Month: June 2020

From the earliest days of the church
the singing of hymns had been an
integral part of Christian worship.
In the book of Acts, we find Paul
and Silas “praying and singing
hymns to God” (Acts 16:25)
while chained in the Philippian jail.
It was also apostle Paul who charged
believers to Be filled with the Spirit,
singing psalms, hymns and spiritual
songs… to the Lord (Eph 5:18-20).

But the tradition of hymn singing in
worship is far older than Paul and
the early church. Centuries earlier,
King David, Israel’s beloved singer,
who composed numerous psalms
expressing both personal and
corporate praise. And centuries
later, translations of the psalms
would provide the nurturing cradle
for the composition of English
and then American hymns.

I write daily meditation on the theme
of “Praising God thro Hymns” being
convicted by Rom 1:18-21 that
after knowing the attributes of God,
Praising and Thanking Him is the
only appropriate response, lest we
fall to uncleanness, vile passions
and debased mind (v24, 26, 28).
To help recall a day’s meditation,
it has been my practise to mark in
the Bible a spiritual song or hymn
that best reflects the day’s theme.
And I find singing a hymn helps
me to meditate on God’s Word.

After five months of meditation
on the theme of Praising God,
PrayerThots presents the Top 100
hymns that fit its three criteria of
being melodious classic hymns,
significant scriptural passage and
meaningful hymn story or lyrics.
Listed just below are the broad
categories; and at rear full listing
with Bible text that inspired them.

Content by Books:
1) Laws & History: 5
2) Psalms: 20
3) Isaiah: 5
4) Prophets: 5
5) Matthew: 5
6) John: 10
7) Romans: 5
8) Ephesians: 5
9) Philippians: 5
10) 1&2 Timothy: 5
11) Hebrews: 5
12) 1 John: 5
13) Selection: 20
Total Count: 100

Although there are 66 books in the
Bible, we find hymn writers (of hymns
fitting its three criteria of significant
scripture, melodious & meaningful
lyrics) find inspiration from only 10
or just one-sixth of Biblical books.
This observation is rather intriguing
that warrants a closer look as
hymns help us to worship God.

Hymn writers find most inspiration
from Psalms, which is to be expected
being mostly a collection of lament
prayers as well as praise & worship.
The other Old Testament book being
featured goes to the prophetic book
of Isaiah, with its message of calling
the nation of Judah back to God and
to share salvation thro the Messiah.

On NT, the top gospel is John proving
Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and
believing Him, we have eternal life.
This is followed by Matthew Gospel,
which proves Jesus is the Messiah,
fulfilling prophecies as Eternal King.
There are six epistles featured:
Rom on Doctrine of Faith In Christ;
Eph on Church as Body of Christ;
Phil on Joy of Suffering for Christ;
2Tim on Endurance for Christ;
Heb on Sufficiency of Christ; and
1John on Living in Light of Christ.
Overall, three quarters of hymns
were inspired by New Testament,
which reinstates our faith is much
about Christ, who is our All In All.

Whilst hymns may be traditional, it
is important to carry on the tradition
of hymn singing as hymns are valued
more for its lyrics than its melody.
The singing of hymns is a means for
believers young and old to express
praise to their Creator and Savior.
It’s also a way for us to communicate
with God using more than just words.
For they enable us to express fully
the grateful feelings of our hearts;
the experience of forgiveness and
the gracious work of the Holy Spirit.

Join the chorus of believers through
-out history to express commitment
and praise to God thro their words.
As the great hymn writer Isaac What
said: “The singing of God’s praise
is the part of worship most closely
related to heaven.” And we can look
forward to the day when all believers
past, present & future will join in one
great chorus around God’s throne,
singing the hymn: Holy Holy Holy,
Lord God Almighty!! Amen & Amen.

Praising God thro Hymns (Series 5)
20 Weeks (6 January to 22 May 2020)
———————————–
Week 1: Laws & History (Jan 6-10)
Jehovah Jireh My Provider (Gen 22)
Nearer My God to Thee (Gen 28)
Leaning On Everlasting Arms (Deut33)
God of Grace & God of Glory (Josh 1)
Come Thou Font of Blessing(1Sam 7)

Week 2: Psalms Book 1 (Jan 13-17)
Be Thou My Vision (Psalm 16)
The Lord’s My Shepherd (Ps 23)
Abide With Me (Psalm 27)
He Leadeth Me (Psalm 31)
This is My Father’s World (Ps 33)

Week 3: Psalms Book 2 (Jan 20-24)
As the Deer Panteth (Ps 42)
Be Still My Soul (Psalm 46)
All the Way My Saviour Leads (Ps 48)
Rock of Ages We Rely On (Ps 62)
Jesus Shall Reign (Psalm 72)

Week 4: Psalms Book 3/4 (Jan 27-31)
Precious Lord Take My Hand (Ps 73)
I Need Thee Every Hour (Ps 86)
Just A Closer Walk (Psalm 86)
God Will Take Care of You (Ps 91)
Praise to the Lord Almighty (Ps 103)

Week 5: Psalms Book 5 (Feb 3-7)
Open My Eyes That I May See (Ps 119)
Thy Word: Light to My Path (Ps 119)
Bringing In the Sheaves (Ps 126)
Search Me O God (Psalm 139)
To God be the Glory (Ps 145)

Week 6: Isaiah (Feb 10-14)
Jesus Paid It All (Isaiah 1)
Here I Am Lord (Isaiah 6)
How Great Thou Art (Isa 40)
At the Cross Saviour Bleed (Isa 53)
Guide Me O Thou Great Jeh (Isa 58)

Week 7: Prophets (Feb 17-21)
Have Thine Own Way (Jer 18)
Great Is Thy Faithfulness (Lam 3)
There’s A Fountain (Zech 13)
Our God:Ancient of Days (Dan 7)
Our God: Refiner’s Fire (Mal 3)

Week 8: Matthew (Feb 24-28)
Jesus Calls Us (Matthew 4)
Seek Ye First (Matthew 6)
Softly & Tenderly (Matthew 11)
Love Lifted Me (Matthew 14)
I’d Rather Have Jesus (Matt 16)

Week 9: John (Mar 2-6)
Lamb of God (John 1)
Jesus Loves Me (John 3)
Just As I Am (John 6)
Wonderful Words of Life (John 6)
Saviour Like a Shepherd Lead us (J10)

Week 10: John (Mar 9-13)
In the Sweet By and By (John 14)
Tis So Sweet to Trust In Jesus(Jn14)
I’ve Found a Friend (John 15)
Grace & Mercy At Calvary (John 19)
In the Garden With Jesus (John 20)

Week 11: Romans (Mar 16-20)
Christ for the World We Sing (Rom 1)
It Is Well With My Soul (Rom 5)
And Can It Be (Romans 8)
I Stand Amazed (Romans 11)
Take My Life & Let It Be (Rom 12)

Week 12: Ephesians (Mar 23-27)
Amazing Grace (Eph 2)
Blest Be the Tie That Binds (Eph 4)
O Master Let Me Walk (Eph 5)
Stand Up Stand Up for Jesus (Eph6)
Sweet Hour of Prayer (Eph 6:18)

Week 13: Philippians (Mar 30-Apr 3)
I Surrender All (Phil 3)
When I Survey t W Cross (Phil 3)
Love Divine All Love Excelling (Phil 3)
What A Friend We Have In Jesus (P4)
Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee (Phil 4)

Week 14: Second Timothy (Apt 6-10)
God of Grace & God of Glory (2Tim1)
I Know Whom I Have Believed (2Tim1)
We Want to Pass It On (2Tim 2:1-3)
Onward Christian Soldiers(2Tim2:3-5)
Channels Only (2Tim 2:20-21)

Week 15: Hebrews (Apr 13-17)
O Jesus I Have Promised (Heb 6)
Standing on the Promises (Heb 6)
Blessed Assurance (Heb 10)
Faith of Our Fathers (Heb 12)
Yesterday Today Forever (Heb 13)

Week 16: 1st John (Apt 20-24)
My Hope Is Built (IJn 1)
My Jesus I Love Thee (1Jn 4)
We’ll Love, Trust & Obey (1Jn 5:1-2)
We Shall Overcome (1Jn 5:2-5)
Victory in Jesus (1Jn 5:4-5, 14-15)

Week 17: Selection (Apr 27-May 1)
Jesus Lover of My Soul (Psa 17)
Mighty Fortress Is Our God (Ps 46)
Wideness In God’s Mercy (Ps 100)
Thank God for My Redeemer(Ps 105)
Publish Glad Tidings of Peace (Isa 40)

Week 18: Selection (May 4-8)
Cross Crowded Way of Life (Mt 25)
I Have Decided To Follow Jesus (Lk9)
According to Thy Gracious Word(Lk22)
I Love to Tell the Story (Acts 1)
God of the Earth, Sky & Sea (Acts 17)

Week 19: Selection (May 11-15)
Grace Greater than Our Sin (Rom 5)
Day by Day God With Us (2Cor 4)
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus (Col 3)
Take Time to be Holy (1Thess 5)
Fight the Good Fight (I Tim 6)

Week 20: Selection (May 18-22)
I am Thine O Lord (James 5)
The Old Rugged Cross (1Pet 2)
Know More About Jesus (2Pet 1)
Holy Holy Holy LGA (Revelation 4)
All Hail Power of Jesus’ Name(Rev19)

As the Bible is arranged by genre,
(Laws, History, Poetry, Prophets…),
to enhance understanding context
we’re meditating by time sequence.
For clarity and simplicity sake, here’s
Old Testament Expository Phases:
OT1: Torah Laws
OT1A: Genesis
OT1B: Poetry Book of Job
OT1C: Life of Moses (Exo to Deut)
OT2: Conquest to United Kingdom
OT2A: History to King David (1Chr)
OT2B: Five Books of Psalms
OT2C: 1 Kings & Wisdom Poetry
OT3: Divided Kingdom & Exile
OT3A: 2 Kings & Prophets
OT3B: 2 Chronicles & Prophets
OT3C: Return From Exile & Prophets

Following coverage of Northern
Kingdom, next we move South.
The book of 2 Chronicles spans
four centuries of Judah’s history
from the glory days of Solomon
and the building of the magnificent
temple to the conclusion of the
Babylonian Exile. Following death
of Solomon, a succession of good
and bad kings rises to power. As
go the leaders, so Go the people,
until finally the spiritually bankrupt
nation is carried off into captivity.
But the final verses of 2 Chronicles
sparkle with hope. After 70 years,
the Persian King Cyrus decrees
the rebuilding of God’s house
and the return of God’s people.

We’ll cover 2 Chron over 4 weekends
under the following eight divisions:
2C1-5: Solomon’s Temple Erected
2C6-9: Solomon’s Temple Dedicated
2C10-12: Divided Kingdom
2C13-16: Asa’s Reforms
2C17-20: Jehoshaphat’s Reforms
2C21-28: Judah’s Kings & Ahaz
2C29-32: Hezekiah’s Reform
2C33-36: Judah’s Last Days

Minor Prophets to Northern Kingdom

As the Bible is arranged by genre, to
enhance understanding of context
we’re covering it by time sequence.
We begin with the 5 books of Laws
to appreciate the Redemptive Plan
of God for mankind and Job (which
occurs in the time of Genesis) to
understand the sovereignty of God.

In Phase 2, we meditated on Joshua
to 2Samuel & 1 Chronicles up to King
David: the high point of Israel history
and poetry book of Psalms where
we learn to pray and praise God.
Then continuing the United Kingdom,
we go to reign of King Solomon in
1 Kings & cover wisdom poetry of
Proverbs, Song of Songs and Eccl.

In P3 2Kings, the next century sees
the decline of two nations indifferent
to God’s laws. In Israel, 19 wicked
kings in succession led the people
even further from God & Israel finally
went into captivity by Assyrians.
To the south, Judah survives 150
years longer; but corrupt leadership
brings 70 years of exile in Babylonia.

Continuing Phase 3, we focus next
on the prophets to northern kingdom
with dual themes of repentance and
judgment: “Shape Up or Ship Out.”
But each prophet spoke to unique
contemporary situation. So for
Hosea, the message is God’s love
for adulterous Israel; and for Amos,
God’s people ripe for punishment.
And for Jonah, the message is God
Loves the Gentiles; and in Nahum,
it’s doom of Nineveh for its brutality.

Hosea prophesies to a corrupt and
idolatrous Israel from his experience.
Instructed by God to marry harlot
Homer, Hosea finds mirrored in his
domestic life an accurate portrayal
of unfaithfulness of God’s people.
Drawing a striking parallel from his
marriage and his wife’s defection,
Hosea carries God’s message:
The wickedness of Israel will bring
swift tragedy and certain calamity.
However, though God’s love must
discipline, it will surely restore. His
love desires the best for His beloved.

Amos: Externally, the northern
kingdom was marked by flourishing
business; but internally the nation’s
condition was grim. Idolatry, greed,
injustice, hypocrisy, oppression
and arrogance indicated a growing
malignancy of deep-seated sin.
Amos, a farmer by trade, dons the
mantle of a prophet to make God’s
message crystal clear to those who
had grown lax in luxurious living:
Repent or Perish. For judgment are
soon to break over God’s people.

Jonah called by God to warn
the Assyrian city of Nineveh of
impending destruction. However,
the brutal Assyrians are Israel’s
bitter enemies, and Jonah both
fears and despises them. Instead
of heading to Nineveh, Jonah sets
sail in the opposite direction. A storm
ensues, Jonah is tossed overboard
and is swallowed by a great fish.
After three days the fish deposits
Jonah on dry land. Jonah then goes
to Nineveh & preaches as God had
instructed. When the people repent,
Jonah’s resentment grows until God
teaches him a lesson in compassion.

By the time Nahum comes on the
scene Nineveh is even more wicked
than it had been during the time
of Jonah about 100 years earlier.
The repentant spirit of the people
and the revival that stemmed from
Jonah’s visit is gone. Now a terror
to the entire world, the fortress city
of Nineveh seems impenetrable.
But God will no longer overlook the
city’s horrible sins, and He sends
Nahum to deliver the message of
impending destruction. The entire
Assyrian empire will be destroyed
and the mighty city of Nineveh
will be gutted by a raging fire.

Dear Friends, 
As the Bible is arranged by genre, to
enhance understanding of context
we’re covering it by time sequence.
We begin with the 5 books of Laws
to appreciate the Redemptive Plan
of God for mankind and Job (which
occurs in the time of Genesis) to
understand the sovereignty of God.
In the Second Phase, we meditated
Josh to 2Sam & 1 Chron, up to King
David: the high point of Israel history.
and poetry book of Psalms where
we learn to pray and praise God.
Then we go to the Third Phase on 
the reign of King Solomon in 1 Kings
& cover wisdom poetry in Proverbs,
Song of Songs and Ecclesiastes.

Continuing, Solomon’s zeal for God
cools as pagan wives turn his heart
away from godly worship. The next
century sees the decline of the two
nations,indifferent to God’s precepts.
In 2 Kings, the author weaves the
historical threads of two nations
into one fabric. In Israel, 19 wicked
kings in succession led the people
even further from God. Despite the
efforts of Elisha & other prophets,
judgment can no longer be stayed.
Israel finally went into captivity,
being dispersed by the Assyrians.
To the south, Judah survives 150
years longer. But in the end, the
damage done by corrupt leadership
again brings a bitter harvest:
70 years of exile in Babylonia.

We’ll cover 2 Kings over 3 weekends
under the following six divisions:
2Kgs 1-3: Ministry of Elisha
2Kgs 4-8: Ministry of Elisha
2Kgs 9-12: Jehu and Joash
2Kgs 13-17: Assyria Destroys Israel
2Kgs 18-21: Hezekiah the Reformer
2Kgs22-25:Babylon Conquers Judah
Lord, we learn from 2 Kings of the
disastrous end of those who shut
God out of their lives. We believe
in You and help us to live for You
in our lives & in Your church. Amen.