4 Worship Fridays: WQOTW

4 Worship Friday

I'd like to share a website with you - Worship Quote of the Week.  I usually learn something new, am moved by something inspiring, or see something in a new light.  Below is from his post last week:


You may remember that John Newton was a slave trader whom the Lord graciously rescued and converted to a life of faith in Christ and service to the His kingdom. Newton's most famous hymn, "Amazing Grace," was a originally titled "Faith's Review and Expectation" and was written to accompany his study of 1 Chronicles 17:16-17. Today's WORSHIP QUOTE, "How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds," is another great hymn text by this same eighteenth-century pastor-poet. He links the poem to a Scripture fragment from the Song of Solomon 1:3 ("Your name is like perfume poured out"). Try reading this out loud.


HOW SWEET THE NAME OF JESUS SOUNDS
How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds
In a believer’s ear!
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,
And drives away his fear.

It makes the wounded spirit whole,
And calms the troubled breast;
’Tis manna to the hungry soul,
And to the weary, rest.

Dear Name, the Rock on which I build,
My Shield and Hiding Place,
My never failing treasury, filled
With boundless stores of grace!

By Thee my prayers acceptance gain,
Although with sin defiled;
Satan accuses me in vain,
And I am owned a child.

Jesus! my Shepherd, Husband, Friend,
O Prophet, Priest and King,
My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End,
Accept the praise I bring.

Weak is the effort of my heart,
And cold my warmest thought;
But when I see Thee as Thou art,
I’ll praise Thee as I ought.

Till then I would Thy love proclaim
With every fleeting breath,
And may the music of Thy Name
Refresh my soul in death!

— John Newton (1725-1807), from OLNEY HYMNS (London, 1779). Lots of good things here: www.hymntime.com/tch/bio/n/e/w/newton_j.htm. And here: www.ccel.org/ccel/newton/?show=biography. In addition to the setting that is used in many hymnals, we often use this version by Indelible Grace: www.igracemusic.com/ig2/ (click on #5, free lead sheet at www.igracemusic.com/hymnbook/lead/howsweetthename.pdf)



It makes the wounded spirit whole,
Have you been wounded by someone?  How sweet the name of Jesus to heal you & make you whole.

 And calms the troubled breast;
What troubles weigh you down? How sweet the name of Jesus to calm & comfort


’Tis manna to the hungry soul,
What does your soul search for to satisfy its hunger, only to hunger more?  How sweet the name of Jesus to feed you til you're stuffed


And to the weary, rest.
Have you worn yourself out trying to do things YOUR way?  How sweet the name of Jesus to give you rest when you give yourself over to Him


For more posts in this series click here.