Top 10 Tuesday: Hymns I Can Sing Over and Over Again
February 20th, 2007 | by Scott |In the interest of equal time and to belie the perception that I can be too critical I thought I would share my favorite hymns to sing.
For the purpose of this list I will not mention contemporary hymns but ones that have been established for some time. It’s harder for me to pinpoint exactly why I like these songs so much, but I do.
10. Farther Along–Come on, if this song is sung right you just can’t help but tap your feet along with it. “Never molested, though in the wrong” is one of my favorite lines. It’s just fun to sing.
9. Just A Closer Walk With Thee–This song would not have made my list in years past until I heard my friend Michael McDermott perform it in concert. In recent years he has walked off stage during this song leaving the crowd to sing the chorus, a la U2 and “40.” But this is a song that captures the broken spirit pleading for greater intimacy with the Lord.
8. On Zion’s Glorious Summit–Beautiful apocalyptic imagery and a stirring sanctus always allow me to feel the timeless nature of community and church. It’s not just the corporeal with which I worship but the church eternal.
7. How Firm A Foundation–”That soul tho all hell should endeavor forsake, I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.” That line alone captures the relentless grace of the Hound of Heaven that we often dismiss. He is with us. We shall not be afraid.
6. Lord, We Come Before Thee Now–If I had my way this would be our opening song each week. Two elements stand out for me: my own inability to lead myself in verse 3 and the mission of the Kingdom to proclaim the year of Jubilee in verse 4.
5. My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less–I cannot place my hope, trust, faith or allegiance in any other. He is the constant.
4. Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing–With the real lyrics not the sanitized version some hymn books still have. Give me the melodious sonnet, the flaming tongues as I raise my Ebenezer. Again, we see the relentless pursuit of Christ seeking us out. He is the only source.
3. Is It For Me?–Such love, such grace, such tender and compassionate mercy. What song capture the incredulity of salvation such as this?
2. Be Thou My Vision–It is a felony that this hymn is not in our books. I love the Irish feel of this timeless hymn.
1. My Jesus, I Love Thee–This song just says it all for me. My gracious Redeemer. My Savior. If ever I loved thee…may it be now. There is no other hymn that captures my need, my heart and my desire to know more of Him. Not just because He is God. But because He is God.
What about you?