This has to be my favorite song. It reflects a deep-hearted trust in Jesus as my Righteousness and only, yet sure, Hope of Heaven! Every time my church sings this song, I am filled both with joyful confidence in Christ as well as a humble recognition of my unworthiness and sin. This song points the soul to Christ with such clarity and force that few songs truly compare with it, in my opinion. What greater reason do we need to fully treasure and cling to Christ than the glorious truths contained in this song?
The song was originally written by Charitie Lees Smith Bancroft in 1863. But the song has recently been publicized by Vikki Cook, who wrote an alternate melody for it. Vikki’s husband is Sovereign Grace Ministries’ producer and director of music publishing, Steve Cook.
You can find sheet music for this song here. You can also listen to a musical clip of the first verse from Upward: The Bob Kauflin Hymns Project (produced by Sovereign Grace Ministries) by clicking here.
I hope the message of this song blesses you as much as it blesses me.
I haven’t heard anyone say that no modern songs have great words. What I know is that a much greater percentage of modern songs have doctrinally weaker lyrics than they did previous the 20th century. I would ask Bob to explain why he must make this point, that is, that modern songs have equally good words to the older ones. Besides Charismatics, new agers, and purpose-driven types, no one is saying this, perhaps except for Bob himself.
One will notice that the links to which Bob recommends for music for these modern songs, the music has a rock beat. A rock beat by admission of those who originated this kind of music (the ungodly) is sensual, physically addicting. If music is for worship, which Scripture unanimously teaches, Bob will have to argue that God likes something sensual and fleshly. Or perhaps we can just say that Bob recommends music that is sensual and fleshly to accompany very good lyrics. The medium becomes the message. If anyone truly likes those words, they are deeply offended by the incongruous godless music that accompany them. Also listen to the man singing the lyrics. I say man, but he sings in a whispery, feminine voice, like a worldly entertainer. So much more could be said about that. All of this does reflect on the discernment of Bob, and the trustworthiness of his blog.
“Anonymous”,
You seem to have a high concern in letting others know that my blog is not trustworthy. Rather than stating “I would ask Bob to explain…”, why not just ask me?
I have read several IFB works (and even one IF, no B) on the issue of music. A common theme in them is the fact that modern music is for the most part extremely shallow in its message. This repeated argumentation (often repeated in classrooms and pulpits) leads one to assume that the majority of Christian Contemporary Music or of modern Praise and Worship Music is very shallow in its message, let alone its beat. It is this assumption that I am addressing. I have found, upon actually listening to CCM and PWM, that this is emphatically not the case. Yes, there are some shallow songs, but most are at the very least equivalent to the equally shallow lyrics of many more modern hymns (those written in the 1880’s and later). In fact many modern songs have extremely rich and deep messages (see for instance this post).
As for the rock beat, I contend that Scripture does not anywhere define “a beat” as sensual. David danced before the Lord, the Psalmist encourages shouting, clapping, and the use of percussion instruments. Further, a survey of cultural music types will discover that many cultures have a beaty rythmic music style, which in no way is associated with sensuality.
The Bible also doesn’t say, “Thou shalt not smoke.” Is that permission? It says, “Abstain from fleshly lust,” but it doesn’t say what fleshly lust is. It says “Be not conformed to this world,” but doesn’t say what “the world” is. It doesn’t take an expert to know that the rhythm is where rock, rap, country, pop, etc. goes wrong, but the people who play it all know what they are doing with the rhythm. People know, for instance, the difference between what they do and classical, which is why “Hooked on Classics” was invented. The only difference was a change in rhythm. The Bible has many passages that deal directly against what the rock beat does to people, and I think you know them Bob. You can stick with your, rock beat not mentioned in the Bible, but it just shows your incredible lack of discernment. Going with your argument, all music is acceptable, including heavy metal. Yes, other cultures use heavy rhythm in their music, and look at those cultures—Africa for instance, rampant sexual sin. Then look at the Afro culture in the U.S., rampant sexual sin. I think you know all of this, but you have to hang on to something to keep what you delight in.
You argue that CCM is stereotyped as shallow. MacArthur says CCM is shallow too, but he doesn’t separate from it; just chooses not to use the shallow variety. He has no axe to grind, so why would he broadbrush?
Please note this post in regards to the recent discussion. This post summarizes the discussion and declares it is now over. Any further comments by “Anonymous” will be deleted. Again check out this post for the reasoning behind this decision.
Thank you.
Music in and of itself is not the problem. It seems some posters here are fixated with rythm and beats as the core of why pop culture music is harmful to a believer. The reason it is harmful is the hollow message and lack of hope it has. A finding flaw with rythm argument chases it’s own tail and when compared to smoking you see that one is harmful to the body, a direct violation of scripture, and the other is not. Music is actually encouraged by the scripture as a means of joyous praise.
Music of all types can be addicting if one finds pleasure in it. So can anything that brings pleasure. But it is all in the mind of a person to distinguish what level to take that pleasure. When it ceases to become the joy of praise and becomes glorification of self you find the problem. And the problem with today’s music. It glorifies self and not God. Which has nothing to do with beat. If you dance for joy of salvation and the Lord it doesn’t matter what you dance to. But how can you dance to the Lord if the words you sing echo falsities and selfishness.
Any beat can be praise no matter how rythmic. The only lack of discernment I see here is that you don’t realize the difference between music of self and music of soul. When put to the glorification of God rock, rap, country and all these are good. When put to the common use of self they go wrong. Maybe the only one that by itself words or not would be the gyrating pulse of techno beats. But even here if one uses God given talents for such music it can become an instrument of God.
Don’t think of yourself here, the arguments made are dull. If one comes to know the Lord through one of these venue’s I would venture to guess that the angels in heaven would still sing. And if not for that music would have gone astray no thanks to people arguing the merits of the beats involved.
Good comments, Jay. Thanks for stopping by.
The comments here are more than six months old now, so don’t expect a response from “Anonymous”. But thanks for sharing your insights.
God bless,
Bob Hayton
This was one of the first hymns I learned after I was converted, and its simple distillation of key aspects of the gospel was a great help in bringing me to the realization that I did not have to be able to grasp the enormity of what Christ had done for me in order to be saved—I just had to believe he had done it! It reflects the gospel wonderfully, and was a great encouragement to me; I also chose it as one of the hymns at my baptism. Definitely a favorite.
In Christ,
Bnonn
Bnonn,
That’s great. In Australia they were using that song. It is by far one of my favorites.
Have you heard the Shane and Shane version of this song? It’s on their album Pages. Awe-inspiring. I love the lyrics.
No Sam, I haven’t. But I’ll have to check it out. Thanks.
This song is so beautiful! The first time I heard it performed was with (what I believed to be) fife and snare drum accompaniment. It sounded like it must have been wrote around the time of the American Revolution. It brought tears to my eyes just to hear it. Then, when I seen the date of its birth I knew my assumption was incorrect.
This is such a warm, gracious hymn.
I enjoy it too, Heather. Thanks for dropping your note.
In Christ,
Bob
I grew up with hymns, but had never heard Before the Throne of God. Wow! What a power packed song! So many scriptural allusions! I’m definitely a fan!