Christopher Wordsworth

John 4:23-24

But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.’

 O Day of Rest and Gladness LBW 251

 1    O day of rest and gladness, O day of joy and light,
     O balm for care and sadness, most beautiful, most bright:
      on you the high and lowly, through ages joined in tune,
      sing, “Holy, holy, holy,” to the great God triune.

2    On you, at earth’s creation, the light first had its birth;
      on you, for our salvation, Christ rose from depths of earth;
      on you, our Lord victorious the Spirit sent from heav’n;
      and thus on you, most glorious, a threefold light was giv’n.

3    Today on weary nations the heav’nly manna falls;
      to holy convocations the silver trumpet calls,
      where gospel light is glowing with pure and radiant beams
      and living water flowing with soul-refreshing streams.

4    New graces ever gaining from this our day of rest,
      we reach the rest remaining to spirits of the blest.
      To Holy Ghost be praises, to Father, and to Son;
      the church its voice upraises to you, blest Three in One.

 Text: Christopher Wordsworth, 1807-1885, alt.

       Hymn writer Christopher Wordsworth said, “It is the first duty of any hymn to instruct in sound doctrine and then to save souls!” This would be a useful test to put to much of what passes for hymnody in the 21st century. I’m not complaining about modern music, mind you, well, okay maybe I am a little.  But let’s be honest, doctrine found in some modern music is shallow at best, and as for saving souls, please!

      At any rate, the hymn above is an example of one of the 170 Winkworth wrote.  In addition to writing hymns, he was a Greek scholar and bishop, so he also had a day job. The verses of this hymn are pregnant with information about Christian teaching and belief!  Like verse 2; “On you, at earth’s creation, the light first had its birth; on you, for our salvation, Christ rose from depths of earth; on you, our Lord victorious the Spirit sent from heav’n; and thus on you, most glorious, a threefold light was giv’n!”  This is almost a summary of the Old and New Testament witness!

Prayer: Lord, make us steadfast in our faith, bold in our witness, and able to make the effort to teach others who you are, what you are, and how you save. Like the content of a hymn, may we instruct others in the faith, and in so doing, save souls!  Amen.