Hello, OCBC family!
Last Sunday we sang a very popular hymn, “Before the Throne of God Above” and many think that this hymn is a modern hymn or even a contemporary song. You may be surprised to know this hymn was written in 1863 and is over a century and a half old!

What we love about this hymn is its deep theology and the beautiful melody that goes with it. But let me share about the background of this worship song.

Charitie Lees Bancroft (1841–1923), a lady from Ireland penned this hymn, and the original title was The Advocate. She was the daughter of the Rev. Sidney Smith, D.D., Rector of Drumragh, County Tyrone, Ireland. Her hymn was published in The Baptist Hymn and Tune Book, for Public Worship in 1871, and was also included in Charles Spurgeon’s Our Own Hymn Book in 1884. In the 1870s, “Before the Throne of God Above” was very popular, but in the following years its popularity diminishes, until 1970 when it came back to some hymnals and was sung to the tune of the hymn “Sweet Hour of Prayer.”

The melody that we enjoy singing now came from Sovereign Grace Worship in 1997, composed by Vikki Cook and was made popular by Kristyn Getty.

This hymn is based on Hebrews 4:14–16, “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

When you read or sing this powerful hymn remember these themes:

1. Christ is our intercessor and advocate before the Father.
2. There is no guilt or condemnation for those who are in Christ.
3. Jesus is the perfect propitiation for our sins and will keep us until the end.

Use this hymn as a prayer as well during your devotional time.

In His service,
Israel

The Lord’s Supper
1 Corinthians 11:23-32
Announcements
Prelude
Welcome & Prayer
Scripture Reading – 1 Corinthians 11:23-32

1. Redeclaration: The Witness to Christ

 
“Jesus Shall Reign Where’er the Sun”                                                                                #120
 

1. Remembrance: The Work of Christ

 
“Be Still My Soul”                                                                                                                             #60
 

1. Repentance: The Grace of Christ

 
“His Mercy Is More”                                                                                                     Worship Hymn
 

1. Relationship: The Body of Christ

 
“I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord”                                                                                                          #352
 

1. Rejoice: The Victory of Christ

 
“Victory in Jesus” (refrain only)
 

1. Rite: The Ordinance of Christ

 
The Lord’s Supper
 
“Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross”                                                                                                 #273

Hello, OCBC family!
Deuteronomy 32:3 says, “For I will proclaim the name of the Lord; ascribe greatness to our God!” This passage is the basis for the hymn that we sang last Sunday, “Sing Praise to God
Who Reigns Above” a wonderful hymn that tells us about God’s protection for His people.
Is a German hymn whose author is Johann J. Schütz (1640-1690) a lawyer that was under the influence of Philipp Jakob Spener, the father of the Pietist movement in Germany. A century after the Reform by Martin Luther, the church in Germany was still in the right doctrine but its zeal was not like at the beginning, and Spener saw this situation and started this movement; he wanted a revival in the Lutheran church. Schütz, under Spener influence, wrote this hymn and we can see the impact that this movement did on this lawyer.

Schütz’s hymn tells us about this powerful God who is with His children, very close, during good and bad times. This particular hymn touched my life a week before my mother’s passing. I was reading the second verse of this hymn a week before my mother departed from this earth to be with Jesus. It was a hard time knowing that my mother was in the hospital but Schütz’s lyrics gave comfort.

The Lord is never far away, 
but through all grief distressing, 
an ever present help and stay, 
our peace and joy and blessing. 
As with a mother's tender hand, 
God gently leads the chosen band: 
To God all praise and glory.

God is always near, therefore, remember Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

God was the refuge of the sons of Korah, he was the refuge of Johann J. Schütz, and he will be your refuge; wait on Him, trust in Him.

In His service,
​
Israel

Hello, OCBC family!  This week we learned a new hymn during our worship service, “The God of Abraham Praise.” The hymn might be a little obscure for many of you, but the lyrics are very powerful in doctrine and worth learning.

The original hymn was written by a Jew from Rome (probably Daniel ben Judah) and he based his lyrics on a Jewish Creed created by Moses Maimonides. The Jewish version of this hymn is from the twelfth century. Around 1763 or 1770, Thomas Olivers, a close friend of John Wesley, heard the Yigdal (Daniel ben Judah’s hymn) chanted in the Great Synagogue of London, and he wrote a deliberately Christianized translation of that text in twelve stanzas. Depending on the hymnal, we can find this hymn with three or four verses.

We must know that Thomas Olivers was not just a close friend of John Wesley, but he served for over twenty years in the duties of an itinerant ministry.

The melody that we sang last Sunday is a Hebrew melody used for the original Jewish hymn, and its name is LIONI, because the cantor’s name of the synagogue was Meyer Lyon. He adapted the melody to Thomas Olivers’ lyrics. You can feel the Hebrew style, a minor key (a sad melody), that matches perfectly with the words.

The first verse reminds us the encounter of Moses with God in Exodus 3:6, “And he said, ‘I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.” What a powerful meeting between the creature with its Creator. And now, because of Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension, we can have access to the throne of God.

Use this hymn as a prayer, sing it with your family or when you are alone, and lift up praises to God the Almighty, El Shaddai.
​
In His service,
Israel