{"id":23289,"date":"2019-09-05T22:25:17","date_gmt":"2019-09-06T02:25:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=23289"},"modified":"2019-09-06T07:48:26","modified_gmt":"2019-09-06T11:48:26","slug":"worship-wednesday-singing-in-the-dark-hymns-psalms-and-worship-songs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=23289","title":{"rendered":"Worship Wednesday – Singing in the Dark – Hymns, Psalms, and Worship Songs"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Photo Credit: Heartlight<\/a><\/p>\n

Years ago, we would play outside until dark. Especially in summer. I remember those evenings fondly…until the moment we started being called inside. My house was farthest away. Walking that dark street home alone was sometimes scary for this youngster. It was then that I would quote verses of Scripture or sing some hymn chorus or two. That practice would remind me of the nearness and protection of God… even in the dark.<\/p>\n

Fast forward to today, and this came across my Twitter feed:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Photo Credit: Twitter, Matt Smethurst<\/a><\/p>\n

[When you click on the link in the photo credit, you will find numerous comments answering the question. Some humorous, some serious. So many songs listed, old and newer. Some you may not only recognize but that will gladden your own heart.]<\/p>\n

There’s probably not a person reading this who hasn’t been comforted by the singing of a hymn or worship song. Alone in the dark. At the dying of a loved one. Or during an unsettling time of another sort.<\/p>\n

When my mom was dying, a friend of ours came and sang\u00a0 Above All<\/em><\/a> just for her. She loved that song and the young man who sang it to her.<\/p>\n

So back to that tweet above…We all have cell phones now, and, if need be, can look up any song (if we can remember its title or searchable lyric)…to sing in the dark…To sing over someone we love…or to comfort our own hearts.<\/p>\n

How wonderful, though, to have songs tucked away in our hearts and minds. Songs we can recall – to remind us of truth; to recall the Lord of Light; the Lord of our salvation <\/em>(Psalm 27:1<\/a>).<\/p>\n

A church acquaintance of ours is teaching her children some of the great hymns of old. I heard them (5 y\/o and younger) sing recently. The song was My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less (Solid Rock)<\/em><\/a> written by British pastor Edward Mote<\/a> in 1834. Loved it!<\/p>\n

This is one of those songs that would come to mind when I was a child, singing in the dark, on my way home.<\/p>\n

This same song actually also stirs many more memories. One, in particular, was hearing it sung by Filipino teens from a shanty town church group in Surigao City, Philippines. A team of us<\/a> from the States would spend our summer there with the goal of helping that small congregation have its own church building. The pastor and family would make their home in the loft of the building. It was a long journey for us to get there. Flying into Manila, and then boarding a ship to the island of Mindanao. When we arrived in Surigao, we were transported on a bus to the building site. It was a tiny lot with more tidal pool than land showing. Seeing the seemingly insurmountable task before us, we were encouraged by their singing in English. A song familiar to all of us. Especially as they sang out the chorus: “On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; <\/strong>All other ground is sinking sand; All other ground is sinking sand.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

At summer’s end, a church building was standing on that site.<\/p>\n

Worship<\/a> with me, to this great old hymn as true today as then:<\/p>\n

My hope is built on nothing less
\nThan Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
\nAnd I dare not trust the sweetest frame
\nBut wholly lean on Jesus’ name<\/p>\n

On Christ, the solid rock, I stand;
\nAll other ground is sinking sand
\nAll other ground is sinking sand<\/p>\n

When darkness seems to hide His face
\nI rest on His unchanging grace;
\nIn every high and stormy gale
\nMy anchor holds within the veil<\/p>\n

On Christ, the solid rock, I stand;
\nAll other ground is sinking sand
\nAll other ground is sinking sand
\nYeah<\/p>\n

His oath
\nHis oath, his covenant, His blood
\nSupport me in the whelming flood;
\nWhen all around my soul gives way
\nHe then is all my hope and stay<\/p>\n

On Christ, the solid rock, I stand;
\nAll other ground is sinking sand
\nAll other ground is sinking sand
\nYeah<\/p>\n

When he shall come with trumpet sound
\nO may I then in Him be found!
\nDressed in his righteousness alone
\nFaultless to stand before the throne!
\nFaultless to stand before the throne!
\nFaultless to stand before the throne!<\/p>\n

Yeah, You are our rock
\nYeah, You are our rock
\nYou are rock
\nYou are our rock
\nYeah, You are our rock
\nJesus
\nYeah, Jesus<\/p>\n

On Christ, the solid rock, I stand;
\nAll other ground is sinking sand
\nAll other ground is sinking sand*<\/p>\n