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Isaac Watts was a very prolific hymn writer, and helped to lead the change in hymnody to not only sing the psalms, but also include new poetry for original songs of Christian experience to be used in worship. His hymns are very well-known. You may be familiar with some of them, including Joy to the World, Our God Our Help in Ages Past, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, and I Sing the Mighty Power of God.
This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday, and we will be singing one of his hymns about the Holy Spirit! And yes, you read that correctly, we will actually be singing... online, in your cars, AND in in-person worship! (Please remember to wear a mask if you are age 5 or older AND not fully vaccinated.) Consider the words of this hymn:
Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove,
With all thy quickening powers;
Kindle a flame of sacred love
In these cold hearts of ours.
Together, with one voice, we call upon the Holy Spirit, acknowledge the Spirit's quickening (life-giving) powers, and ask to receive that power into our hearts that we may be granted the ability to love God and love others with the love of God...
In vain we tune our formal songs;
In vain we strive to rise;
Hosannas languish on our tongues,
And our devotion dies.
Here we acknowledge that without the Holy Spirit, and acting upon our own human power, we don't have what it takes to praise God as God deserves to be praised, nor can our devotion to God be sustained by our own power. This also implies that empowered by the Holy Spirit, our praises and devotion will soar!
Dear Lord, and shall we ever live
At this poor dying rate?
Our love so faint, so cold to thee,
And thine to us so great!
This verse confesses our lack of love, and also our knowledge of God's abundant love for us, and we ask how can we live this way? How can we change? Who can remedy this situation? (HINT: The answer is in the next verse!!)
Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove,
With all thy quickening powers;
Come, shed abroad a Savior's love,
And that shall kindle ours.
Finally, we ask the Holy Spirit again into our hearts, that we may ultimately learn to love God and one another.
Join us in singing this hymn, wherever you are, as you worship with us this Sunday!!
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