God Is the Fountain Whence – Benjamin Beddome

What would you say about God in your 50th year, or perhaps if you lived to be as old as 70? That’s a question someone might have asked Benjamin Beddome at one time, and he had an answer – read the words to the hymn “God Is the Fountain Whence”. One could sum it up this way: Beddome felt that he owed everything he experienced to the Lord. Not a surprise, coming from someone who preached sermons and wrote over 800 hymns during a half-century of ministry. He might be one of the more obscure hymnists, but Benjamin Beddome carved out a unique niche as he worshipped Him in old England.

Beddome was an English preacher and hymnist in the 1700s. He is said to have composed a hymn each week that would be sung following the sermon he delivered. How many other preachers/hymnists could have maintained the same schedule? And, did he try to blend his sermon and the hymn “God is the Fountain Whence” into a logical theme? One might suspect that he tried, and if so, the author of one blog devoted to Beddome (see it below) suggests a theme entitled “The Knowledge of God”. And, not just of the intellect, but an appreciation for God that motivates the devoted follower to action. Other bloggers of hymnody (see two blog links below) indicate other details of the hymn’s background. The original first word of the song was ‘Love’, which was later changed to ‘God’. Beddome may have written the words between 1767 and 1787, when he was between 50 and 70 years old. And, the fountain in the song may have sprung in part from a stream that flows through the village, Bourton-on-the-Water, in the Gloucestershire county of southwestern England where Beddome ministered for most of his 50+ years in God’s service (see the picture above).

You don’t have to really guess what Beddome’s sermon must have been that day, for it’s in the song. Since the Holy One was the source of all of his life, it was pretty sensible to offer all his life back to Him. Sometimes, honestly, it’s not so easy to give up all of my agenda. It seems Beddome felt and acted otherwise. Obscurity’s not a bad deal from our God, Beddome’s life-example says. Find the fountain, and jump in!

See this link for song audio and some history: http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/g/i/f/gifountw.htm

The below link has biographical information on the composer: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Beddome

See the two blogs below for details on the history of the song: http://homeschoolblogger.com/hymnstudies/540840/ http://wordwisehymns.com/2010/01/23/today-in-1717-benjamin-beddome-born/

The below link is to a blog devoted to the composer:

http://benbeddome.blogspot.com/search?q=God+is+the+Fountain+Whence

The River Is Here – Andy Park

In 1994 Andy Park received a song idea from someone, although he didn’t know that’s what it was at first. By this time, he had already been involved with music projects in churches for several years in California and in British Columbia in Canada, so he was familiar with song development, composition, and production. Yet, the song “The River Is Here” came to him in a way that caught him off guard. Here’s what he says, in his own words:

‘This song began when I received a picture in my mind's eye of a mountain with a river running down it. I prayed about it, not realizing that it was a word from God to prompt a new song. I did a word study in the Bible for "mountain" and "river" and found imagery in Ezekiel, the Psalms and the book of Revelation which provided the basis for the song. While on a brief personal retreat I wrote the song.’

Andy Park no doubt discovered in his word search that ‘mountain’ and ‘river’ are really important to the Creator, our Holy One. Words like ‘holy’, ‘majestic’, and ‘glory’ describe the mountain of God, and yet He doesn’t stand far up there just to be aloof. No, He sends something from up above that I need. The river, His creation, that ancient songwriters and prophets describe, provides delight, nourishment, and life. This river emanates from the mountain where He lives -- where we’re going. Maybe it looks a little like one you’ve seen here on Earth (like the Yukon, see the picture). Even though the mountain may make me tremble, I can know that His presence will be enchanting, too.

That’s what “The River Is Here” communicates. Listen to the joy this mental imagery provokes. It’s infectious. God is love. He is generous (what an understatement!). And, His gift won’t wear out, but only grows more precious the closer we come to it, and the more people with whom we share this message. The next time you’re in a crowd that doesn’t know the song, teach it to them, and usher in some Eternity. The New Earth awaits, where all will be renewed, His word teaches. Words from Psalmists, Ezekiel, and John (Revelation), repeated by Andy Park, are a great place to begin the celebration.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. (Psalm 46:4)

And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. (Revelation 21:10)

See the following for some background: http://andypark.ca/index.php?fuseaction=site.home http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Park_(musician)

Here’s a good U-Tube video of the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcxdSaxVP_E

Andy Park shared this brief song story above with me in an e:mail on 1/12/2011.

Another source for Andy Park’s song story is the book “Celebrate Jesus: The Stories behind Your Favorite Praise and Worship Songs”, by Phil Christensen and Shari MacDonald, Kregel Publications, 2003.