Robert J. Morgan - Near to the Heart of God: Meditations on 366 Best-Loved Hymns

To
Audrey Claire Fill Thou my life, O Lord my God,
In every part with praise.
Horatius Bonar Call it therapeutic theology. Hymns are distillations of the richest truths of God, versified, emotionalized, set to music, and released in the mind and from the mouth. Theyre miniature Bible studies that lead us effortlessly to worship, testimony, exhortation, prayer, and praise. Theyre bursts of devotional richness with rhyme and rhythm. They clear our minds, soothe our nerves, verbalize our worship, summarize our faith, and sing our great Redeemers praise. From our first recorded hymnthe song of Moses in Exodus 15to todays more recent choruses, we join the choir of the ages when, filled with the Spirit, we sing to ourselves in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in our hearts to the Lord.

We tune our hearts to the frequency of heaven and join in a song of sweet accord and thus surround the throne. When the Bible tells us to sing a new song to the Lord, its telling us that every generation needs to write its own music. If a time ever comes when the younger generation isnt writing praises to the Lord, Christianity is dead. Jesus said wise people bring out of their storehouses treasures both old and new. My church, the Donelson Fellowship in Nashville, sings songs both ancient and modern every Sunday. I love the newer music.

But pray dont lose the old hymns. The rediscovery of the hymnal can be soul-bolstering. Its a spiritual journey into biblical truth, Christian history, and timeless worship. In olden times, many of the hymns were written by pastors and theologians, often to summarize and conclude their sermons. Im alarmed at the rapidity with which many of our great old hymns are losing their voice in todays churches. But they dont have to be lost to you or me.

Every morning when I walk out the front door on my way to work, I quietly sing a hymn aloud, whichever one happens to be on my mind. I have a short commute (around the side of the house and in my office door), but that hymn sets the tone for my day. Preparing this devotional book of daily hymns has likewise set the tone for my year, because in addition to reviewing some of the most beloved hymns of all time, Ive excavated the vault of history and found some forgotten treasures, such as Joseph Conders great hymn Day by Day the Manna Fell, with lines of rare poignancy like these:
Day by day the promise reads,
Daily strength for daily needs....
And...
Oh, to live exempt from care,
By the energy of prayer....
Admittedly, not all hymns have retained their richness. Time and language change, and I cant imagine any church today singing the Isaac Watts hymn Blest Is the Man Whose Bowels Move. Yes, that really is the name and first line of the hymn (Blest is the man whose bowels move and melt with pity to the poor), but the meaning of the word bowels was much different in 1719. Some hymns, however, will never be truly out-of-date.

Here are 366 examples that have stood the test of time. Some are well-known, and the rest should be. If youd like to hear the music to any or all of these, there are several hymn-centered websites that provide the opportunity of listening to the tunes. If youd like to find my other books, including several on the history of our hymns, or if youd like to contact me, please visit www.robertjmorgan.com. In addition to thanking Isaac Watts, Charles Wesley, Fanny Crosby, and the rest of our hymn-writing friends, I want to express special thanks to three ministry partners and fellow hymn lovers who have made this book possible: My editor, Andrea Doering, who helped conceive this project and who has been an uplifting voice, enthusiastic supporter, and skillful guide. My agent, Chris Ferebee, whose wise counsel and calming effect are always much appreciated.

And my dear wife, Katrina, who is my partner in writing and ministry, as well as in life and marriage.
So shall each fear, each fret, each care Be turned into a song, And every winding of the way The echo shall prolong; So shall no part of day or night From sacredness be free; But all my life, in every step Be fellowship with Thee.

Amazing Grace Perhaps youll be surprised to learn that Amazing Grace is a New Years hymn. On Friday morning, January 1, 1773, John Newton, former slave trader and infidel, preached a New Years message from 1 Chronicles 17:1617 in his church at Olney, England. Newton opened his sermon, saying, The Lord bestows many blessings upon His people, but unless He likewise gives them a thankful heart, they lose much of the comfort they might have. He told his church to look back at Gods goodness, look around at Gods promises, and look forward to future usefulness. JANUARY
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound That savd a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found, Was blind, but now I see.
Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relievd; How precious did that grace appear, The hour I first believd!
Thro many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; Tis grace has brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow, The sun forbear to shine; But God, who calld me here below, Will be forever mine. Who am I, OLORD... that You have brought me this far? 1 Chronicles 17:16 Praise Ye the Triune God Elizabeth Rundle Charles was born January 2, 1828, into a prominent family in the Devon area of England. that You have brought me this far? 1 Chronicles 17:16 Praise Ye the Triune God Elizabeth Rundle Charles was born January 2, 1828, into a prominent family in the Devon area of England.

She began writing poetry in childhood, and her early works were commended by Alfred Lord Tennyson. Elizabeth was a bundle of talenta linguist, painter, musician, poet, church historian, and author who wrote over fifty books. In her trinitarian hymn Praise Ye the Triune God, she used unrhymed but splendid verse to praise our God, Three in One. Last year when I preached a series of sermons on the subject of the Trinity, we taught this old hymn to our young congregation who thought it quaint, especially the part about young men and maidens. JANUARY Praise ye the Father for His lovingkindness; Tenderly cares He for His erring children; Praise Him, ye angels, praise Him in the heavens, Praise ye Jehovah!
Praise ye the Saviorgreat is His compassion; Graciously cares He for His chosen people; Young men and maidens, older folks and children, Praise ye the Savior!
Praise ye the Spirit, Comforter of Israel, Sent of the Father and the Son to bless us; Praise ye the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Praise ye the Triune God! The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, andthe communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13:14

We Rest on Thee On Tuesday, January 3, 1956, a handful of missionaries gathered at their base in the Ecuadorian jungle and sang We Rest on Thee, one of their favorite hymns.