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Agapetos
Registered user
Username: Agapetos
Post Number: 233
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, July 31, 2006 - 1:29 am: |     |
I was reading the article in the January/February 2005 about the changed hymns in the SDA hymnal, and thought I'd add a few as I come across them.
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I love the hymn "Under His Wings". It's especially nice if you change the words written in third person into second person (so it becomes prayer, "Under Your wings... "I am Your child"). But anyway, the SDA hymnal has a small and very easy-to-miss alteration in the second verse, which may or may not have been intentional:
quote:The SDA hymnal reads:
Under His wings, what a refuge in sorrow!
How the heart yearningly turns to its rest!
Often when earth has no balm for my healing,
There I find comfort, and there I am blessed.
The original makes no mistake about where "rest" is found:
Under His wings, what a refuge in sorrow!
How the heart yearningly turns to His rest!
Often when earth has no balm for my healing,
There I find comfort, and there I am blessed.
A bit more glaringly, the last verse of Be Thou My Vision was changed:
quote:The SDA hymnal reads:
High King of Heaven, When vict'ry is won,
May I reach Heaven's joys, O bright Heaven's Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
The writer of the original, however, knew the King had already won the victory:
High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heavenís joys, O bright Heavenís Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
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Agapetos
Registered user
Username: Agapetos
Post Number: 234
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, July 31, 2006 - 1:43 am: | |
From "Crown Him With Many Crowns", there is some re-arranging of verse order. But verses 2 and 4 bear some small changes, which I can't quite understand:
quote:The SDA hymnal reads for verses 2 & 4, respectively:
Crown Him the Lord of love, behold His hands and side,
Those wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified.
No angel in the sky can fully bear that sight,
But downward bends his wondering eye at mysteries so great.
Crown Him the Lord of years, the Potentate of time,
Creator of the rolling spheres, ineffably sublime.
All hail, Redeemer, hail! For Thou has died for me;
Thy praise shall never, never fail throughout eternity.
The original reads:
Crown Him the Lord of love, behold His hands and side,
Those wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified.
No angel in the sky can fully bear that sight,
But downward bends his burning eye at mysteries so bright.
Crown Him the Lord of years, the Potentate of time,
Creator of the rolling spheres, ineffably sublime.
All hail, Redeemer, hail! For Thou has died for me;
Thy praise and glory shall not fail throughout eternity.
Now of course anyone compiling a hymnal must pick and choose which verses to squeeze into the hymnal, and that means leaving out some good ones. And leaving out ones that you don't agree with. I don't mind leaving out that which you disagree with (or which is debatable), but at the same time, these extra verses of Crown Him With Many Crowns really do bless me!
quote:Crown Him the virginís Son, the God incarnate born,
Whose arm those crimson trophies won which now His brow adorn;
Fruit of the mystic rose, as of that rose the stem;
The root whence mercy ever flows, the Babe of Bethlehem.
Crown Him the Son of God, before the worlds began,
And ye who tread where He hath trod, crown Him the Son of Man;
Who every grief hath known that wrings the human breast,
And takes and bears them for His own, that all in Him may rest.
Crown Him the Lord of life, who triumphed over the grave,
And rose victorious in the strife for those He came to save.
His glories now we sing, Who died, and rose on high,
Who died eternal life to bring, and lives that death may die.
Crown Him the Lord of Heaven, enthroned in worlds above,
Crown Him the King to Whom is given the wondrous name of Love.
Crown Him with many crowns, as thrones before Him fall;
Crown Him, ye kings, with many crowns, for He is King of all.
Crown Him the Lord of lords, who over all doth reign,
Who once on earth, the incarnate Word, for ransomed sinners slain,
Now lives in realms of light, where saints with angels sing
Their songs before Him day and night, their God, Redeemer, King.
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Agapetos
Registered user
Username: Agapetos
Post Number: 235
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, July 31, 2006 - 1:58 am: | |
Oops, forgot to put the word "burning" in bold:
quote:From the original hymn:
Crown Him the Lord of love, behold His hands and side,
Those wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified.
No angel in the sky can fully bear that sight,
But downward bends his burning eye at mysteries so bright.
I'm not sure exactly why "burning eye" is objectionable. At the same time, "wondering" does make a bit more sense and sound less... well, Catholic, I guess?
Here's another change with angels or heavenly beings in mind. It's from "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing". To be fair, I also found this change in a Lutheran hymnal once, so I don't think it was invented by the compilers of the Adventist hymnal. Nonetheless, it does express a certain doctrinal waryness, and if they had access to the two versions, it's clear which they would prefer:
quote:The SDA hymnal reads:
Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me ever to adore Thee,
May I still Thy goodness prove,
While the hope of endless glory
Fills my heart with joy and love.
The original:
Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it,
Mount of Thy redeeming love.
*****
There are a few other smaller changes. The SDA hymnal reads:
Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Hither by Thy help I've come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood.
O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind me closer still to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here's my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.
The original reads:
Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Here by Thy great help I've come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood.
O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here's my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.
*****
Additionally, the original has this final verse:
O that day when freed from sinning,
I shall see Thy lovely face;
Clothed then in blood washed linen
How I'll sing Thy sovereign grace;
Come, my Lord, no longer tarry,
Take my ransomed soul away;
Send thine angels now to carry
Me to realms of endless day.
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Agapetos
Registered user
Username: Agapetos
Post Number: 236
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, July 31, 2006 - 2:14 am: | |
"Rock of Ages" was also altered, however I think I've heard some of these adjustments from non-Adventist sources. The first and last verses have been changed:
quote:The SDA Hymnal reads:
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure;
Cleanse me from its guilt and power.
When my pilgrimage I close,
Victor o'er the last of foes,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
And behold Thee on Thy throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.
The original reads:
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure;
Save from wrath and make me pure.
While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes shall close in death,*
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.
[*cyberhymnal notes this line was originally "When my eye-strings break in death"]
*****
A poignant verse missing from the SDA hymnal:
Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to the cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.
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Agapetos
Registered user
Username: Agapetos
Post Number: 239
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, July 31, 2006 - 7:20 am: | |
The Introduction to the SDA Hymnal (1985) reads:
quote:The committee has sought hymns well suited for congregational singing and examined each one for scriptural and doctrinal soundness. ... They mined the treasures of Christian hymnody past and present. They selected favorites from our Adventist heritage and gospel songs both old and new. They sought hymns that affirm the distinctive beliefs of Seventh-day Adventists as well as those that express points of faith we hold in common with other Christian bodies. ...
New hymns were drawn from many sources. Hymnals old and new provided texts and tunes of enduring value from other churches. Sometimes it was necessary to alter the text of these hymns to eliminate theological aberrations or awkward, jarring expressions. With great caution, the text committee replaced archaic and exclusive language whenever this could be done without disturbing familiar phrases, straining fond attachments, or doing violence to historical appropriateness. ...
Purpose of the Hymnal
Ellen White, cofounder and spiritual leader of our church, noted that "the soul may ascend nearer heaven on the wings of praise." --Steps to Christ, p. 104. "Singing," she said, "...is as much an act of worship as is prayer." --Patriarchs of Prophets, p. 594. This hymnal is designed to help Seventh-day Adventists continue this chorus of praise that cheered God's ancient people, encouraged the early church, powered the Reformation, and brightens the fellowship of those who sare "the blessed hope."
You know, actually, I don't have much problem with changing words in songs. But in an official church hymnal, I think it's a little more strange to do so without footnoting changes (changes in "How Great Thou Art" are the only ones I've seen footnoted). Especially in such dramatic changes as what the Proclamation article noted, as well as the last verses of "Be Thou My Vision" and "Rock of Ages". Most of the changes, it appears, are over the doctrine of the state of the dead. The ones that really bug me, though, are the ones that mess with the atonement, with Jesus' finished work. And of course, calling the missing words "theological aberrations" is a bit stronger language than I expected! |
Grace_alone
Registered user
Username: Grace_alone
Post Number: 98
Registered: 6-2006
| | Posted on Monday, July 31, 2006 - 7:48 am: | |
Agapetos,
Thanks for sharing. They're all a little offensive in a way. It would be one thing to change verses to fit translations from one language to another, that makes sense. I just wonder how they legally get by with changing words, do they actually ask permission from whoever owns the rights to the hymns? Or are most hymns public domain?
The one that popped out at me was Crown Him with Many Crowns. The change from "burning" to "wondering". Is this an insinuation that God (The God of creation) sits up there in Heaven and "wonders" about mysteries? I can't imagine God ever wondering about anything!
And Rock of Ages - that's outrageous. Here the writer is obviously telling the story of the Gospel of Jesus and God's grace, and the SDA re-writers do everything they can to hide those important biblical facts. You know, if you don't believe in the gospel or God's grace, then don't take a song about it and mutilate it!
As a worship team leader that BURNS ME UP! |
Colleentinker
Registered user
Username: Colleentinker
Post Number: 4403
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Monday, July 31, 2006 - 3:16 pm: | |
Good comparisons, Ramone! I agree with your annoyance, Leigh Anne. All of those changes are significant. In Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing that seemingly small change that altered "Bind my wandering heart to Thee" to "Bind me closer still to Thee" is significant. Adventism believes a "wandering heart" has fallen out of salvation. One can't bind a heart that is actively wandering to Jesus. Instead, one can only ask God to PLEASE bind one to Him!--It's kind of like my childhood prayer, "Dear Jesus, P-L-E-A-S-E make me Good!!!"
Colleen |
Seekr777
Registered user
Username: Seekr777
Post Number: 561
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, July 31, 2006 - 4:15 pm: | |
I"m not a muscian but a few of the changes seem to update the wording and not use old dated words?? and to make it flow better with the music?? I'm sure that some were in fact changed to reflect the theology of the compiler.
Richard
rtruitt@mac.com
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Agapetos
Registered user
Username: Agapetos
Post Number: 242
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 01, 2006 - 1:27 am: | |
The burning/wondering thing isn't about God, it's about angels wondering at the mystery of Christ. I think it's Peter who said that angels longed to look into the mystery of Christ.
Most hymns are very old and are thus public domain. A few (usually more recent ones) must be used with permission, though. I think "Rock of Ages" may have been one of those. Yes, Richard, sometimes I think it's just a word & updated thing. But the change in "Come Thou Fount" actually make it more difficult ('here' --> 'hither'); and one change in "Crown Him with Many Crowns" actually ruins the rhyme ('bright' --> 'great').
Colleen, thanks for explaining that change in "Rock of Ages"! Very true! I knew it meant something but couldn't put my finger on it! In Adventism we thought that if you were truly His, then your heart wouldn't "wander", and if it did, then your salvation was at stake! We didn't know the "grace safety net". 
Having come out of Adventism, discovering the originals behind some of these changes has made a big difference, like the little word in "Under His Wings". I also like the third un-used verse in "Crown Him with Many Crowns".
But the one in this set that makes me cheer the most, though, is the original line from "Be Thou My Vision"--- "my victory won!" That's GOOD NEWS!!! That's probably the one in this set that I'm the most upset about having been changed. What a difference! |
Agapetos
Registered user
Username: Agapetos
Post Number: 243
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 01, 2006 - 1:29 am: | |
Wow, good summary, Grace_alone:
quote:"You know, if you don't believe in the gospel or God's grace,
then don't take a song about it and mutilate it!"
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Agapetos
Registered user
Username: Agapetos
Post Number: 244
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 01, 2006 - 1:31 am: | |
Oops, Colleen, I meant the change you pointed out in "Come Thou Fount", not "Rock of Ages", haha. |
Mwh
Registered user
Username: Mwh
Post Number: 119
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 02, 2006 - 2:05 pm: | |
Thanks for sharing this .. it so reminds me of the book 1984. Lets rewrite history ... that attitude makes me sick.
Anyways I rejoice in the Good News!!! The power of Sin is no more, I'm going to live forever with Jesus my Lord, its so awesome |
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