Hello OCBC family,
“But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Galatians 6:14). 

This very familiar verse was the basis for the very familiar hymn, “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” by Isaac Watts. Isaac Watts is considered the father of the English hymn; before him, there weren’t too many hymns’ writers. And this hymn is considered his masterpiece.

“When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.”

Issac Watts was born in a Christian home, and at the age of twenty-four he preached his first sermon, but before that, he was very popular to write hymns, for his own church at that time, Above Bar Congregational Church.

“Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ, my God;
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.”

This hymn became very popular to be used during the Lord’s Supper celebration, because it has a very clear message about the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. What a powerful line on this second stanza, where we can read or sing, “Save in the death of Christ, my God.”!

On March 8, 1702, Isaac Watts became the pastor of Mark Lane church, but a year after the church called Samuel Price of Wales to help Watts in the pastoral ministry because Isaac Watts became very ill. Nevertheless, he continued preaching and with Samuel’s help, their little dying church, became a large church, growing so much that they have to move to a different location to have a new house of worship.

“See, from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down;
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?”

This wonderful hymn had a different title at that time. The original name was, “Crucifixion to the World, by the Cross of Christ.” This hymn became very popular in England and in the rest of the world where this hymn has been translated or sung. Even Charles Wesley, another famous hymn writer, said that he would rather have written it than all his own hymns.

Let us make our own words the last stanza of this hymn.
“Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.”
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In His service,
Israel

Hello OCBC family,
“For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God.” (Job 19:25-26).

Easter was last week, and what a celebration as believers we had, celebrating the conquering of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ over death. To celebrate Easter, my favorite hymn for the season is “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today” by Charles Wesley, but my second favorite hymn for Resurrection Sunday is “I Know that My Redeemer Lives” by Samuel Medley.

This hymn is based on the words of Job, when he shared his assurance on his Redeemer to his friends. “For I know” is a powerful sentence in the words of Job and for Samuel Medley.

Samuel Medley was born June 23, 1738, in an English village. His father and grandfather were very devoted Christians, but Samuel was far away from a relationship with the Lord. He joined the British navy, but during war he was very wounded, and had to retire from the navy. At that time, somebody shared with him a sermon by Isaac Watts, the “Father of the Hymn in English” and this sermon lead Samuel to a real conversion. He became a faithful pastor, and a very prolific hymn writer.

“I know that my Redeemer lives;
what comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, He lives, who once was dead;
He lives, my everlasting Head.”

On this lovely hymn, the second powerful phrase that Samuel uses is “He lives” just to describe what our Lord Jesus did for us, what our Savior is doing for us, and what our Redeemer will do for us. After the first stanza, Sameul Medley says over and over “He lives.”

“He lives triumphant from the grave,
He lives eternally to save,
He lives all-glorious in the sky,
He lives exalted there on high.
“He lives, my kind, wise, heav'nly Friend,
He lives and loves me to the end;
He lives, and while He lives, I'll sing;
He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.”

The melody that we use is the famous melody called “DUKE STREET” a tune that we use to sing the hymn “Jesus Shall Reign” (a hymn by Isaac Watts, by the way).

Dear brothers and sisters, during this Easter season repeat to yourself and others that He lives, and he can save people from their sins.

“He lives, all glory to His name!
He lives, my Jesus, still the same.
Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives,
‘I know that my Redeemer lives!’”
​
In His service,
Israel

Hello OCBC family,
 “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.” (Isaiah 53:4). It is Holy Week, a time to remember the last week of our Savior, Jesus Christ, before his passion. The passage of Isaiah 53 is telling us about this perfect sacrifice, this servant (Isaiah 52:13), who will take over him the iniquity of us all.

This passage has been used for centuries as inspiration for many musical works and hymns. The hymn that I want to share with you is one that has recently become a favorite of mine; “Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted.”

This hymn was written by Thomas Kelly; he was born in Dublin, July 13, 1769, and educated at Trinity College, Dublin. His father was a judge in Dublin. In 1792, his life had been changed and started to preach in a very evangelical way in Dublin. Many religious leaders did not agree with his style and tried to stop him from preaching. He was able to share the good news even in a secular place. We must understand that at that time, religious leaders said that the gospel can only be preached in consecrated buildings. Having seceded from the Established Church, he erected places of worship at Athy, Portarlington, and Wexford, in which he conducted divine worship and preached.

“Stricken, smitten, and afflicted,
see Him dying on the tree!
'Tis the Christ by man rejected;
yes, my soul, 'tis He, 'tis He!
'Tis the long-expected Prophet,
David's Son, yet David's Lord;
by His Son God now has spoken;
'tis the true and faithful Word.”

The melody is a German tune, in minor key, which helps to the spirit of this mourning hymn. The melody comes from a German chorale text, "O mein Jesu, ich muss sterben" (O my Jesus, I must die).

“Ye who think of sin but lightly,
Nor suppose the evil great;
Here may view its nature rightly,
Here its guilt may estimate.
Mark the sacrifice appointed!
See who bears the awful load!
'Tis the Word, the Lord's anointed,
Son of man, and Son of God.”

Please, use this hymn as part of your quiet time, and rejoice in our Lord for this perfect sacrifice.

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.’ (Isaiah 53:6).

In His service,
Israel

Hello OCBC family,
“ When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in an uproar, saying, ‘Who is this?’ The crowds were saying, ‘This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.’” This passage tells us about the famous episode in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ when he came into Jerusalem and received a public praise from people of Jerusalem. This happened just a few days before his passion. This coming Sunday we will celebrate what is called “Palm Sunday” and we will sing a very traditional and familiar hymn, that was written to celebrate this glorious event, “All Glory, Laud and Honor.”

“All glory, laud, and honor
To Thee, Redeemer, King,
To whom the lips of children
Made sweet hosannas ring,
Thou art the King of Israel,
Thou David's royal Son,
Who in the Lord's name comest,
The King and Blessed One.”

The author of this hymn was Theodulph of Orleans, a bishop that was born in Spain or Italy; historians are not sure about this. He was born around 750 AD. He moved to France as a church leader at Charlemagne’s request. Because of some political problems that he was not part of, authorities sent him to prison. During that time, he wrote this hymn, which originally had 78 verses. Let me share with you what Ellen Jane Lorenz said about how this hymn became very popular.

On Palm Sunday the King of France, Louis the Pious, was walking beneath the prison window, and was so delighted when he heard Theodulph singing the hymn that he ordered his release. Another version of the story is that Theodulph taught it to seven boys, who posted themselves along the road by which the king was to pass, and thus earned Theodulph’s release.

“The company of angels
Are praising Thee on high,
And mortal men and all things
Created make reply.
The people of the Hebrews
With palms before Thee went;
Our praise and prayer and anthems
Before Thee we present.”

The melody is a German melody by Melchoir Teschner from the 17th century.

There are several hymns about Palm Sunday, but this is my favorite one, especially for the last stanza that we are familiar with. Please, this coming Sunday, sing with all your strength this hymn and praise our Lord Jesus who came in the name of the Lord.

“To Thee, before Thy passion,
They sang their hymns of praise;
To Thee, now high exalted,
Our melody we raise.
Thou didst accept their praises;
Accept the praise we bring,
Who in all good delightest,
Thou good and gracious King.”

“And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.” (Matthew 21:9).
​
In His service,
Israel

Hello OCBC family,
“Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, You are very great: You are clothed with honor and majesty, Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment, Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain. He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters, Who makes the clouds His chariot, Who walks on the wings of the wind.” (Psalm 104:1-3).

This Psalm was part of the Anglo-Genevan Psalter (1561), and Robert Grant used it as inspiration for his famous hymn, “O Worship the King.”
Grant is using Psalm 104 to worship God as the King of creation, who rules everywhere.

Robert Grant was born in Bengal, India, 1779 and died in Dalpoorie, India, 1838. His father was a director of the East India Company. He received education in Cambridge, and he was a member of the British Parliament. He wrote several hymns, but “O Worship the King” is the most familiar one.

“O worship the King all-glorious above,
O gratefully sing his power and his love:
our shield and defender, the Ancient of Days,
pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise.”

The melody that we loved to sing, for many years was attributed to Johann Michael Haydn, brother of the very famous German composer, Franz Joseph Haydn. But after some investigations, the melody is a composition by Joseph Martin Kraus, who was a fine composer and close friend of F. J. Haydn.

The hymn has, originally, six stanzas, but in our modern hymnals, we have just four stanzas, nevertheless, let me share with you the “original” final stanza.

“O mea­sure­less might! In­ef­fa­ble love!
While an­gels de­light to hymn Thee above,
The hum­bler cre­ation, though fee­ble their lays,
With true ado­ra­tion shall all sing Thy praise.”

This is a wonderful expression of worship and praise to our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend.

“Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
in Thee do we trust, nor find Thee to fail;
Thy mercies, how tender, how firm to the end,
our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend.”

Have a blessed week.
In His service,
Israel