Hanging our hope on God
Just reading through some of William Cowper's Olney Hymns last night and came across this one. Rich in sea-faring imagery it speaks to the tempest of life and all the temptations that surround us and seek to turn us from God. Ultimately it is a plea for God to keep us when our "fears are great" and our "strength is small" and that we would continue to hang our hope in God, resting in his constant love and faithful care.
The billows swell, the winds are high,
Clouds overcast my wintry sky;
Out of the depths to thee I call, —
My fears are great, my strength is small.
O Lord, the pilot's part perform,
And guard and guide me through the storm,
Defend me from each threatening ill,
Control the waves, —say, "Peace be still."
Amidst the roaring of the sea,
My soul still hangs her hope on thee;
Thy constant love, thy faithful care,
Is all that saves me from despair.
Dangers of every shape and name
Attend the followers of the Lamb,
Who leave the world's deceitful shore,
And leave it to return no more.
Though tempest-toss'd and half a wreck,
My Saviour through the floods I seek;
Let neither winds nor stormy main
Force back my shatter'd bark again.
— William Cowper (Olney Hymns, XXXVII, Temptation)
The billows swell, the winds are high,
Clouds overcast my wintry sky;
Out of the depths to thee I call, —
My fears are great, my strength is small.
O Lord, the pilot's part perform,
And guard and guide me through the storm,
Defend me from each threatening ill,
Control the waves, —say, "Peace be still."
Amidst the roaring of the sea,
My soul still hangs her hope on thee;
Thy constant love, thy faithful care,
Is all that saves me from despair.
Dangers of every shape and name
Attend the followers of the Lamb,
Who leave the world's deceitful shore,
And leave it to return no more.
Though tempest-toss'd and half a wreck,
My Saviour through the floods I seek;
Let neither winds nor stormy main
Force back my shatter'd bark again.
— William Cowper (Olney Hymns, XXXVII, Temptation)
posted by Janice Van Eck at 11:04 AM
4 Comments:
i like that. I wonder if it would be easy to sing? :)
well, good Q... it was written to be sung but I have never heard it... maybe someone in cyberland knows a tune that would work?
well, i went to cyber hymnal but they don't have the music for it. Hymnsite doesn't have it either. But I was able to discover that it is sung to an 8,8,8,8 beat....so find a tune with that beat and it could be sung. :)
In our trinity hymnal only one song has that tune and that is o come o come emmanuel (without the chorus)
Okay..see good thing I have a hubby, he suggested a back door way. Discovered that 8888 is a long meter tune. Just need to pick one that will sound okay without the refrain. :) Apparently there are lots of them. YEAH! Maybe we'll sing it in church some day.
Cool... well, let me know if you find a tune that goes well with the words. I'd like to try it too... blessings, Janice
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