Just Pondering
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Rick Branan |
You are to consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim freedom in the land for all its inhabitants. It will be your Jubilee, when each of you is to return to his property and each of you to his clan. The fiftieth year will be your Jubilee; you are not to sow, reap what grows by itself, or harvest its untended vines. It is to be holy to you because it is the Jubilee; you may only eat its produce directly from the field.
Leviticus 25:10-12 (CSBBible)
Priscilla Jane Owens was born July 21, 1829, died December 5, 1907, of Scotch and Welsh descent, and was resident of Baltimore, where she is engaged in public-school work. For 50 years Miss Owen has interested herself in Sunday-school work, and most of her hymns were written for children's services. Her hymn in the Scotch Church Hymnary, 1898, "We have heard a joyful sound" (Missions), was written for a Sunday-school Mission Anniversary, and the words were adapted to the chorus "Vive le Roi" in the opera The Huguenots. [Rev. James Bonar, M.A.]
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix II (1907)
Jesus Saves
We have heard the joyful sound:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Spread the tidings all around:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Bear the news to ev'ry land,
Climb the steeps and cross the waves;
Onward! 'tis our Lord's command;
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Waft it on the rolling tide:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Tell to sinners far and wide:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Sing, ye islands of the sea;
Echo back, ye ocean caves;
Earth shall keep her jubilee:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Sing above the battle strife:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
By His death and endless life:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Sing it softly through the gloom,
When the heart for mercy craves;
Sing in triumph o'er the tomb:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Give the winds a mighty voice:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Let the nations now rejoice:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Shout salvation full and free,
Highest hills and deepest caves;
This our song of victory:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Written by Priscilla Owens
The Year of Jubilee was to take place every fifty years. You might have heard of married couples celebrating their 50th anniversary and someone called the Jubilee Anniversary. Biblically, God commanded Moses to install the Jubilee. Several things were to happen. The land was not to be plowed. The Israelite slaves were to be set free. Lastly, the land was to revert to the original owner. God’s intention was two-fold. First, the land belonged to God and the Israelites needed to remember that. Second, God’s chosen people were to be free. Unfortunately, there is no evidence that the Israelites practiced the Jubilee.
In her hymn, Priscilla Owens wrote, “Earth shall keep her jubilee: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!” We know, as Christ-followers, we belong to Him. He is our Lord and Savior. Because of Christ’s work on the cross, we are free from the penalty of sin. When we see someone come to Christ, we should celebrate.
Throughout her hymn, “Jesus saves!” echoes again and again. That should be our song too. We need to sing and shout to those in our expanding circle of influence, “Jesus saves!”
Just pondering . . . Bro. Rick