Favorite Hymns (Part 3) - To Be Sung At My Funeral

Okay – so here we go. I have managed to stretch this thing out over three days (not my intention); and I am sure that some are simply on the edge of their proverbial seat to know the third of three hymns that I would like to have done at my funeral. I should say that my desire would be for more than three hymns to be done, but when I asked the congregation this question, I limited them to three; so I am going to honor that number.

As I mentioned before, I love the anthem Hymns – big, powerful and majestic proclamations of the power and greatness of God. I recall attending a meeting where 40,000 men were singing “Holy, Holy, Holy; Lord God Almighty” and I was awestruck at the intensity and power of such a time. I can only imagine how intense and powerful it will be when the whole company of the redeemed along with the angelic choir lift up there voices in praise to God.

So then, without further adieu, here is one of the great anthem hymns to be sung with vigor and joy when the Lord calls me home. Please note the less commonly sung verses as well:

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!

O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!

All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near;

Praise Him in glad adoration.

Praise to the Lord, Who over all things so wondrously reigneth,

Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!

Hast thou not seen how thy desires ever have been

Granted in what He ordaineth?

Praise to the Lord, Who hath fearfully, wondrously, made thee;

Health hath vouchsafed and, when heedlessly falling, hath stayed thee.

What need or grief ever hath failed of relief?

Wings of His mercy did shade thee.

Praise to the Lord, Who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;

Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee.

Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,

If with His love He befriend thee.

Praise to the Lord, Who, when tempests their warfare are waging,

Who, when the elements madly around thee are raging,

Biddeth them cease, turneth their fury to peace,

Whirlwinds and waters assuaging.

Praise to the Lord, Who, when darkness of sin is abounding,

Who, when the godless do triumph, all virtue confounding,

Sheddeth His light, chaseth the horrors of night,

Saints with His mercy surrounding.

Praise to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore Him!

All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him.

Let the Amen sound from His people again,

Gladly for aye we adore Him.

Words: Joachim Neander (Stras­lund: 1680);

trans­lat­ed from Ger­man to Eng­lish by Cath­er­ine Wink­worth, 1863.

Isn’t that great! “Ponder anew, what the Almighty can do, if with His love He befriend thee.” O how great is our salvation. My sin – so deep – so vile – so ingrained in me. Yet the salvation of God is greater, deeper, wider, more powerful. Thank the Lord – Praise to the Lord!

Soli Deo Gloria,

Pastor Ed