I’ve said before (I think) that one of the ways the Lord speaks to me is through music. Much of the music I listen to is stuff like Fernando Ortega and Michael Card who do settings of hymns and I love those two in particular because they don’t skimp on the verses.<\/p>\n
I downloaded “Hymns” by Michael Card and I like all the songs on it. He does an excellent job of pairing the music with interesting instrumentals (example: an Irish jig tune with “How Firm A Foundation”) and one hymn on there has been really speaking to me. It’s a shape-note<\/a> hymn that dates to the early 19th century and he does four of the five verses (he skips the second one in the lyrics posted below).<\/p>\n Why do I love it? It’s speaking to me about the necessity of us helping each other out. I mean, “tell them all about the Savior, tell them that He will be found” is sage advice. The first two lines of the last verse should be committed to memory or at least painted onto every church’s entrance: “Let us love our God supremely, let us love each other, too; let us love and pray for sinners, till our God makes all things new.” I mean, how cool is it that God promises to make all things new!<\/p>\n Anyway, here are the words:<\/p>\n \nBrethren, we have met to worship and adore the Lord our God; Brethren, see poor sinners round you slumbering on the brink of woe; Sisters, will you join and help us? Moses?? sister aided him; Is there here a trembling jailer, seeking grace, and filled with tears? Let us love our God supremely, let us love each other, too; Here’s an instrumental version by Fernando Ortega:<\/p>\n
\nWill you pray with all your power, while we try to preach the Word?
\nAll is vain unless the Spirit of the Holy One comes down;
\nBrethren, pray, and holy manna will be showered all around.<\/p>\n
\nDeath is coming, hell is moving, can you bear to let them go?
\nSee our fathers and our mothers, and our children sinking down;
\nBrethren, pray and holy manna will be showered all around.<\/p>\n
\nWill you help the trembling mourners who are struggling hard with sin?
\nTell them all about the Savior, tell them that He will be found;
\nSisters, pray, and holy manna will be showered all around.<\/p>\n
\nIs there here a weeping Mary, pouring forth a flood of tears?
\nBrethren, join your cries to help them; sisters, let your prayers abound;
\nPray, Oh pray that holy manna may be scattered all around.<\/p>\n
\nLet us love and pray for sinners, till our God makes all things new.
\nThen He??ll call us home to Heaven, at His table we??ll sit down;
\nChrist will gird Himself and serve us with sweet manna all around.
\n(HT: Cyberhymnal<\/a>)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n