For many years, my mother sang in a trio with other ladies from our small church in Western Oklahoma. They sang at funerals, and often on Sunday mornings during worship. I loved to go with Mom when they were practicing, because they not only sang together, but they had fun and laughed a lot! I can still hear their beautiful harmonies as they sang the old hymns. One of my favorites was Ivory Palaces, written by Henry Barraclough in 1915. It was based upon Psalm 45:8, “All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia; from palaces adorned with ivory the music of the strings makes you glad.” The lyrics read;
My Lord has garments so wondrous fine, and myrrh their texture fills;
Its fragrance reached to this heart of mine with joy my being thrills.
Out of the ivory palaces, into a world of woe,
Only His great eternal love made my Savior go.
In garments glorious He will come, to open wide the door;
And I shall enter my heav’nly home, to dwell forevermore.
Out of the ivory palaces, into a world of woe,
Only His great eternal love made my Savior go.
The beautiful harmonies and the words of the last line resonated with me- “Only His great eternal love made my Savior go.” Have you ever wondered how Jesus stepped out of the beauty of Heaven’s “ivory palaces” to come down to earth? It must’ve been much like going from viewing a movie in HD to watching one in black and white. His incredible love for us was His motivation.
Another favorite hymn my mother sang was O, How I Love Jesus, written by Frederick Whitfield in 1855. Mr. Whitfield wrote eight verses to this song, but these are two of my favorites.
There is a name I love to hear, I love to sing its worth;
It sounds like music in my ear, the sweetest name on earth.
O how I love Jesus, O how I love Jesus,
O how I love Jesus, because He first loved me!
It tells of One whose loving heart can feel my deepest woe;
Who in each sorrow bears a part that none can bear below.
O how I love Jesus,
O how I love Jesus,
O how I love Jesus, because He first loved me!
I hope we’ll always sing the old hymns of our faith. Each one is like a mini sermon, and a reminder that people through the ages have encountered the same issues. The answer to our concerns is timeless-faith and hope in a Savior who loved us so much, He was willing to die for us!
Susan Easttom, Director of Family Ministries
