Tuesday, January 9, 2024

Behold, God is my helper; The Lord is with those who uphold my life.

Psalm 54:4

I grew up in a small Baptist church in the rural south. One of my fondest memories as a child was watching my father stand before the congregation with a little black hymnal in hand. “Father, I Stretch My Hands to Thee” was one of his favorite hymns to “line.” 

Marilyn E. Thorton, music editor for “Zion Still Sings” and the “Africana Hymnal,” wrote that many years ago there were those who felt it was important to teach black people the correct way to sing hymns.

After slavery, many African Americans who could read might have the “words-only” hymnals at the time. In order for the congregation to learn and sing these selections, each “line” of the hymn would be chanted or tuned by a song leader or preacher—someone who could read or knew the words. After each “line,” in a manner quite different from the syllabic style of most hymns, the congregation would sing the “lined-out” phrase, adding flourishes with highs and lows to a melody. 

MEDITATION: Lord, I give you my situations, needs, desires, weaknesses and fears.

Father, I stretch my hands to Thee. No other help I know, If Thou withdraw Thyself from me.Oh, whither shall I go,What did Thine only Son endure,Before I drew my breath!What pain, what labor to secureMy soul from endless death!Author of faith! To thee I liftMy weary, longing eyes;Oh, let me now receive that gift!My soul without it dies.

In the name of Jesus, I praise You. AMEN.Discipleship Ministries | History of Hymns: "Father, I Stretch My… (umcdiscipleship.org)