Sunday's Hymn: O For a Closer Walk With God

One more from William Cowper.

O for a closer walk with God,
A calm and heavenly frame,
A light to shine upon the road
That leads me to the Lamb!

Where is the blessedness I knew,
When first I saw the Lord?
Where is the soul refreshing view
Of Jesus, and His Word?

What peaceful hours I once enjoyed!
How sweet their memory still!
But they have left an aching void
The world can never fill.

Return, O holy Dove, return,
Sweet messenger of rest;
I hate the sins that made Thee mourn
And drove Thee from my breast.

The dearest idol I have known,
Whate’er that idol be
Help me to tear it from Thy throne,
And worship only Thee.

So shall my walk be close with God,
Calm and serene my frame;
So purer light shall mark the road
That leads me to the Lamb.

—William Cowper

Other hymns, worship songs, or quotes for this Sunday:

• We Have an Anchor at The Happy Wonderer
• Secure — By His Grace at The Outspoken Tulip

Selected Reading, April 25, 2020

Here are a few pieces I read this week and now recommend to you. 

Bible Study

We’re not so far from Philippi
Posts that explain a short passage of scripure and apply it are my favorite thing. In this one Kim Shay looks at Philippians 2:5-11. “We live in a culture that values ascending. Why else do we revere celebrities? Or assume that because they are celebrities they must be good and nice people? Why else do we assume that a celebrity Christian is a nice person, when in reality he/she could be a total boor? We, like the Philippians, allow ourselves to buy into the notion that ascending equals virtue.”

“Cast all your anxiety on him” (1 Peter 5:7)
Here’s another one. In this post, Bill Mounce explains why 1 Peter 5:7 is really about humility. “Humility is coming to a right understanding of who you are in Christ. As we stand before our Creator, utterly dependent and trusting on him, when we begin to think rightly about God, then we will begin to think rightly about ourselves. Once we come to that place, then it will be easy (or at least easier) and natural to take our worries and cares off of our own shoulders and place them on God’s.”

Biography

Elizabeth Barrows Ussher — Caring for All During the Armenian Resistance
Another Christian woman you should know.

Theological Term of the Week: Doxology

doxology
A statement of praise to God; also a short hymn of praise. Many examples of doxologies are found in scripture.

• Two doxologies from scripture:

  For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.(Romans 11:36 ESV)

  “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” (Revelation 4:11 ESV)

Learn more:

1. Compelling Truth: What is a doxology, and is it found in the Bible?
2. H. B. Charles: What Is a Doxology? (video)
3. John MacArthur: Doxology: Praise for Salvation
4. H. B. Charles: Blessings and Praise: Benedictions and Doxologies in Scripture

Related terms: 

• corporate prayer
• benediction
• liturgy
• preaching
• regulative principle of worship
• worship

Filed under Ecclesiology

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