Top Ten Hits
At least they’re hits with me. I doubt you’ll hear Kasey Kasem including them in his top 40 countdown on Saturday afternoon.
Shirlee asked me to list some of my favorite “worshipful” hymns. I’m not sure what she meant by that adjective. I hope that these don’t disappoint. They are ones I like to sing (and hear) when worshiping God, and I think they are very worshipful because they mostly focus on Him and His glorious attributes rather than on me and my bad day. You will most definitely not find anything new and improved, mostly old and familiar. If there is something you don’t recognize, you can probably find it at The Cyber Hymnal or The Trinity Hymnal (no music here).
The List (x2.7)
A Mighty Fortress by Martin Luther
All Hail the Power by Edward Perronet
We Gather Together (a victory hymn from the Reformation in the Netherlands)
Look Ever To Jesus by Horatio Palmer
More Love to Thee by Elizabeth Prentiss (author of Stepping Heavenward)
Fairest Lord Jesus from Munster Gesangbuch, 1677 (origins much older)
O, The Deep, Deep Love of Jesus by Samuel Trevor Francis
Love Divine, All Loves Excelling by Charles Wesley
Take My Life And Let It Be by Frances Havergal
My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less by Edward Mote
Let Children Hear The Mighty Deeds by Isaac Watts
Jesus, Lover of My Soul by Charles Wesley (I sang this and “A Mighty Fortress” when I was in labor with my last baby)
I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say by Horatius Bonar
Whate’er My God Ordains Is Right by Samuel Rodigast
Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise by Walter Chalmers Smith
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross by Isaac Watts
Arise, My Soul, Arise by Charles Wesley (how did this Arminian write such God-centered hymns? He must have been conflicted)
Jesus, What A Friend For Sinners by J. Wilbur Chapman
This is My Father’s World by Maltbie D. Babcock (poetic license, not pantheism)
Praise to the Lord, The Almighty by Joachim Neander
O Worship the King by Sir Robert Grant
Be Still My Soul by Katharine von Schlegel
Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence, liturgy of St. James (listen to this at The Cyber Hymnal)
Be Thou My Vision, attributed to Dallan Forgaill in the 8th Century (I wish so many people didn’t like this one…it seems trite to say it’s one of my faves!)
O Sacred Head Now Wounded, Bernard of Clairvaux (?)
Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus by Charles Wesley (not a rapture hymn!)
God Moves in a Mysterious Way by William Cowper (great words)
April 2nd, 2003 at 5:45 am
Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence is one of my favorites. We had an Advent-season wedding and the organist played it during the prelude … just for me
April 2nd, 2003 at 7:42 am
The melody is kind of haunting. We used to sing it at one church every Sunday after communion. It’s also on Kemper Crabb’s Christmas CD.
April 2nd, 2003 at 10:32 pm
No disappointment at all -Thanks for that list, Carmon! I should have left that adjective out, "hymn" should say enough! Was glad to see that I am familiar with about 15 of those on your list - at least, I think I could remember the tune and the first line! Glad to have that link to the cyberhymnal too - it will help when I am trying to practice with the kids and I will look up those that I don’t know. Most of my hymn-learning was pre-adulthood, so I am surprised at how many little bits I do remember…Now "the deep deep love of Jesus" is running over and over in my mind.:-)