What are your favorite folk hymns? I was delighted that the new Lutheran Service Book includes several. Notable are the following examples:
MY SONG IN THE NIGHT
Southern Folk Hymn
O Jesus my Savior, my song in the night,
Come to us with Thy tender love,
my soul’s delight.
Unto Thee, O Lord, in affliction I call,
My comfort by day, and my song in the night.
O why should I wander, an alien from Thee,
Or cry in the desert Thy face to see?
My comfort and joy, my soul’s delight,
O Jesus my Savior, my song in the night.
My song in the night, my song in the night,
in the night, in the night, in the night.
O Jesus my Savior, my song in the night.
Come to us with Thy tender love,
my soul’s delight.
My comfort and joy, my soul’s delight,
O Jesus my Savior, my song in the night.
My song my song in the night,
in the night, my song
My comfort and joy, my soul’s delight.
O Jesus my savior, my song in the night,
in the night. My song in the night.
- 456 - Were You There - author unknown
- 543 - What Wondrous Love Is this - author unknown
- 686 - Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing by Robert Robinson
- 711 - Savior, like a Shepherd Lead Us - author unknown
- 728 - How Firm a Foundation - author unknown
- 744 - Amazing Grace by John Newton
- Does the hymn reflect correct Biblical teaching?
- Can we sing it?
- And can we remember it?
So many times we've been in worship services where the tune is unfamiliar and the words strange. Many of us cannot read music and are not trained musicians, but we love to sing. Put us in that position and we sit there with a blank stare or even close the book. "What's the use?" we mutter.
How sad.
In reflecting upon Asaph's Psalm 77 today I came across his troubled plea, "Let me remember my song in the night" (Psalm 77:6). As he wrote, Asaph's life seemed to be nothing but night, gloom and trouble. God seemed deaf to his cries. His hand was weary, his soul discomforted. Unable to sleep he finally pleaded, "Let me remember my song in the night."
In that sense, I realize how critical it is to be able to remember and sing to yourself the strong and comforting hymns of corporate worship. Their message and the music that carries them are so important in those dark, dark nights in our lives. Asaph's prayer is not unfamiliar to many of us.
I went searching for a folk song, based upon Asaph's cry in the night. Here's one I found. Perhaps you will want to add it to your repertoire of songs to remember when those dark nights come. Listen to the link, a choral version. It speaks of affliction, deserts and night. Yet in the midst of those dark nights I can call to Jesus, my soul's delight and be comforted. Jesus is my Savior, my song in the night.
MY SONG IN THE NIGHT
Southern Folk Hymn
O Jesus my Savior, my song in the night,
Come to us with Thy tender love,
my soul’s delight.
Unto Thee, O Lord, in affliction I call,
My comfort by day, and my song in the night.
O why should I wander, an alien from Thee,
Or cry in the desert Thy face to see?
My comfort and joy, my soul’s delight,
O Jesus my Savior, my song in the night.
My song in the night, my song in the night,
in the night, in the night, in the night.
O Jesus my Savior, my song in the night.
Come to us with Thy tender love,
my soul’s delight.
My comfort and joy, my soul’s delight,
O Jesus my Savior, my song in the night.
My song my song in the night,
in the night, my song
My comfort and joy, my soul’s delight.
O Jesus my savior, my song in the night,
in the night. My song in the night.
In those weary, dark, very dark nights I ask the Holy Spirit to intervene for me with sighs too deep for my words. I then start singing, Abide with Me fast falls the eventide, the darkness deepens Lord with me abide. Next comes, My Song is Love Unknown, My Savior's Love to me, Love to the loveless shown that they might lovely be. I remember my mother's comforting singing voice, I am Jesus' little Lamb, ever glad at heart I am, for my Shepherd gently guides me, knows my needs and well provides me, loves me everyday the same, even calls me by my name. Then I thank God for His loving kindness and faithfulness. I thank Him that my daughter and I are alive and have our needs met. Then I ask for God's mercy and forgiveness in my dark night, Just as I am without one plea but that thy blood was shed for me and that thou bidd'st me come to thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come. The following verse was sung a million times every communion Sunday, but now I am glad it was. Here it is: Lord may thy body and thy blood be for my soul the highest good. Amen. Rest in His warm embrace.
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