces, the vile from our heart.
All laud we would render; O help us to see
’Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee,
And so let Thy glory, almighty, impart,
Through Christ in His story, Thy Christ to the heart
If you don’t know the tune, you can hear it here.This tune is the one we always sang. The tune is called St Denio.
“St Denio (also known as Joanna) is based upon a Welsh folk-song. Volume 1 of The Journal of the Welsh Folk Song Society suggests several sources, the most likely being a ballad of about 1810, ‘Can Mlynedd i’nawr’ (’A hundred years from now’). Other sources suggest a ballad about a cuckoo. It was first printed as a hymn tune in John Robert’s Caniadau y Cyssegr (1839) where it is called Palestina. It was first introduced into mainstream hymnody by Gustav Holst in The English Hymnal (1906).”
http://www.stpetersnottingham.org/hymns/immortal.htm
© St Peter’s Church, Nottingham
There is more information about this hymn here from where I borrowed this snippet about the tune. I hope you won’t mind Reverend Day.
Don’t mind if there’s rainbows!
Comment by Nettie — Monday 7 November 2005 @ 9:21 pm
Batbara,
That is a great hymn, so rich in meaning. Layers and layers.
We have also been attending a Vineyard here in central Ohio. They sing a hymn once in awhile, which is a treat, because they sing it with feeling, when they sing one.
That is a beautiful rainbow.
Comment by Julana — Monday 7 November 2005 @ 10:10 pm
Hi Barbara! I’m always slow to confess my love of the “Old Hymns” because to do so here equates to being anti-teen and non-seeker-friendly! Oh, ridiculous! There also seems to be the mind-set that this whole thing is an “either/or” preference! “She likes the old hymns” seems, somehow, to be understood as meaning “She can’t stand the new stuff”!
It’s a good thing, really! …
I used to sing, through mindless repetition, things like, “May the mind of Christ my Saviour dwell in me from day to day — by His love and power controlling all I do and say”. Now I find myself worshipping, alone in my car, with tears running down my face, hanging onto every word and growing strong through the depth of theology expressed in those songs in quaint, reverant vocabulary!
The one you quoted here is also one of my favourites! Thanks!
Comment by Carol-Ann — Monday 7 November 2005 @ 10:53 pm
The old ‘uns are the best
I accidentally switched the telly on in the middle of ‘Songs of Praise’ last week…I had forgotten just how good it is, some of the older hymns reminded me of my school days…an age of innocence long since gone
God Bless.
Comment by ukok — Monday 7 November 2005 @ 11:15 pm
Hey, that was one of my mom’s favorites. We went to the Church of Scotland (Presbyteran) - every Sunday - she loved to sing and sang in the choir until her health prevented her from doing so any longer.
Whenever I hear the old hymns I am always reminded of going to church with my mom and the great faith she had. I know she’s singing in the choir of all choirs right now!!
Comment by Cathy — Tuesday 8 November 2005 @ 12:51 am
My friend Bevy and I enjoyed watching a couple of Songs of Praise recently, and sang along heartily with the Top 20 of the old Hymns!
Comment by Rebecca — Tuesday 8 November 2005 @ 4:18 am
Nettie,
glad you liked it
Comment by Barbara — Tuesday 8 November 2005 @ 8:43 am
Julana,
I know we have discussed this before. We will sometimes sing a hymn on a Sunday too and I really enjoy it when we do.
Glad you liked the rainbow - please know that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!!
Comment by Barbara — Tuesday 8 November 2005 @ 8:45 am
Carol-Ann,
I know exactly what you mean. I have changed my tune (pun intended) over the last few years.
WHen I was involved with the worship leading in my previous church, you should have heard me grumble when the Rector would ask us to sing a particular hymn!!!! And some, were so difficult to play in the band.
Over the last year or so, I have become to appreciate the richness and lyricism of some of the “less fashionable” stuff of my upbringing.
My feeling now is that if it brings you closed to God, then it matters little what style or format the song or hymn takes.
If you worship the Lord, “in Spirit and Truth” then you can’t go far wrong!
Comment by Barbara — Tuesday 8 November 2005 @ 8:50 am
Ukok,
I have not seen Songs of Praise for Ages - though I did watch it when I knew Matt Redman was playing…
Comment by Barbara — Tuesday 8 November 2005 @ 9:09 am
Cathy,
I think there is a lot of the nostalgia element creeping in there for me actually…….
Glad to have been able to bring back a few pleasant memories for you!
Comment by Barbara — Tuesday 8 November 2005 @ 9:12 am
Rebecca,
Would love to have been a fly on the wall in your house on Sunday……
Comment by Barbara — Tuesday 8 November 2005 @ 9:12 am