HymnPod

Download

This hymn is based on Heb 9:22 “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission” and was written in 1876. It is but one of many hymns that mention the precious blood of the Lord Jesus.

Lyrics and Music: Robert Lowry

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Refrain:
Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

For my pardon, this I see,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
For my cleansing this my plea,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Nothing can for sin atone,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of good that I have done,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

This is all my hope and peace,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Now by this I’ll overcome-
Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
Now by this I’ll reach my home-
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Glory! Glory! This I sing-
Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
All my praise for this I bring-
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Thank God that we have the way of Salvation open for us through the precious blood of the Lord Jesus.

Also, take a listen to Blessed Assurance sung in Tamil: http://www.hymnpod.com/miscellaneous/

Download

This hymn was written by a mother and daughter team in 1867, New York. They were well to do in life. The Knapp Mansion had a fine collection of musical instruments including a large pipe organ. Phoebe Knapp was a close friend of Fanny Crosby, whom she wrote Blessed Assurance with.

Phoebe Knapp may have been one of the first hymnists to hear her own songs on a phonograph. In Feb 1909, Thomas Edison’s National Phonograph Company of Orange, New Jersey, release a wax cylinder recording of Blessed Assurance sung by the Edison Mixed Quartette. It is likely that Phoebe heard this original recording.

Lyrics: Phoebe W. Palmer
Music: Phoebe P. Knapp

Oh, now I see the cleansing wave!
The fountain deep and wide;
Jesus, my Lord, mighty to save,
Points to His wounded side.

Refrain:
The cleansing stream I see! I see!
I plunge, and oh, it cleanseth me!
Oh, praise the Lord! It cleanseth me!
It cleanseth me-yes, cleanseth me.

I rise to walk in Heav’n's own light,
Above the world and sin,
With heart made pure and garments white,
And Christ enthroned within.

I see the new creation rise;
I hear the speaking blood.
It speaks! Polluted nature dies!
Sinks ‘neath the cleansing flood.

Amazing grace! ’tis Heav’n below
To feel the blood applied,
And Jesus, only Jesus know,
My Jesus crucified.

These days, thanks to the Internet and modern recording technology, people all  around the world can enjoy hymns, even through this podcast.

Download

This is another popular hymn by Robert Lowry. Annie S. Hawk wrote the lyrics. She was a housewife with 3 children. She wrote it one bright June morning in 1872. The next Sunday, she handed the lyrics to Dr. Lowry who composed the tune and chorus. Later when Annie’s husband Charles Hawk died, she found that her own hymn was amongst her greatest comforts.

Annie wrote over 400 hymns during her 88 years of life. This one remains the most widely sung today.

Lyrics: Annie S. Hawks; Robery Lowry, Refrain
Music: Robert Lowry 

I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.

Refrain:
I need Thee, O I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
O bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.

I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their power when Thou art nigh.

I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide, or life is in vain.

I need Thee every hour; teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.

I need Thee every hour, most Holy One;
O make me Thine indeed, Thou blessed Son.

O how we need the Lord Jesus to be near us.

Download

This hymn was written after two major tragedies in Horatio’s life. In 1871, Horatio lost a great fortune during the great Chicago fire. He was a wealthy business man who invested heavily in real estate. In 1873, he lost his four daughters – Maggie, Tanetta, Annie and Bessie when the ship they were on sank after an accident. The French liner was the Ville du Havre, which collided with another iron sailing vessel. Only his wife survived, and sent back a telegram with the famous words – “Saved Alone”.

Let us reflect on the words of this famous hymn whenever we go through periods of trial in life.

Lyrics: Horatio G. Spafford
Music: Philip P. Bliss 

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Refrain:
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life,
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul.

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

This hymn goes out by special request to Ruth. God Bless. Amen.

Download

Robert Lowry composed this hymn in 1874 during the Easter season. He became deeply impressed by the words of Lk24:6-8 – “He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered his words”. Within minutes, the words and music were formed at his pump organ. This hymn has become a favourite resurrection hymn.

Robert Lowry was a Baptist preacher who after preaching on Sunday mornings, composed hymns on Sunday night to relax.

Music and Lyrics: Robert Lowry

Low in the grave He lay,
Jesus my Savior,
Waiting the coming day,
Jesus my Lord!

Refrain:
Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes,
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!

Vainly they watch His bed,
Jesus my Savior;
Vainly they seal the dead,
Jesus my Lord!

Death cannot keep its Prey,
Jesus my Savior;
He tore the bars away,
Jesus my Lord!

A Blessed Easter to everyone.

Download

Elisha Hoffman was a minister who cared for the poor and down trodden. He was also a prolific gospel hymn writer. In his lifetime, he wrote over 2,000 Gospel songs and edited about 50 song books.

Although Jesus died on the cross, where He shed His precious blood. It was not the cross that killed Him, rather it was He himself that gave up His own life for our sins, obeying the Father.

Jn 10:17-18 says:
“Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.”

Lyrics: Elisha A. Hoffman
Music: John H. Stockton

Down at the cross where my Savior died,
Down where for cleansing from sin I cried,
There to my heart was the blood applied;
Glory to His Name!

Refrain:
Glory to His Name, glory to His Name:
There to my heart was the blood applied;
Glory to His Name!

I am so wondrously saved from sin,
Jesus so sweetly abides within;
There at the cross where He took me in;
Glory to His Name!

Oh, precious fountain that saves from sin,
I am so glad I have entered in;
There Jesus saves me and keeps me clean;
Glory to His Name!

Come to this fountain so rich and sweet,
Cast thy poor soul at the Savior’s feet;
Plunge in today, and be made complete;
Glory to His Name!

All Glory to the Lamb of God!

Download

This hymn was written in 1914 by Ben H. Price. I have not been available to trace the origin or history of this hymn. It is a moving hymn that speaks of the fact that the Savior had to face dark calvary all alone, to redeem us from our sins.

Lyrics and Music: Ben H. Price

It was alone the Savior prayed
In dark Gethsemane;
Alone He drained the bitter cup
And suffered there for me.

Refrain:
Alone, alone, He bore it all alone;
He gave Himself to save His own,
He suffered, bled and died alone, alone.

It was alone the Savior stood
In Pilate’s judgment hall;
Alone the crown of thorns He wore,
Forsaken thus by all.

Alone upon the cross He hung
That others He might save;
Forsaken then by God and man,
Alone, His life He gave.

Can you reject such matchless love?
Can you His claim disown?
Come, give your all in gratitude,
Nor leave Him thus alone.

May this hymn speak to your hearts.

Download

This hymn speaks of Christ’s passive and active obedience, that has purchased redemption for us. The entire redemptive work of Christ is summarized in this hymn – His Suffering, Death, Burial, Resurrection and Second Coming.

Lyrics: 1 – W. G. Ovens, 2-5 – Gladys Westcott Roberts
Music: W. G. Ovens

Wounded for me, wounded for me,
There on the cross He was wounded for me;
Gone my transgressions, and now I am free,
All because Jesus was wounded for me.

Dying for me, dying for me,
There on the cross He was dying for me;
Now in His death my redemption I see,
All because Jesus was dying for me.

Risen for me, risen for me,
Up from the grave He has risen for me;
Now evermore from death’s sting I am free,
All because Jesus has risen for me.

Living for me, living for me,
Up in the skies He is living for me;
Daily He’s pleading and praying for me,
All because Jesus is living for me.

Coming for me, coming for me,
Soon in the air He is coming for me;
Then with what joy His dear face I shall see,
Oh, how I praise Him! He’s coming for me.

Download

This hymn was inspired by a painting by Domenico Feti – Ecce Homo (Behold The Man) http://www.zinzendorf.com/feti.htm

After Count Zinzendorf saw this painting, he devoted himself to Christ, and became one of the most influential leaders in Christian history.

Later, Frances Havergal, age 17,  saw the same painting and jotted down the inscription below the painting – “I have done this for you; what have you done for me?”, and jotted down some words of a hymn that came to her mind. She worked on the hymn but grew discourgaed, and almost threw it in the fire. (It fell out of the grate). Later, her father found it, and wrote a tune for it, though the tune that Philip P. Bliss wrote is most frequently used today.

Lyrics: Frances R. Havergal
Music: Philip P. Bliss

I gave My life for thee, My precious blood I shed,
That thou might ransomed be, and raised up from the dead
I gave, I gave My life for thee, what hast thou given for Me?
I gave, I gave My life for thee, what hast thou given for Me?

My Father’s house of light, My glory circled throne
I left for earthly night, for wanderings sad and lone;
I left, I left it all for thee, hast thou left aught for Me?
I left, I left it all for thee, hast thou left aught for Me?

I suffered much for thee, more than thy tongue can tell,
Of bitterest agony, to rescue thee from hell.
I’ve borne, I’ve borne it all for thee, what hast thou borne for Me?
I’ve borne, I’ve borne it all for thee, what hast thou borne for Me?

And I have brought to thee, down from My home above,
Salvation full and free, My pardon and My love;
I bring, I bring rich gifts to thee, what hast thou brought to Me?
I bring, I bring rich gifts to thee, what hast thou brought to Me?

Reflect on the words of this hymn as we approach the Easter period.

Download

Jessie was born in 1861 in Hiram, Ohio. Her father was Rev. Holland Brown. In all, Jessie wrote 9 books, 50 cantata librettos, and over 400 hymns.

This hymn could have been inspired by a popular sermon illustration circulating during those days:

The geographical heart of London is Charing Cross, which is referred to locally simply as “the Cross”. A London police officer came upon a lost child who was unable to tell him where he lived. Finally, amid sobs and tears, the child simply said, “If you will take me to the Cross, I think I can find my way home from there”.

Lyrics: Jessie Brown Pound
Music: Charles H. Gabriel

I must needs go home by the way of the cross,
There’s no other way but this;
I shall ne’er get sight of the Gates of Light,
If the way of the cross I miss.

Refrain:
The way of the cross leads home,
The way of the cross leads home;
It is sweet to know, as I onward go,
The way of the cross leads home.

I must needs go on in the blood-sprinkled way,
The path that the Savior trod,
If I ever climb to the heights sublime,
Where the soul is at home with God.

Then I bid farewell to the way of the world,
To walk in it nevermore;
For my Lord says, “Come,” and I seek my home,
Where He waits at the open door.

May we look to the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ for the gracious gift of Salvation. Amen.