Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) -- Matt Crocker, Joel Houston, Salomon Ligthelm

 

This group effort found its most inspirational ‘voice’ in the waters. That would probably be a fair statement, if you asked Matt Crocker, Joel Houston, and Salomon Ligthelm to describe what led their spirits during the creation of “Oceans” in 2012. They and their group Hillsong have lots of water surrounding them in Australia -- namely, the Pacific Ocean (see an ancient map of it here), and the Indian Ocean. That is a fact of life for this island nation-continent and its inhabitants, so could that have subconsciously affected these three, particularly Salomon when he thought about a certain apostle and his incident on another body of water? They must have appreciated that a water setting was a productive medium for their song-writing purposes, given how the last piece of the song came together. Since the earth has been formed with approximately 70% oceans covering the face of it, do you think God had something in mind for us who live here surrounded by water?  

 

The ’Oceans’ that Matt, Joel, and Salomon experienced in 2012 emerged in multiple stages in various geographic locales. Sydney, Australia’s capital and Hillsong’s home, was where the water concept was born, and where the song’s lyrics finally culminated. Salomon, while in Sydney, was motivated by the episode of Peter walking on – and then sinking into, before Jesus saved him – the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 14:22-34; Mark 6:45-53; John 6:15-21). It was a key moment, the three songwriters acknowledge, to see something in Peter’s encounter as he stepped out of the boat, something that speaks to us who would be bold today. Matt, Joel, and Salomon evidently also sought out a waterfall near their studio in Sydney for the song’s final lyrics-writing session, as they continued to visualize Peter’s water-walking, and short-lived miracle. Additionally, much of the song’s lyrics were written over several days in an intervening episode in Joel’s apartment in New York City. Even while separated by wide distances during the song’s development, the three men found common ground in what they could see, and what they and the rest of us cannot see. There is a ‘great unknown’, a ‘mystery’ (v.1) in taking that step out of the safety of the boat, and moving at the call of Jesus. One has to be aware that you might sink. That ‘…feet may fail’ (the song’s subtitle) is an admission that you ultimately trust God with your life. While Peter was in the Sea of Galilee, Matt, Joel, and Salomon chose to seek out oceans as their metaphor, the deepest body of water on planet Earth. Judging from their lyrics, they wanted to emphasize that this is the most serious kind of commitment a believer makes, requiring whole-hearted devotion. A person’s ‘faith’ (v.1), ‘eyes’ (chorus), and ‘soul’ (chorus) are thus completely focused on Him, not on the water. His attributes are juxtaposed to the water that might drown me, yes. But, where else can you find Him, and His ‘embrace’ (chorus), His ‘sovereign hand’ (v.2).

 

Fear is cast out, and trust grows. That is a key unspoken axiom of the ‘Oceans’ that Matt, Joel, and Salomon sailed upon in 2012. Consider Peter, the professional fisherman, someone accustomed to being on the water. Why didn’t he begin to swim; did his fear overwhelm even something he should have known intrinsically? And, what do you do if you’re not a fish, or don’t really like the water, and really cannot swim too well? Us landlubbers may feel especially hamstrung…I might really drown! Isn’t that the point, though? God doesn’t need me to work out, take swimming lessons, and become an Olympic phenom. When I feel unskilled at a task, perhaps that is just the place where He wants me to be. He will be all that I am not, and so much more, giving me all the coaching that I need. Are you ready to be animated by Him?              

 

Watch the song story here in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zlbunWsV5A

 

See here also background information on the song: https://www.godtube.com/popular-hymns/oceans-where-feet-may-fail-/

 

See more background information on the song here: Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) - Wikipedia

 

See here some background information on the planet’s oceans: Ocean - Wikipedia

 

Status of picture-map of Pacific Ocean: This work is in the public domain in its country of origin and other countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 100 years or fewer. (Author is Abraham Ortelius, 1527-1598.) This map was published in 1589 in the author’s Theatrum Orbis Terrarum. It was not only the first printed map of the Pacific, but it also showed the Americas for the first time. File:Ortelius - Maris Pacifici 1589.jpg - Wikipedia

Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus -- Charles Wesley

Thirty-seven-year-old Charles Wesley read his bible, as the remembrance of Deity’s arrival in-the-flesh approached one year in 18^th Century England (see its flag here). Lots of prophets had given clues for centuries about this singular event, and so Charles leaned on those to craft his poetry, while also quite possibly borrowing the thoughts of a century-old philosopher’s inspirational words about how God uniquely works in the human heart. The circumstances of many of the orphaned children in the surrounding English community were apparently also on his mind, so Charles borrowed the words of a prayer that he felt expressed his sense of how one special child’s life could raise the lives of others who were not so fortunate. Whether Charles or some other anonymous person first uttered this prayer, it speaks for all of us.

 

Charles Wesley authored at least 18 Christmas songs that were collected into one publication (Hymns for the Nativity of Our Lord and New Year’s Day, 1745), including ‘Come…Jesus’, a prayer-poem that Charles used to celebrate not just the arrival of the Jesus-babe, but also to create expectation for His return someday. Especially what Haggai (2:7) had to say about the ‘desire of nations’ helped spur Charles’ poetry. But, he was likely reading lots of Isaiah’s, and Micah’s, and Matthew’s, and Luke’s writings, also, among others. Was Ecclesiastes (3:11) in there too, as he mentions humanity finding ‘rest in thee’? It’s thought that Wesley might have read something from the philosopher Blaine Pascal, who said a century earlier that ‘There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every person that cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator’…was Pascal thus also aware of what the preacher said in Ecclesiastes? Verse two of Charles’ poem is a prayer, uttered by either himself or someone in his time, and is worth repeating here: ‘Born Your people to deliver, born a child and yet a King, born to reign in us forever, now Your gracious kingdom bring. By Your own eternal Spirit, rule in all our hearts alone; by Your all sufficient merit, raise us to Your glorious throne. Amen.’ Finally, Wesley was said to be dismayed by the state of orphans in his community, and also by the rift between classes of people of his time, and that this prayer resonated with him as he thought about a time and place where all peoples would be lifted above earth’s trials. Nothing hurts in a human life more than to experience want or conflict on a holiday that is supposed to embody joy. Seems like Charles understood that, huh?

 

Jesus arrived, some might say unexpectedly. He was anticipated by prophets, and yet He took most people by surprise because of the venue He chose. And, that He is supposed to be returning creates even more hope, at least for those who want Him to recreate everything again. What will it be like, this New Heaven and New Earth (Isaiah 65-66; 2 Peter 3; Revelation 21)?  It’s almost beyond imagination’s power, and certainly cannot be adequately described, even with scores of adjectives. It will have to be seen and experienced. Jesus said the time is known by only His Father (Mark 13:32), so there will be something about it that takes everyone by surprise. You and I need not fret about that time and its uncertainty, for the good that He created in the beginning will be His to remake in ‘imperishable’ and ‘immortal’ fashion (1 Cor. 15:53-54), in a flash (v.52). In one sense He will be expected, but I long to be thrilled, flabbergasted, swallowed up, and speechless at seeing His amazing return. Are you ready to be astonished?   

   

   

   

See more information on the song story in these sources: The Complete Book of Hymns – Inspiring Stories About 600 Hymns and Praise Songs by William J. Petersen and Ardythe Petersen, Tyndale House Publishers, 2006; Amazing Grace: 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions by Kenneth W. Osbeck, Kregel Publications, 1990.

 

Does Jesus Care? -- Frank E. Graeff

This 41-year old hymnist had an apparently hidden gloom, which he did not easily address. Perhaps the persona he projected to others helped him manage the dark feelings with which he couldn’t cope. Frank Ellsworth Graeff must have asked himself many times “Does Jesus Care?” by the time he actually penned the words to this song just after the turn of the 20^th Century. He found great strength in the words of Peter (pictured here),

and that’s why he could proclaim ‘Oh yes…!’ to answer his own question. Maybe he believed others struggled as he did, coaxing himself to go public with his emotions and his path to the tonic he discovered.

Frank Ellsworth Graeff’s “brotherly love” attitude he adopted in his hometown of Philadelphia and his nickname as “The Sunshine Minister” conveyed one impression of this minister that belied the despair that had built as he approached mid-life. Graeff was reportedly a favorite especially among children because of his usually bright disposition. And yet, there were tragedies, not unlike those that dim any person’s outlook. His family suffered many deaths through the latter part of the 19^th Century (according to one great fellow blogger, see link below), including a young sister’s demise in the same year that Graeff wrote “Does Jesus Care”, a testimony to the song’s final verse in which he describes bidding ‘goodbye’ to someone close. Other sources indicate he also met many physical struggles, though what these were exactly remains undefined. These mounting episodes apparently tormented him, perhaps repeatedly, and the multiple verses suggest he never completely conquered these lingering bouts of depression.

What hauls a hurting soul from the depths? Graeff’s turn, unsurprisingly for a minister, to scripture is a lesson in reality for others like himself. Don’t just try to convince others you’re OK, giving them a smile and an upbeat word. Be real, for that’s the way to find the true remedy. Peter’s an interesting example of this kind of circumstance. Who else could say as the apostle so aptly does, to lean on Jesus with my anxieties (1 Peter 5:7)? Here was a guy who wouldn’t stick by his closest friend when confronted by accusers. He ran from his anxious moments. But, that didn’t rule the rest of his life. Peter and Frank could both announce with certainty ‘Yes, He cares!’ with  renewed vigor, ironically because of the death of the God they trusted. Sounds kinda foolish at first, doesn’t it? See how you feel, knowing that He once hurt like you do. And, now He’s waiting for you on the other side of that hurt. Still think it’s foolish?

       

Information on the song was also obtained from the books  Amazing Grace – 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions, by Kenneth W. Osbeck, 1990, Kregel Publications; 101 More Hymn Stories by Kenneth W. Osbeck, Kregel Publications, 1985; The Complete Book of Hymns – Inspiring Stories About 600 Hymns and Praise Songs, by William J. and Ardythe Petersen, 2006, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.; and Then Sings My Soul – 150 of the World’s Greatest Hymn Stories, Robert J. Morgan, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2003.

An especially good account of Graeff’s life is here by another hymn story enthusiast: http://drhamrick.blogspot.com/2013/06/does-jesus-care.html