Musical Notes

Hello OCBC family,
 “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” (James 4:8a). This is a very wonderful and powerful passage, and this is the verse that was the inspiration for Keith Getty and Margaret Becker to write a lovely modern hymn, “Jesus, Draw Me Ever Nearer.”

You are very familiar with Keith Getty’s name, after all, he and his wife wrote a vast number of modern hymns with a sound doctrine, “In Christ Alone”, “My Worth Is Not in what I Own”, and many more. He composed the melody for this hymn while his friend, Margaret Becker, wrote the lyrics. She is from Bay Shore, New York, and she started her musical career as a rock singer, but she transitioned to more like pop music style, working with several Christian artists, including Keith Getty.

This is a prayer that became a hymn, encouraging us to trust in the Lord during our trials and troubles.

The second stanza is a powerful picture that our Lord will be our guide even during the tempest, like he was with the disciples over 2,000 years ago.

“Jesus guide me through the tempest;
Keep my spirit staid and sure.
When the midnight meets the morning,
Let me love You even more.”

What comfort we can have, knowing that the Lord who calmed the wind and the sea, is the same Lord that will calm our storms.
This modern hymn closed with this refrain, that reminds us that we are on a journey, but one day we will be with our Lord forever.

“May this journey bring a blessing,
May I rise on wings of faith;
And at the end of my heart’s testing,
With Your likeness let me wake.”

“ Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.” (1 Peter 4:12-13)
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In His service,
Israel