****A tribute to the music and faith of Philip Bliss

 

A TRIBUTE TO THE MUSIC AND FAITH OF PHILIP BLISS

 In last week's column about the hymn, I WILL SING OF MY REDEEMER, I noted the tragic train wreck that ended the life of the writer at the age of 38 years. 

Philip Bliss was more than just a hymn writer. He was also a composer, a singer, and an evangelist. His multiple talents are reflected in several other well-known hymns.

He wrote WONDERFUL WORDS OF LIFE for D.L. Moody’s brother-in-law who was about to launch a Sunday School publication. The name of the paper was to be WORDS OF LIFE and he wanted a song that would emphasize the importance of studying the Word of God.

The song was inspired by Peter’s response when Jesus asked him, “Do you also want to go away?” 

Peter answered, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (Jn. 5:24).

In another great hymn, HALLELUJAH! WHAT A SAVIOR, Philip described our human condition; we are vile, guilty of sin, and utterly helpless. And there is nothing we can ever do to merit God’s forgiveness and grace.

But the Man of Sorrows came and willingly subjected Himself to the shame and scoffing and agony of the cross at Calvary.
Isaiah. said, “The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” (Isa. 53:6)  
One day, when the Lord returns for those whom He bought, we will sing a new song around His throne, “Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God.”  (Rev. 19:1).  

I GAVE MY LIFE FOR THEE is a song that I rarely used for congregational singing because the lyrics are often misunderstood to imply that we must do something to earn our salvation. But in the proper biblical context, that is not the case.

Frances Havergal wrote the lyrics, but the music score was composed by Philip Bliss. The song poses four questions that center around four action verbs – Give, Leave, Bear, and Bring. 

God’s Word gives us instructive examples as to how we should respond:

God expects us to give to others the same way He has given to us – "freely, abundantly, and running over." (Luke 6:38)

Jesus told the women caught in adultery, “Go now and LEAVE your life of sin.”  (John 8:11)

Since we have been forgiven, we are commanded to “BEAR with each other and... forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Col. 3:13) 

And what does God expect us to bring? Malachi is clear; God is not pleased with our sacrifices.  Instead, our responses to His grace should be willful, loving sacrifices of praise that come from grateful hearts because of all that He has done. 

So, this song doesn’t really suggest that we must do something to earn God’s favor. That would be an insult to Him. We are saved by grace through faith and now, He wants us to go out into the world to serve Him.

Philip Bliss also wrote the music score for the hymn, IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL, but the words were penned by Horatio Spafford after the tragic death of his children.

We often think of this hymn in the context of comfort for those who are grieving but in the first stanza, we get a glimpse of Spafford’s faith during a time of unbearable grief; “When sorrows, like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, ‘It is well, it is well with my soul.’”

But the hymn has another important dimension. Like Bliss’s, "Hallelujah!  What a Savior," it also addresses our sinful nature. 

In the third stanza, Spafford, in his desperate condition, finds comfort and joy in God’s mercy and grace. “My sin, O the bliss of this glorious thought; My sin, not in part but the whole, Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more.  Praise the Lord; praise the Lord, O my soul.”

****IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL

Horatio Spafford was a wealthy Chicago lawyer and businessman in the mid-1800s.  He and his wife, Anna, had five children.  In 1871 his youngest became ill and he died.  Shortly after that, the great Chicago fire wiped out his home.  His insurance company wouldn’t cover the loss because it was deemed an “Act of God.”

In 1873 he decided to take his family to help his friend, D. L. Moody with some evangelism services in England.   Just before their departure, a business emergency interrupted his trip so, he sent his wife and four daughters ahead and planned to meet up with them later.

After several days, his wife wired a message; their ship had collided with another and sank.  All four of his daughters had perished in the wreck.   Anna’s message was, “saved alone, what shall I do?”

In just two years, they had lost all five of their children.

Horatio left immediately to be with his grieving wife in England.

On the way, he wrote the lyrics to the hymn, “IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL.”

We usually think of this hymn in the context of comfort for those who are grieving.  In the first stanza, we get a glimpse of Horatio’s faith during a time of unbearable grief; “When sorrows, like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, ‘It is well, it is well with my soul.’”

Well, that is the short story, but beyond the sorrow, this hymn has another dimension; our sin natures.  The prophet, Isaiah, described our human condition like this: “But we are all like an unclean thing” (Isa. 64:6).

By using that phrase, he may have been alluding to the disease of leprosy.

Leprosy is a stinking, reeking mass of rotting, dead flesh.  It’s disgusting; it’s repulsive; it oozes with puss and blood.  Can you imagine someone trying to cover his leprosy with fine white silk garments?  That wouldn’t change the facts.  The diseased flesh would still stink, and the uncleanness would begin to bleed through the fabric until the fine silk becomes as corrupt as the man.

And that’s how God sees men who attempt to clean themselves up and cover the disease of their sin with religious good works.  The prophet continues; “All our righteousnesses (good works) have become as filthy rags” (Isa. 64:6).

Several years ago my pastor preached a series through the Ten Commandments and those sermons exposed our true conditions; we are all sin-stained lawbreakers.  So, every Sunday, I left feeling rotten about my sin.  And if you feel that way, that’s evidence of the convicting work of the Spirit of God in you.

In his third verse, Spafford expressed an attitude of grateful praise.  In his desperate, sinful condition, he found joy in God’s mercy and grace.  “My sin, O the bliss of this glorious thought; My sin, not in part but the whole, Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more.  Praise the Lord; praise the Lord, O my soul.”