Hymns, Psalms and Spiritual Songs
As a seminary student minoring in church music, I took classes in voice, piano, conducting and other core subjects. Of those, my church music history class was the most entertaining. Our delightfully eccentric professor required us to memorize the five parts of the Mass Ordinary — Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus and Agnus Dei — in their original Latin. He wanted us not only to know the texts but also to recognize their corresponding Gregorian chant tunes using only two or three introductory notes as cues to their identity. Despite our initial mispronunciations and wrong notes, we soon created music that was beautiful, sacred and holy.
God’s people have sung hymns, psalms and spiritual songs for millennia. Whether directly from Scripture or incorporating theological themes, their texts often teach us about the character and nature of God and our relationship to Him. Because melodies make it easier for us to remember lyrics, rich truths of the faith are deposited into the deepest parts of our hearts, minds and spirits when we sing.
Of the hundreds of hymns cataloged in my mind, Anglican priest Charles Wesley’s “And Can It Be That I Should Gain?”[1] remains a favorite. The first, fourth and fifth stanzas are below. Respectively, they express personal wonder at God’s love and sacrifice; draw on the imagery of Paul and Silas being released from their imprisonment; and declare the freedom from condemnation available for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). As you meditate on these lyrics today, allow yourself to get lost in their truth and beauty.
And can it be that I should gain
An int’rest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me?
Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free;
I rose, went forth and followed Thee.
No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
[1] First published by Charles Wesley in “Hymns and Sacred Poems” (1739) with the title “Free Grace.” It is the official hymn of Asbury Theological Seminary, Joy’s alma mater.
