Hymn Treasures

The hymnal is full of treasures. Not just the songs, but golden nuggets of truth contained within their texts. I’m afraid their value is often not recognized when singing through the lines without thought.

Have you ever taken time to meditate on a profound phrase? For example, here’s one of my favorites: “Let the water and the blood, from Thy wounded side which flows, be for sin the double cure, save from wrath and make me pure (Augustus Toplady). That “double cure” refers to the mercy of God in saving us from punishment for sin, and the grace of God in giving us a clean heart. What a wealth of theology in those short phrases!

So now I’ve listed a few more of my favorite gems for you to consider. See how many of them you recognize. Can you name the hymns that contain them? (You’ll find the answers at the bottom of the page.) These are all deep prayers.

1. “Out of earth’s sorrows into Thy balm, out of life’s storms and into Thy calm.”
2. “Teach me Thy patience: still with Thee in closer, dearer company.”
3. “O Love that seekest me thru pain, I cannot close my heart to Thee.”
4. “Mingling toil with peace and rest.”
5. “Now Thee alone I seek, give what is best.”
6. “Sufficient is Thine arm alone, and our defense is sure.”
7. “Take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise.”
8. “Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.”
9. “Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope, and my will be lost in Thine.”
10. “High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.”

Sources: 1. Jesus, I Come (Sleeper); 2. O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee (Gladden); 3. O Love That Will Not Let Me Go (Matheson); 4. Day by Day (Berg); 5. More Love to Thee (Prentiss); 6. O God, Our Help in Ages Past (Watts); 7. Take My Life and Let It Be (Havergal); 8. O to Be Like Thee (Chisholm); 9. I Am Thine, O Lord (Oatman); 10. Be Thou My Vision (Traditional Irish Hymn).