Favorite Hymns?

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Thomas_Goodwin

Puritan Board Freshman
I did not grow up in a Church and I am starting to learn and appreciate hymns for the first time. They are a blessing and contain such beautifuly theology. I wanted to know any recommendations that I might hear and learn. So far my favorites are:

- Beneath the Cross of Jesus
- Amazing Grace
- Rock of Ages
- When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
- Just As I Am

Also, how did you familiarize with the melody. I am convicted and feel joy in Christ in singing hymns to Him, but they sound dreadful to the ear and are usually completely out of tune and tempo.
 
Hi John,
I listen to hymns with lyrics so it is easier to understand.
My favourites:
  • Abide With Me-- never gets old
  • If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee. Originally German but translated into English (I believe this is John Piper's favourite hymn)
  • In Christ Alone (more contemporary but with deep theology)
  • Thine Be The Glory
  • As The Deer
  • Stricken Smitten and Afflicted (Great tune)
  • Oh The Deep, Deep Love of Jesus
  • Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence (Best tune I've heard)
  • To God Be The Glory
Many more to listen to. May God be glorified.
 
I did not grow up in a Church and I am starting to learn and appreciate hymns for the first time. They are a blessing and contain such beautifuly theology. I wanted to know any recommendations that I might hear and learn. So far my favorites are:
Hi John,

As I finished the below, I realized that I wrote way too much just to recommend one hymn. Sorry.

I only sing the Psalms, but there is one hymn that is very special to me. So special that, along with Psalm 90, this hymn will be sung at my funeral.


The back story.

Some years ago, while this hymn was being sung, I had a crisis of faith that made me doubt that the whole plan of Salvation was even true. But it's not what you think.
Below is an excerpt from a letter I wrote to my daughter a few years ago that briefly relates what I'm talking about.

God is No Fair
"Several years ago, I saw deeply in my spirit that the whole arrangement between God and His redeemed is quite unfair. Unfair in that we have so little to suffer and such a relatively short time to suffer, compared to the glory that shall be revealed in us. Even now, I begin the weep as I remember just how unfair the whole dynamic is. For just one measly life of 70 or 80 years, we get all eternity. It is hard to believe all that is ahead of us can be had for one short and faltering life. Yes, it is most unfair indeed."

The thought of what we will get from God for the tiny little space we are given to fret about our troubles, hopes, and fears is so minuscule that it actually made me doubt the reality of the whole story. It was all just too much. It took me days for it to sink in that the wonder of it all was true. We are, it says in the Scriptures, along with Christ going to get all things.
 
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First, for our EP friends who will certainly be joining us soon, this is a thread about our favorite religious poems set to music! ;)

Having gotten that out of the way, some of my favorites would definitely be, umm, Christmas carols.

"Once In Royal David's City" is one that I grow to love more and more each year.
 
"Blessing and Honor and Glory and Power"
"Hark, Ten Thousand Harps and Voices"
"How Calm and Beautiful the Morn"
"Behold, the Mountain of the Lord"
"To Thy Temple I Repair"
There are probably 100 or so more that I could call Favorite--it's impossible to choose in a mere moment.
 
Hi John,
I listen to hymns with lyrics so it is easier to understand.
My favourites:
  • Abide With Me-- never gets old
  • If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee. Originally German but translated into English (I believe this is John Piper's favourite hymn)
  • In Christ Alone (more contemporary but with deep theology)
  • Thine Be The Glory
  • As The Deer
  • Stricken Smitten and Afflicted (Great tune)
  • Oh The Deep, Deep Love of Jesus
  • Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence (Best tune I've heard)
  • To God Be The Glory
Many more to listen to. May God be glorified.
I love this hymn deeply

If thou but suffer God to guide thee,
And hope in him through all thy ways,
He'll give thee strength, whatever betide thee,
And bear thee through the evil days:
Who trusts in God's unchanging love
Builds on the rock that naught can move.

What can these anxious cares avail thee,
These never-ceasing moans and sighs?
What can it help, if thou bewail thee
O'er each dark moment as it flies?
Our cross and trials do but press
The heavier for our bitterness.

Only be still, and wait his leisure
In cheerful hope, with heart content
To take whate'er thy Father's pleasure
And all-discerning love hath sent;
Nor doubt our inmost wants are known
To him who chose us for his own.

All are alike before the highest;
'Tis easy to our God, we know,
To raise thee up though low thou liest,
To make the rich man poor and low;
True wonders still by him are wrought
Who setteth up and brings to naught.

Sing, pray, and keep his ways unswerving,
So do thine own part faithfully,
And trust his word, though undeserving,
Thou yet shalt find it true for thee;
God never yet forsook at need
The soul that trusted him indeed.
 
I love this hymn deeply

If thou but suffer God to guide thee,
And hope in him through all thy ways,
He'll give thee strength, whatever betide thee,
And bear thee through the evil days:
Who trusts in God's unchanging love
Builds on the rock that naught can move.

What can these anxious cares avail thee,
These never-ceasing moans and sighs?
What can it help, if thou bewail thee
O'er each dark moment as it flies?
Our cross and trials do but press
The heavier for our bitterness.

Only be still, and wait his leisure
In cheerful hope, with heart content
To take whate'er thy Father's pleasure
And all-discerning love hath sent;
Nor doubt our inmost wants are known
To him who chose us for his own.

All are alike before the highest;
'Tis easy to our God, we know,
To raise thee up though low thou liest,
To make the rich man poor and low;
True wonders still by him are wrought
Who setteth up and brings to naught.

Sing, pray, and keep his ways unswerving,
So do thine own part faithfully,
And trust his word, though undeserving,
Thou yet shalt find it true for thee;
God never yet forsook at need
The soul that trusted him indeed.
Great hymn. Interesting to see the various German to English interpretations or renderings of it. Similar to Luther's A Mighty Fortress is Our God.
 
Here is a religious poem that was set to music, but which is hardly ever sung:
 
There is a Fountain Filled With Blood
Great is Thy Faithfulness
How Firm a Foundation
It is Well With My Soul
Merciful God
Oh Lord My God! When I in Awesome Wonder
Before the Throne of God Above
The Church's One Foundation
Facing a Task Unfinished
Tell Out, My Soul, the Greatness of the Lord!
To God Be the Glory! Great Things He Has Done
Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
O How the Grace of God
My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less
The Sands of Time Are Sinking
Trust and Obey

So many!
 
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