1^st Corinthians 14:15  says: What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding.

I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding

We should understand what we are singing. Some hymns have phrases that are not part of our modern day vernacular and thus may not be fully understood by us. Let’s try to uncover their meanings.

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Song # and Title

Phrase in Lyric

40

#419:  Lord, We Come Before Thee Now

ΠOh, do not our suit disdain

� Lord, we know not how to go, till a blessing thou bestow.

ΠSuit: A petition; a seeking for something by petition or application.

Disdain: To think unworthy; to deem worthless; to consider to be unworthy of notice, care, regard, esteem. ¿1

So we are asking God not to consider our petitions (prayers) trivial or unworthy of his attention, but to listen to them.

� Without God’s word we would not know ”how to go” (how to live in accordance with God’s will). His word is one of the greatest blessings He has bestowed upon us.

41

#442:  My Faith Looks Up to Thee

ΠO bear me safe above, ,A ransomed soul

Œ Ransomed:  Redeemed or rescued from captivity, bondage or punishment by the payment of an equivalent. ¿1

There was a ransom for our soul, a required payment to release us from the punishment our sins deserved.

Jesus paid that ransom for every one of us with his life. This paid ransom is what will allow us to have a safe place above (heaven).

42

#444:  Nailed to the Cross

ΠHe cleanses my heart of its dross.

Œ Dross: Waste matter; refuse; any worthless matter separated from the better part; impure matter.  ¿1

Jesus’ shed blood cleansed our hearts and souls of all it’s impurities (it’s dross). It is up to keep them that way, through living godly lives and repenting when we sin.

43

#450:  Nearer My God to Thee

ΠOf if on joyful wing, cleaving the sky - sun, moon, and stars

      forgot, upward I fly,

Cleaving: penetrating or passing through something, such as water or air.

Œ This verse describes how we look forward to the day when we will leave behind the things of this earth (sun, moon and stars) and “fly” upward to the heavenly realm to be closer to God than we have ever been.

44

#572:  Send the Light

ΠWe have heard the Macedonian call today

� And a golden offering at the cross we lay,

Œ The Macedonian call refers to Acts 16:9  And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A certain man of Macedonia stood, begging him, saying, Come over into Macedonia and help us!

There are people all over the world that need help for their souls, and it is up to the followers of Christ to deliver that help (the Word of God) to them.  � While we should go where we can, no one individual can go everywhere, but all of us can give a "golden offering" so that those who can go to other places can be supported. To lay this golden offering at the cross symbolizes our desire to give bountifully and cheerfully for the work of the Lord:  

45

#585:  Soldiers of Christ, Arise

ΠBut take, to arm you for the fight, the panoply of God.

ΠPanoply: The complete arms and armor of a warrior. Something that covers and protects.

This thought is borrowed from Ephesians 6:11 - Put on the whole armor  (i.e. the panoply) of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 

Our full suit of spiritual armor: Ephesians 6:14-17:  Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.   And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

u We need to employ all of the weapons God has given us to fight our adversary, Satan.

46

#632:  The Gospel is For All

ΠSay not the Heathen are at home, beyond we have no call.

      For why should we be blessed alone? The gospel is for all.

� Received ye freely, Freely give

Œ Paraphrase: “Don’t think that the heathen (unsaved) are only in our own city or country and that we have no responsibility to reach people beyond our local area”.

We should have a loving concern for all souls, compelling us to try to teach them the truth of God’s Word. 

� The free gift of salvation was given to us by God, we in turn should teach that to others, so they too can be saved.

47

#655:  There’s a Fountain Free

Œ There’s a fountain free, ’tis for you and me

� A fount of love from the source above

Ž He bids us all freely drink

� There’s a living stream with a crystal gleam, From the throne of life

      now it flows

� There’s a rock that’s cleft and no soul is left That may not its pure

     waters share

Œ Fountain:  source of life, joy, purification (figuratively)         [Brown-Driver-Briggs]

It was prophesied that a fountain would be opened for sin: Zechariah 13:1 -  "In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness.

 [Zerr’s Combined Bible Commentary]: The fountain refers to the flow of blood and water that came from the pierced side of Christ, and poured down upon the ground to satisfy the wrath of God against sin, and made it possible for Him to save mankind from sin and its consequences.  

� The “source above” is God the Father who gave his only begotten son to be the fountain of love that would wash away our sins.

Ž Drink, here is figurative, meaning:  To take in by any method; to hear; to see; The meaning is that all men can freely partake of this fountain of salvation that is Jesus.

� This imagery relating to heaven is borrowed from Revelation 22:1  And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.

� Cleft:  A space or opening made by splitting; a crack; a crevice; This phrase is reminiscent of God providing water in the wilderness for the people of Israel when Moses struck the rock (Exodus 17.6).

u The New Testament identifies that spiritual rock with Christ  So the phrase describes Christ as the source of spiritual refreshment, salvation, and eternal life.

u No soul is left... (deprived) of the opportunity to share in the pure water emanating from that rock (which is Jesus)

48

#682:  To God Be the Glory

ΠOur wonder our transport, when Jesus we see.

Œ Transport:  (noun) Rapture; ecstasy, having a strong emotional effect. 

When we see Jesus our hearts will be joyful beyond our imagination.

49

#694:  To Canaan’s Land I’m On My Way

ΠA lovelight beams across the foam

� Where there will be no parting hand

Œ A nautical metaphor -  A beam of light (God’s light and love) shines across the water (foam) for all to see. It is the guiding light that should lead all men out of darkness, like a lighthouse.

� Once we are in heaven there be no parting judgments, no divisions, just unity and souls with one accord.

50

#707:  To Christ Be Loyal and Be True

#760:  Who will follow Jesus?

ΠHis banner be unfurled, and borne aloft till is secure the

     conquest of the world

� Holding up his banner in the thickest fight

Œ � A banner is a flag under which all those who bear allegiance to a leader will assemble.

Will we assemble under Christ’s banner or Satan’s banner?

Œ “the conquest of the world“: This verse summarizes the theme of the book of Revelation – that Jesus will be victorious over Satan and that He will “secure the conquest of the world” (conquer the world from Satan)

51

#714:  Trust and Obey

Œ we never can prove the delights of his love until all on the altar 

     we lay.

Œ Prove: [Thayer]: to test, examine to see whether a thing is genuine or not, (as metals);  to recognize as genuine after examination, to approve

Delights of His love: the joy, peace, comfort, and fellowship associated with God’s love

All on the altar we lay: Reminiscent of Abraham, who laid Isaac on the altar for a sacrifice to God, received a great blessing from God because of his unyielding faith:  Genesis 22:16-18  "By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son—  blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.   In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."

u We will not truly understand or experience the delights of God’s love unless we are willing to sacrifice our own will and submit to His. We may need to sacrifice our possessions, our desires and our comfort in order to receive God’s blessings. God promises us he will reward us for our faithfulness.                                                                                                                                                  

52

#722:  We Have Heard the Joyful Sound

ΠEarth shall keep her jubilee

Œ Jubilee:  A season of great public joy and festivity. ¿1

When the earth hears the message that “Jesus saves”, it should bring them who heed it great joy, knowing that they have a way to salvation.

53

#740:  What Will You Do  With Jesus

ΠJesus is standing on trial still

� Or will you scorn from his foes to fly

Ž Or will you choose Him whate’er betide?

Œ It is for each and every man to decide whether he will accept or reject Jesus and the salvation He brings. In that sense Jesus is on trial in every man’s heart. They must find him “guilty” or “not guilty” of being the Son of God and the long awaited Messiah.

� Scorn: to hold in extreme contempt; to despise; to condemn; to disdain. ¿1

Instead of wanting to flee (fly) from Jesus’  enemies, do we have the courage to confront them with the truth of God’s word despite the risk to our own selves?

Ž Betide: To come to pass; to happen. ¿1

Will we continue to choose Jesus’ way no matter what happens to us  in our life (sickness, disappointment, grief etc.).

54

#776:  Will Your Anchor Hold?

ΠWe have an anchor that keeps the soul, steadfast and sure

     while the billows roll

Œ Anchor: a person that can be relied on for support, stability, or security ¿3 

An anchor is able to keep a large ship from drifting even in a storm. It keeps the ship steadfast in one place. 

“while the billows roll” – a billow is great wave or surge of the sea. This is a metaphor for the storms of life – the trials, the difficulties, the temptations etc. 

The spiritual anchor that keeps our soul grounded and steadfast is our Savior, Jesus Christ. If we stay faithful to Him in all things, our souls will be strong and impervious to the storms of life and remain anchored in His love.

55

#781:  Wonderful Story of Love

ΠWake the immortal strain

ΠWake: . To arouse; to excite; to put in motion or action.

       Immortal:  Never ending; everlasting; continual.

       Strain (noun): . Song; note; sound; or a particular part of a tune. ¿1 

Paraphrase:  Sing with excitement the never ending song of God’s love