Singing through the Hymnal: week 42!

Verse: Psalm 45:2

Hymn: Fairest Lord Jesus


                This is one of the most beautifully poetic texts. What a great way to sing about all the beautiful things God created in this world and then compare then to Jesus - Who is purer, lovelier, shines brighter. One thing to note is that this hymn is addressed to Jesus. A lot of our hymns have been addressed to God the Father, but this one solely addresses God the Son. Talk to your children this week about Isaiah 53:2. What is important to know about Jesus is that He is beautiful because of Who He is. He did not simply create beauty. He IS beauty. Maybe make a list (or list out loud for your younger children) of all the things we know Jesus to be: Compassionate, kind, caring, gentle, humble, etc.

             
                                                                  Fun Facts

Text: Muster Gesangbuch, 1677

• this anonymous text appeared in a manuscript in 1662
• 1677 was published in a Jesuit hymnbook under the title Schonster Herr Jesu (most beautiful Lord Jesus)
• we only know that Joseph Seiss translated the 4th stanza into English (Lutheran pastor in Philadelphia) He entitled this "Beautiful Savior." It is still often found under this name

Tune: SILESIAN FOLK SONG

• the origin of the tune name is also unknown
• The name CRUSADER'S HYMN is sometimes used because legend states that 12th century crusaders sang this
• Silesia is a region of Europe that is now Poland where Heinrich von Fallerslebein heard this sung by a group of Silesian peasants
• It was put into his folksong collection, Schlesische Volkslieder (1842), under the title Schonster Herr Jesu 

An extra hymn for the week is My Faith Has Found a Resting Place. We have been singing it with our Sola Fide this past week.


 The poem was signed Lidie H. Edmunds which many believe was the pseudonym for Eliza Hewitt (1851-1920). She wrote and published over 70 hymns. She was a school teacher, but had to retire and became an invalid. She then turned to hymn writing. The melody LANDAS comes from the name of a town in Norway.  The tune was adapted to fit the poem by William Kirkpatrick (1838-1921) - from Pennsylvania like Eliza Hewitt. He wrote nearly 100 hymn tunes. The hymn's original title was "No Other Plea." I love that! Talk to your children about the word "plea" and that it is used in a courtroom. We, as sinners, can only plead guilty, but the good news is that Jesus has made it possible for us to plead His righteousness. Our defense rests in light of what Christ did!

Our hymnal beautifully states:
"If you are trusting in Christ, let the truths of this hymn erase your guilt, doubts, and fears. Lean on His Word, Trust the Great Defender. No more argument is needed. You are innocent and free. Hallelujah!" (p. 254)



Remember to order you copy of the hymnal we are singing through if you still need a hymnal!

    

RESOURCE CORNER

I just finished this book. I know there are many differing opinions about having your children with you in corporate worship. If you are at all curious or want to know more about corporate worship as a family, read this book! Get it for your pastors or children's ministry coordinators too! It is short and an easy read, but very very good! It speaks a lot of singing with our children.