Just Pondering
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Rick Branan |
When the builders had laid the foundation of the Lord’s temple, the priests, dressed in their robes and holding trumpets, and the Levites descended from Asaph, holding cymbals, took their positions to praise the LORD, as King David of Israel had instructed. They sang with praise and thanksgiving to the Lord: “For he is good; his faithful love to Israel endures forever.” Then all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord because the foundation of the LORD’s house had been laid.
Ezra 3:10-11 (CSBBible)
John Milton was born in London, Dec. 9, 1608, and died there Nov. 8, 1674. He was an English poet, polemicist, and civil servant. His 1667 epic poem Paradise Lost was written in blank verse and included 12 books, written in a time of immense religious flux and political upheaval. It addressed the fall of man, including the temptation of Adam and Eve by the fallen angel Satan, and God's expulsion of them from the Garden of Eden. Paradise Lost elevated Milton's reputation as one of history's greatest poets. He also served as a civil servant for the Commonwealth of England under its Council of State and later under Oliver Cromwell.
His poetical excellences and his literary fame are matters apart from hymnology, and are fully dealt with in numerous memoirs. His influence on English hymn-writing has been very slight, his 19 versions of various Psalms having lain for the most part unused by hymnal compilers.
John Julian
Let Us with a Gladsome Mind
Let us, with a gladsome mind,
praise the Lord, for he is kind:
For his mercies aye endure,
ever faithful, ever sure.
Let us blaze his name abroad,
for of gods he is the God: [Refrain]
He with all-commanding might
filled the new-made world with light: [Refrain]
He his chosen race did bless
in the wasteful wilderness: [Refrain]
All things living he doth feed,
his full hand supplies their need: [Refrain]
Written by John Milton
We start a new “Just Pondering” series this year. My wife blessed me with a new hymnal: The Sing Hymnal published by the Gettys. My objective is to share hymns we don’t sing regularly or at all. While I’m thanking Toni, let me also thank the church for the Christmas gift. It was generous and thoughtful.
John Milton, the great English poet, wrote a few variations on the psalms. Our hymn today is based on Psalm 107. Milton’s version has 24 verses that I could find. The psalm is a thanksgiving for deliverance and describes many scenes of God’s deliverance in scripture. Milton uses a refrain, “For his mercies aye endure, ever faithful, ever sure.” Aye means “yes” like the Navy uses, “Aye, aye sir.” This hymnal includes 5 verses and is meant as a call to worship.
The passage I chose comes from Ezra’s work after the remnant returns from Babylon and rebuilds the temple. The people gather and the Levites and priests assemble to dedicate the temple, which pales in comparison to Solomon’s temple. However, the remnant recognizes God’s faithfulness and offers praise and thanksgiving. They shouted and sang so loudly that their praise could be heard from far away.
As we begin a new year, let’s offer our praise and thanksgiving for God’s faithfulness in our lives. Let’s let our praise to God carry beyond the walls of our church and to our world. One of Milton’s verses states, “Let us blaze his name abroad, for of gods he is the God.” Our God is awesome and He alone is worthy of our praise.
Just pondering . . . Bro. Rick