Goodness of God -- Jenn Johnson, Ed Cash, Jason Ingram, Ben Fielding, Brian Johnson

God is good. Have you ever heard someone say that? And yet, even Jesus – God in the flesh – had a reply to that compliment which must have befuddled those with whom he traveled and spoke (see Mark 10:18 and Luke 18:19). Jenn Johnson had a reason to say out loud something about the “Goodness of God” though, because a new life was in her arms, and in a most unexpected way since she hadn’t even been pregnant nor really considering having another child. But, adopting a new baby boy was an awesome thing, and has been for so many parents over the decades since its beginning in America in the latter part of the 19^th Century (see Sister Irene and children at New York Foundling orphanage in this picture; Sister Irene is among the pioneers of modern adoption, establishing a system to board out children rather than institutionalize them.) And, it wasn’t an accident that the song spoke to the four men – her husband Brian, and Ben Fielding, Jason Ingram, and Ed Cash -- who helped Jenn finish off what she started writing in a car one day.

 

Adoption by many people can be a long process, with lots of anxiety and uncertainty, but for Jenn and Brian, it was like a miracle that proceeded so smoothly. The birth mother even related to the Johnsons so well, that she appeared at the hearing that finalized the process, one that had begun when this woman hand-picked this Christian songwriting couple to be her baby’s parents and even met them at the hospital on the day of the baby’s delivery. Even a judge of several decades who presided at the court said he’d never seen anything like it. That’s how it must be when God’s intimately involved, one might conclude. That must have been on Jenn’s mind too, when one day on the way to a doctor’s appointment, she spontaneously began to sing a song about God’s goodness, as she reflected back on her life and had a feeling that God’s faithfulness had shone through to her. Her newest child (they named him Ryder Moses) was the latest sign of His goodness, and this thought helped her produce 50-60% of the song about God’s goodness on the spot in an otherwise routine car trip to see a doctor. In talking with Ben and Jason a short time later in Redding, California, they remembered feeling that Jenn’s efforts had already produced a winner, and that little remained to do in its creation. One thing that stood out to them was that her words were so universally true, that they felt like the story she was relating through the already-completed lyrics was also theirs. Ed also contributed with some thoughts that became the song’s bridge section, saying that while the message of the song was one he hadn’t heard before, he felt that it had been around for some time. And so, he thought that that was something he wanted to communicate -- that God is relentless in running after us, meeting us in all the pain and struggle of life, even if His presence sometimes might not be very discernible. Amazingly, Ed says his anxiety at flying on a plane would depart from him whenever he listened to the song in flight.

 

Thank God for adoption! None but One is His unique (some bible translations say ‘begotten’) Son, so for me to be part of His family, I have to agree to be His adopted son. That idea was really special for someone like the apostle Paul (see Romans 8:15,23; 9:4; Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 1:5), for though of Jewish birth, he considered himself to have been the worst sinner (1 Timothy 1:15-16), and deservedly far from being included in God’s family. And so, when he talked to Gentiles whom he often encountered, that same message flowed to them from him, an adopted son in God’s kingdom. It is indeed special to be chosen by Him. What is the alternative to being adopted? Sister Irene must have seen and grimaced so many times at the circumstances that ensued when a baby was rejected by everyone, leaving it without a home and loving parents. God doesn’t operate an orphanage, and He sure doesn’t want to reject you and me (2 Peter 3:9). In His image-making generosity, He’s already visualized you on a path toward, and living space inside His home, and even provided a special brother and a Spirit to make sure you find the way there. The other operative factors really are the choices that you and I make.

 

Watch/hear the song story here: https://www.worshiptogether.com/songs/goodness-of-god-bethel/

 

See it here also: https://www.foxnews.com/faith-values/adoption-miracle-worship-song

 

See information on the photo here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Children_at_New_York_Foundling_cph.3a23917.jpg … 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 70 years or fewer… {{PD-US}} – US work that is in the public domain in the US for an unspecified reason, but presumably because it was published in the US before 1931. …found inside this article -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adoption

 

Hymn of Glory -- Charles Christmas

 

Do you think it was tough for this songwriter having the same name as a culturally significant holiday like Christmas? Charles Christmas must have been asked that a thousand times, and perhaps also his family that gave him that name! This unusual circumstance also means that this songwriter of something called “Hymn of Glory” is fairly anonymous, except for his words and the year (1974) in which this work was written/published. No specific biographic information is forthcoming when one composes a search query for him; instead, all kinds of information about the holiday result from such an endeavor. What Charles wrote for us actually suggests that he did not, and still does not today (if he is living), mind that he is hidden from view. When a poet-songwriter directs attention elsewhere, he means to honor his subject, not himself. What Charles said and has us sing here is like what we might utter if a king entered the room, perhaps not unlike what Solomon experienced at his anointing to become the king, succeeding his father, David. (See here The Anointing of Solomon by Cornelis de Vos [c. 1630]. According to 1 Kings 1:39, Solomon was anointed by a priest named Zadok.)

 

What Charles wrote sounds very much like an old-fashioned hymn of a century when kings reigned on the earth and were routinely lauded, what might be called ‘high church’ music, though we know not what specific episode or series of events spurred Charles to compose this. You might have in your mind’s eye the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., or Westminster Abbey in London, or perhaps St. Peter’s Basilica or the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, all of which engender great pomp and ceremony when a king-like person enters those spaces. And yet, the king of Charles’ third verse was hardly such a king as we might picture. This one was ‘slain’, an incident normally reserved for a criminal, an unworthy villain consigned to disgrace; and indeed, that is what Jesus’ executioners thought they were doing to Him. But, ‘He rose up again’ (v.3), and but for that fact, we would not sing to Him as a reigning king, would we? Charles reminds us that we are also ‘sanctified’ (v.1) through Him, and that ‘our sins’ (v.3) compelled Jesus to complete this rescue mission. One more stirring fact that Charles tells us that should fill the heart is that Jesus did this of His own volition – ‘He laid down His life’ (v.3). So, if you and I sometimes feel guilty that we forced Him to that cross, that’s part of how I should react, but I also need to appreciate the great courage and love of His divine nature that drove Him. No one – certainly not armed soldiers nor bloodthirsty crowds – could force Jesus to do anything. This was and is the king of the universe. None like Him before or since has ever existed. So, the image I have of a crowned flesh-and-blood being here on Earth is but a faint wisp of who Jesus is today.

 

We have plenty of representative paintings of Jesus as a human being in various stages of His life while here on Earth. A baby, a boy of 12 years old, a carpenter at work, a teacher and healer who amazed his followers, and finally a bloody beaten pulp hanging on a piece of wood – those are the ones we think about when prompted to consider Him in a bible class or even in worship. There are even the ones that show Him risen, showing Himself to disciples on a beach or in a locked room. But it seems that Charles wanted us when he wrote this hymn to focus on episodes like the transfiguration (Matthew 17:2-8; Mark 9:2-13; Luke 9:28-36), when Jesus was exalted, though still shy of His ultimate coronation ceremony. That was to come. And, the next picture that you and I will have of Him is when we meet Him face-to-face in His full glory. He’ll welcome us into His home, and let us share it with Him. Indescribable? Yes. Cannot wait? Yes. Prepared or preparing for that time? …your answer here______.    

 

 

 

 

See information on the picture here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cornelis_de_Vos_-_The_Anointing_of_Solomon.jpg … The author died in 1651, so 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.

This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published (or registered with the U.S. Copyright Office) before January 1, 1931. …found inside this document -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon

Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise -- Walter Chalmers Smith

 

He felt that an ancient apostle had said something that was crucial, and so Walter Chalmers Smith repeated what Paul had written centuries ago and described the Divine One in even more detail to underline the amazing depth of His nature. He is indeed “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise”, such that when He was crucified, the sun’s rays were eclipsed for a time to mark the profound meaning of that moment (Matthew 27:45). (See the photo here that depicts, via the 1961 film Barabbas, the crucifixion darkness that the movie’s filmmakers tried to recapture by using the totality of the solar eclipse on February 15, 1961.) He is light (1 John 1:5), so how would we really appreciate that He is the source of this inestimable thing we take for granted, if it had remained unchanged while its Creator gave up His life? There are so many other characteristics of this God that Walter identified, that we cannot begin to fathom Him, though we could spend a lifetime trying to do so. Perhaps that is what Paul was up to when he wrote to a young protégé and concluded his opening address with this salutation to Him who is the focal point of all life. Don’t forget who is to remain in your sights at all times, Paul seems to say.

 

Walter Chalmers Smith was a pastor in the Church of Scotland for some 40 years, and was in mid-life (perhaps 43 years of age) in 1867 when these poetic lines of his were published. What exactly prompted Walter to write these lines is not known, though the first line of his lyrics strongly suggests that he was indeed reading what Paul had written to Timothy in the first century about life in ministry, and was himself on a difficult mission. Biblical scholars believe he was teaching Timothy that error was propagating in Ephesus, and that principles had to be accepted by the culture there, or it would descend into falsehoods that were anathema to the truth to which he and the other apostles had been devoted since Jesus commissioned them. Several times in the opening chapter of this personal letter to his ‘son’, he makes references to those who were riven with errors (1 Tim. 1:3-4; 6-11; 18-20), and that he (Timothy) needed to remember who God really is – immortal, invisible, the only God (1 Tim. 1:17). Walter got the message too, and said so many more things about this incredible God. Were six verses of poetry really enough? Walter may have answered ‘no’ emphatically, but nevertheless he said many mouthfuls in what he did include in the lines he penned. Every line in Walter’s creation contains something about the inscrutable One we too-often describe blithely as our friend. Yes indeed, that is what He is, certainly. But Walter, even at this point in his life, must have seen or heard people take Him too much for granted, in prayer and in life generally. Remember what Paul had been through by the time he wrote to Timothy in that first century (perhaps around 63-64 A.D.), and he still thought of himself humbly in comparison to God (1:13, 15-16) just before lauding Him with this song’s title words. This God is one we need to treat reverently in our approach to Him, before we do anything else. Above all else, Walter suggested with his lyrics that we should begin by seeing God in all His greatness.

 

No less than 11 times did Walter say something about trying to see God or the light that hides Him. So, it’s a bit of a vain exercise, is it not, to try to really see Him?  It seems like a fair question, one that perhaps Walter’s hearers must have asked him at least once. What’s the use, if I cannot get even a glimpse of Him? How do I worship someone I cannot see? Entering into the picture is Jesus, right on queue. He sure showed off His power, glory, might, compassion, wisdom, courage, and so many other qualities when He walked among the people for 33 years. And even if you and I weren’t there, we can still read history about Him and marvel at the church He created and the changed lives He’s inspired. And, then there’s that crucifixion thing, too, followed by the resurrection unlike any other event ever recorded in world history. Moses and others wanted to see Him, too, but were prevented from doing so. And then, even he and Elijah got a look at Jesus, along with Peter, James, and John (Matthew 17:2-8; Mark 9:2-13; Luke 9:28-36), and then they really got goosebumps. Wow!, they must have thought. If you want to see this God in all His fullness, consider that episode on a high mountain. He once described Himself as lowly (Matthew 11:29), and yet that’s part of the package of this awesome God-Man, too. All that is wrapped up inside this God, this amazing God that Walter wanted us to see.               

 

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; and Amazing Grace: 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions by Kenneth W. Osbeck, Kregel Publications, 1990.

 

See here for all of the song’s original verses: http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/i/i/g/o/iigowise.htm

 

See information on the photograph here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Barabba_Eclisse_1961.jpg ...This work is in the public domain in the United States because it meets three requirements: it was first published outside the United States (and not published in the U.S. within 30 days), it was first published before 1 March 1989 without copyright notice or before 1964 without copyright renewal or before the source country established copyright relations with the United States, and it was in the public domain in its home country on the URAA date (January 1, 1996 for most countries). It may be found inside this document -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_in_fiction