Songs from the Heart

I know that I often talk about music here on my personal blog, but I really can’t help it. It’s important to me. I have spoken frequently about Psalms and hymns, both in corporate worship and at home. But the third type of singing spoken of in Scripture is the “spiritual song” or what we sometimes call the gospel song. These are not the great soaring hymns of corporate worship and praise that sing out God’s attributes, that testify of His holiness and righteousness. These songs have a different role. These are the songs of the heart that sometimes speak to others around us about God. They tell of what God has done in our lives and they speak of the personal walk we have with the Lord. I have heard those Christians who consider themselves musical purists sneer at these songs as too lowbrow and dumbed down and “revivalistic” or whatever. I’m sorry, I do not agree. These are the songs that minister when a loved one is suffering, or when you are suffering, when you are worried and anxious, or have suffered loss, when you feel so alone in what you’re going through except for Jesus. Nobody can know how some of these simple songs can minister until they have walked through a very dark and hurtful place. Some are also uniquely suited to tell out the gospel in song in an evangelistic setting.

My dad sat down at the piano the other day down at the VCY America studios and joining him was a pastor friend of his from Australia that he has known for decades. The pastor used to minister here in a church not far from our studios in central Milwaukee and now has moved back down under. He was here in Milwaukee for a visit when he and Dad decided to record some of the old gospel songs together. I heard about the project and didn’t think much about it, and then I was riding to lunch with Dad one day and he put in the CD they had recorded. The tender but strong voice of the pastor with the simple accompaniment made the perfect combination for these great old songs that have comforted so many generations of Christians. It moved me to tears. One of the songs was this one, which I can still remember hearing my Grandma Mary Thomas sing next to me in church when I was a child. It was written by Fanny Crosby.

Pass me not, O gentle Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.

Savior, Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.

Let me at Thy throne of mercy
Find a sweet relief,
Kneeling there in deep contrition;
Help my unbelief.

Savior, Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.

Trusting only in Thy merit,
Would I seek Thy face;
Heal my wounded, broken spirit,
Save me by Thy grace.

Savior, Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.

Thou the Spring of all my comfort,
More than life to me,
Whom have I on earth beside Thee?
Whom in Heav’n but Thee?

Savior, Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by…

Isn’t this all of us as believers? Despite our veneers of confidence and our brave faces to the world, we are really beggars all, as Luther said. We are completely dependent each and every moment of the day on the Savior, even for our next breath. If you have ever gone through a physical struggle where you have felt so weak and helpless you could hardly get your head off the pillow, this song means a great deal. We are like the blind Bartameaus who called out to the Lord from the side of the road. “Don’t pass me by, Jesus! Please”. I am so glad the Lord hears our smallest cry for both our spiritual and physical needs.

There are so many wonderful old gospel songs. I sometimes long to be in a large church or auditorium with other believers who really sing out, like in the old days. Here’s one that is usually accompanied by a lively, joyful tune. I used to play this on the organ at the little mission church years ago where they sang this. Note that this one is also a hymn of praise as well as a spiritual song speaking of what Jesus did for us. It even has a doxological ending, praising the Triune God. Sing it out if you know it!

When I saw the cleansing fountain
Open wide for all my sin,
I obeyed the Spirit’s wooing,
When He said, “Wilt thou be clean?”

Refrain
I will praise Him!I will praise Him!
Praise the Lamb for sinners slain;
Give Him glory, all ye people,
For His blood can wash away each stain.

Though the way is straight and narrow,
All I claimed was swept away;
My ambitions, plans and wishes,
At my feet in ashes lay.

Refrain
I will praise Him!
I will praise Him!
Praise the Lamb for sinners slain;
Give Him glory, all ye people,
For His blood can wash away each stain.

Then God’s fire upon the altar
Of my heart was set aflame;
I shall never cease to praise Him
Glory, glory to His Name!

Refrain
I will praise Him! I will praise Him!
Praise the Lamb for sinners slain;
Give Him glory, all ye people,
For His blood can wash away each stain.

Blessed be the Name of Jesus!
I’m so glad He took me in;
He’s forgiven my transgressions,
He has cleansed my heart from sin.

Refrain
I will praise Him! I will praise Him!
Praise the Lamb for sinners slain
Give Him glory, all ye people,
For His blood can wash away each stain.

Glory, glory to the Father!
Glory, glory to the Son!
Glory, glory to the Spirit!
Glory to the Three in One!

Refrain
I will praise Him! I will praise Him!
Praise the Lamb for sinners slain;
Give Him glory, all ye people,
For His blood can wash away each stain.

The CD of these songs will be available publicly soon. I’ll let you know the details when I have them in hand.