Musical Notes

Hello OCBC family. Hebrews 12:1-2 said, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Last Sunday night during our evening worship service, we sang the old hymn “My Faith Looks Up to Thee” and I was looking about this wonderful hymn and I found this.

The author was Ray Palmer, son of the Hon. Thomas Palmer, a Judge in Rhode Island. He went to Yale and graduated in 1830. In 1835, he became pastor of the Central Congregational Church in Bath, Maine. Before his graduation, he wrote a poem that expressed his feelings about Christ. A year later in 1831, he met Lowell Mason, a famous hymn composer, and at that time Mason asked Palmer if he had any poems for a new collection of hymns that he was preparing. Palmer gave Mason this poem he had written, not expecting it to be used in the new collection. Nevertheless, Mason found these lyrics so beautiful, he created a simple melody to be used with them and used it in his new collection.

The original poem was six stanzas long, but now in the hymnals we use only four of them. The melody is a simple melody that any congregation can learn because the pattern of the rhythm is easy to follow. The melody is just one octave long, which mean, it is not too high or too low to sing. This hymn must be sung with confidence with a firm accompaniment. It is a great tool to sing a prayer to God.

1 My faith looks up to thee,
thou Lamb of Calvary,
Savior divine!
Now hear me while I pray;
take all my guilt away.
O let me from this day
be wholly thine!

2 May thy rich grace impart
strength to my fainting heart,
my zeal inspire.
As thou hast died for me,
O may my love to thee
pure, warm, and changeless be,
a living fire!

3 While life’s dark maze I tread
and griefs around me spread,
be thou my guide;
bid darkness turn to day,
wipe sorrow’s tears away,
nor let me ever stray
from thee aside.

4 When life’s swift race is run,
death’s cold work almost done,
be near to me.
Blest Savior, then, in love
fear and distrust remove.
O bear me safe above,
redeemed and free!
​
In His service,
Israel