Tag Archives: Hymn

Birds in Hymns – The Fish in Wave, The Bird on Wing

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Common Gull (Larus canus) by Robert Scanlon

Common Gull (Larus canus) by Robert Scanlon

And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. (Genesis 1:20 KJV)

Words: Charles Cof­fin, Par­is Bre­vi­a­ry, 1736 (Iis­dem cre­a­ti fluc­ti­bus); trans­lat­ed from La­tin to Eng­lish by John Chand­ler and the com­pil­ers of Hymns An­cient and Mo­dern.

Music: St. Fla­vi­an, Day’s Psal­ter, 1563

The Fish in Wave, The Bird on Wing


The fish in wave, the bird on wing,
God bade the waters bear;
Each for our mortal body’s food
His gracious hands prepare.

But other food, of richer cost,
The immortal spirit needs;
By faith it lives on every word
That from His mouth proceeds.

Faith springing from the blood of Christ,
Has flowed o’er every land;
And sinners through the vanquished world
Bow down to its command.

Its light the joy of Heav’n reveals
To hearts made pure within;
And bids them seek by worthy deeds
Eternal crowns to win.

By faith the saints of old were strong
The lion’s wrath to tame;
By faith they spurned the tyrant’s threats,
And scorned the raging flame.

Lord, grant that we the path may tread
Whereon its light doth shine;
And gather, as we onward go,
The fruits of love divine.

O praise the Father; praise the Son,
On Whose most precious blood
Rests all our faith; and praise to Him
Who with Them both is God.

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Another great hymn from the past.

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Blessed Assurance by Ron Tolson

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YouTube from “Hymns – Timeless”. American Songbird Showcase

Blessed Assurance written by Fanny Crosby and sung by Ron Tolson.

Thought you might enjoy this video with all the birds showcased. No birds mentioned in the song, but it still is a “Birds in Hymn” candidate. Our Savior created all these beautiful birds.

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Birds In Hymns – There Seems A Voice In Every Gale

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…The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. (Psalms 19:1-3 KJV)

Words by Amel­ia A. Opie (1769-1853)
Music: Ar­ling­ton – by Thom­as A. Arne, 1762; ar­ranged by Ralph Har­ris­on, 1784
Thomas A. Arne (1710-1778)

Red-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda) by Bob-Nan

Red-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda) by Bob-Nan

There Seems A Voice In Every Gale


There seems a voice in every gale,
A tongue in every flower,
Which tells, O Lord, the wondrous tale
Of Thy almighty power.

The birds, that rise on quivering wing,
Proclaim their Maker’s praise,
And all the mingling sounds of spring
To Thee an anthem raise.

Shall I be mute, great God, alone
’Midst nature’s loud acclaim?
Shall not my heart, with answering tone,
Breathe forth Thy holy Name?

All nature’s debt is small to mine;
Nature shall cease to be;
Thou gavest proof of love divine,
Immortal life to me.

Another great hymn from the past. We just returned from the second funeral of the week. For some, the death of a loved one may seem like a gale. The Lord speaks to us through our trials and gives us a comfort and peace as we go through them. That is, considering the person is in fellowship with the Savior. Both of these dear saints of the Lord, one here and one 200 miles away, were believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and their families also. They have comfort in knowing their loved ones are in the “presence of the Lord,” but they will have grief and sorrow, but the Lord will speak to them and they will come through the “Gale” they are going through. Our hearts and prayers are with both families.

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Birds In Hymns – Flee As A Bird

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Birds In Hymns – Flee As A Bird ~ by Mary S. Shindler

…A Psalm of David. In the LORD I put my trust; How can you say to my soul, “Flee as a bird to your mountain”? (Psalms 11:1 NKJV)

Words & Music ~ by Mary S. Shindler, 1842

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) chasing Western Great Egret (Ardea alba) by Ray

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) chasing Western Great Egret (Ardea alba) by Ray

Flee As A Bird


Flee as a bird to your mountain, thou who art weary of sin;
Go to the clear flowing fountain where you may wash and be clean.
Haste, then, th’Avenger is near thee; call, and the Savior will hear thee;
He on His bosom will bear thee; O thou who art weary of sin,
O thou who art weary of sin.

He will protect thee forever, wipe every falling tear;
He will forsake thee, O never, sheltered so tenderly there.
Haste, then, the hours are flying, spend not the moments in sighing,
Cease from your sorrow and crying: The Savior will wipe every tear,
The Savior will wipe every tear.

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He will swallow up death forever, And the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces; The rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth; For the LORD has spoken. (Isaiah 25:8 NKJV)

for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:17 NKJV)

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. (Revelation 21:4 NKJV)

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Birds In Hymns – With Songs and Honors Sounding Loud

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Birds In Hymns – With Songs and Honors Sounding Loud – Isaac Watts

Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful. (Psalms 147:1 NKJV)

Words – By Isaac Watts, The Psalms of David, 1719
Music – By Bedford, William Wheale, 1729
Alternate Tune Belfield by William Gilchrist, 1895

With Songs and Honors Sounding Loud


With songs and honors sounding loud,
Address the Lord on high;
Over the heav’ns He spreads His cloud,
And waters veil the sky.

He sends His showers of blessing down
To cheer the plains below;
He makes the grass the mountains crown,
And corn in valleys grow.

Northern Raven (Corvus corax) by Ray

Northern Raven (Corvus corax) by Ray

He gives the grazing ox his meat,
He hears the raven’s cry;
But man, who tastes His finest wheat,
Should raise His honors high.

His steady counsels change the face
Of the declining year;
He bids the sun cut short his race,
And wintry days appear.

His hoary frost, His fleecy snow,
Descend and clothe the ground;
The liquid streams forbear to flow,
In icy fetters bound.

When from the dreadful stores on high
He pours the rattling hail,
The wretch that dares this God defy
Shall find his courage fail.

He sends His Word, and melts the snow,
The fields no longer mourn;
He calls the warmer gales to blow,
And bids the spring return.

The changing wind, the flying cloud,
Obey His mighty Word:
With songs and honors sounding loud,
Praise ye the sovereign Lord.

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… a Psalm of David. I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High. (Psalms 9:1-2 NKJV)

Be exalted, O LORD, in Your own strength! We will sing and praise Your power. (Psalms 21:13 NKJV)

Be exalted, O LORD, in Your own strength! We will sing and praise Your power. (Psalms 21:13 NKJV)

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Birds in Hymns – Speed For Thy Life

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Birds in Hymns – Speed For Thy Life by Fanny Crosby

Based on Psalm 11:1

In the LORD I put my trust; How can you say to my soul, “Flee as a bird to your mountain”? (Psalm 11:1 NKJV)

Words: Fan­ny Cros­by, 1903.

Music: W. How­ard Doane

https://leesbird.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/speed_for_thy_life-fanny-crosby.mp3%20
Indian Cormorant (Phalacrocorax fuscicollis) on nest by Nikhil

Indian Cormorant (Phalacrocorax fuscicollis) on nest by Nikhil

Speed for thy life to the mountain,
Slight not the message divine,
Danger and death are before thee,
Haste, while the hours are thine.

Refrain

Speed thee, speed thee;
Shadows around thee are falling;
Speed thee, speed thee;
Come while the Savior is calling.

Speed for thy life to the mountain,
List to the warning again;
Forward, and look not behind thee,
Stay not in all the plain.

Refrain

Speed, for the day is declining,
Soon its bright moments will fade;
What if a storm should o’ertake thee,
Where would thou turn for aid?

Refrain

Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) at Nest by Anthony747

Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) at Nest by Anthony747

Speed for thy life to the mountain,
Fly like a bird to its nest,
Fly to the arms of the Savior:
There is thy only rest.

Refrain

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What a great encouragement for us to make
sure we speed to the Savior.

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Birds in Hymns – A Living Stream, As Crystal Clear

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Eared Dove (Zenaida auriculata) by Robert Scanlon

Eared Dove (Zenaida auriculata) by Robert Scanlon

Based on:

…proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. (Revelation 22:1)

Words: John Ma­son, Songs of Praise, 1683; adapt­ed by John Ke­ble.
Music: Stock­ton (Wright), Thom­as Wright (1763-1829)

A Living Stream, As Crystal Clear

A living stream, as crystal clear,
Welling from out the throne,
Of God and of the Lamb on high,
The Lord to man hath shown.

This stream doth water Paradise,
It makes the angels sing:
One precious drop within the heart
Is of all joy the spring:

Joy past all speech, of glory full,
But stored where none may know,
As manna hid in dewy heaven,
As pearls in ocean low.

Eye hath not seen, nor ear hath heard,
Nor to man’s heart hath come
What for those loving Thee in truth
Thou hast in love’s own home.

But by His Spirit He to us
The secret doth reveal:
Faith sees and hears: but O for wings
That we might taste, and feel;

Wings like a dove to waft us on
High o’er the flood of sin!
Lord of the Ark, put forth Thine hand,
And take Thy wanderers in.

O praise the Father, praise the Son,
The Lamb for sinners given,
And Holy Ghost, through Whom alone
Our hearts are raised to Heav’n.

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Birds in Hymns – Great God, The World Is Full Of Thee

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For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth. He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD. (Psalms 33:4-5 KJV)

Words: Hen­ry Bate­man, Sun­day Sun­shine: New Hymns and Po­ems for the Young (Lon­don: Nis­bet & Co., 1858).
Music: Home­land (Bate­man), Jo­si­ah Booth (1852-1929)

Great God, the World is Full of Thee

Great God, the world is full of Thee,
Thy kindness, and Thy power;
The bright blue sky, and rolling sea,
Green tree, and summer flower.

House Sparrows watching Parrot show at National Aviary by Lee

House Sparrows at National Aviary by Lee

And every day, and everywhere,
Thou watchest everything;
The tender lamb enjoys Thy care;
The little birds that sing.

And very, very kind indeed
Thou art, O God, to me;
Supplying all my daily need;
And helping patiently.

Teach my young heart to yield its love
Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son;
That I may dwell with Thee above,
When life below is done.

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Birds in Hymns – Prayer For Creation

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I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. (Genesis 9:13 )

Words: Cathy Yost, 2000. This hymn was the win­ning ent­ry in Oc­to­ber, 2000, of a na­tion­al Cre­a­tion Hymn Com­pe­ti­tion spon­sored by the Cent­ral Pres­by­ter­i­an Church of Hous­ton, Tex­as.
Music: Beach Spring, from the Sac­red Harp, by Ben­ja­min F. White, 1844
Benjamin F. White (1800-1879)

PRAYER FOR CREATION © 2001 Cathy Yost
The author gives permission for use in worship services and gatherings to celebrate God’s Creation.
For further information contact: Cathy Yost, First Presbyterian Church,
100 East Adams Avenue, Kirkwood, MO 63122, USA

Prayer for Creation

Savannah Sparrow singing by Ray

Savannah Sparrow singing by Ray

O, Creator of the cosmos, we present our hearts in prayer.
We are awestruck by your glory, which surrounds us everywhere.
From the birdsong of the morning to a stormy sky at night,
You reveal yourself in Nature, in its gentleness and might.

Through each rainbow that you send us you renew your covenant
With the earth and all life on it, telling us of your intent
That each living thing should flourish, in its own way, in its place.
You call us to new awareness of our neighbors and their space.

In our eagerness to prosper, we have ravaged what was good.
Using more than what was needed, taking everything we could.
We have changed the gentle order you intended for the earth.
Now we humbly ask the wisdom to be part of its re-birth.

We seek mercy, we seek vision, and the courage we will need
As we work to help the victims of the sins of human greed.
By our choices, in our actions, may we be part of your plans.
Help us gently till the Garden you’ve entrusted to our hands.

Prayer For Creation

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The Seasons Are Fixed By Wisdom Divine

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The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted; Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house. The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies. He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down. (Psa 104:16-19)

Charles H. Gabriel (1856-1932)
Words: Paraphrase of Psalm 104; author un­known.
Music: As­pin­wall, Charles H. Gab­ri­el (1856-1932)

The seasons are fixed by wisdom divine,
The slow-changing moon show forth God’s design;
The sun in his circuit his Maker obeys,
And running his journey hastes not nor delays.

The Lord makes the night, when, leaving their lair,
The lions creep forth, God’s bounty to share;
The Lord makes the morning, when beasts steal away
And men are beginning the work of the day.

Graceful Prinia (Prinia gracilis) by Nikhil Devasar

Graceful Prinia (Prinia gracilis) by Nikhil Devasar

How many and wise Thy works are, O Lord!
The earth with the wealth of wisdom is stored;
The sea bears in safety the ships to and fro,
And creatures unnumbered it shelters below.

Thy creatures all look to Thee for their food;
Thy hands open wide, they gather the good;
Thy face Thou concealest, in anguish they yearn;
Their breath Thou withholdest, to dust they return.

Thy Spirit, O Lord, makes life to abound,
The earth is renewed, and fruitful the ground;
To God ascribe glory and wisdom and might,
Let God in His creatures forever delight.

Before the Lord’s might earth trembles and quakes,
The mountains are rent, and smoke from them breaks;
The Lord I will worship through all of my days,
Yea, while I have being my God I will praise.

Rejoicing in God, my thought shall be sweet,
While sinners depart in ruin complete;
My soul, bless Jehovah, His Name be adored,
Come, praise Him, ye people, and worship the Lord.

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Graceful Prinia is in the Cisticolidae Family

Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (NKJV)

Birds are not exactly mentioned, but they are in Psalm 104 and the Lord does provide for them freely. This is a great hymn and felt it needed to be included.

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Birds in Hymns – Thou Sweet, Beloved Will Of God

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And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2 KJV)

Words: Ger­hard Ter­steeg­en, Geist­lich­es Blum­en-Gärt­lein, first edi­tion, 1729, Book III, number 19 (Lieb­wer­ther, süss­er Gott­es-Wille); trans­lat­ed from Ger­man to Eng­lish by Em­ma Be­van, 1858.

Music: Holl­ey, George Hews, 1835 .
Al­ter­nate tune: •Abends, Her­bert S. Oak­e­ley, 1874

This is the Abends tune by Oakeley

Wattled Curassow (Crax globulosa) at National Aviary by Lee

Wattled Curassow (Crax globulosa) at National Aviary by Lee

Thou sweet, belovèd will of God,
My anchor ground, my fortress hill,
My spirit’s silent, fair abode,
In thee I hide me and am still.

O Will, that willest good alone,
Lead thou the way, thou guidest best;
A little child, I follow on,
And, trusting, lean upon thy breast.

Thy beautiful, sweet will, my God,
Holds fast in its sublime embrace
My captive will, a gladsome bird,
Prisoned in such a realm of grace.

Within this place of certain good,
Love evermore expands her wings,
Or, nestling in thy perfect choice,
Abides content with what it brings.

Long-tailed Finch (Poephila acuticauda) babies by Lee at National Aviary

Long-tailed Finch (Poephila acuticauda) (Spike-tailed) babies by Lee at National Aviary

O lightest burden, sweetest yoke!
It lifts, it bears my happy soul,
It giveth wings to this poor heart,
My freedom is thy grand control.

Upon God’s will I lay me down,
As child upon its mother’s breast;
No silken couch, nor softest bed,
Could ever give me such deep rest.

Thy wonderful grand will, my God,
With triumph now I make it mine;
And faith shall cry a joyous Yes!
To every dear command of thine.

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I chose the Wattled Curassow because when we encountered the bird at the National Aviary, it seemed very glad, especially at feeding time. It practically got in my face. The Long-tailed (Spike-tailed) Finches are fairly young.

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Birds in Hymns – Let There Be Light!

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And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. (Genesis 1:3 KJV)

Thou, Whose Almighty Word (or sometimes called – Let There Be Light!)
Author: John Marriott, 1780-1825
Musician: Joan J. Pinkston, b. 1947

Eared Dove (Zenaida auriculata) by Robert Scanlon

Eared Dove (Zenaida auriculata) by Robert Scanlon

The Rev. John Marriott was a clergyman of the English Church, a graduate of Rugby, and of Christ Church, Oxford. He took high honors in college, and was then engaged as private tutor by the Duke of Buccleuch, who after two years presented him with the living of Church Lawford, Warwickshire. This he kept to the end of his life. He wrote but three hymns, of which only one is in use. But this one belongs in the first rank, and entitles him to a place among the great hymn-writers:

‘Let there be light!'”

This hymn will richly repay careful study. It is founded on Genesis i. 3, but with a very fine and suggestive reference to the three persons of the Trinity. The Father uttered the original mandate “Let there be light”; the Son declared himself to be the “Light of the World”; the Spirit enlightens the soul. The poem is usually classed with the missionary hymns of the church, and very properly so. It is profoundly pervaded with the missionary spirit, not only in its separate expressions, but also in its majestic undertone. Its metaphors are striking—the “chaos” and “darkness” of creation and of heathenism; the “sick in mind”; the “lamp of grace”; the “ocean’s tide” of Wisdom, Love, and Might, and the like. The action is vigorous—”redeeming wing”; “speed forth thy flight”; “rolling in fullest pride.” The survey and sweep are most comprehensive. Above all, the hymn is a broad, beautiful, and blessed evangel.

Thou whose almighty word
Chaos and darkness heard,
And took their flight,
Hear us, we humbly pray,
And where the gospel day
Sheds not its glorious ray,
Let there be light!

Pied Imperial-pigeon (Ducula bicolor) by Kent Nickell

Pied Imperial-pigeon (Ducula bicolor) by Kent Nickell

Thou who didst come to bring
On Thy redeeming wing
Healing and sight,
Health to the sick in mind,
Sight to the inly blind,
Oh, now to all mankind
Let there be light!

Spirit of truth and love,
Lifegiving, holy Dove,
Speed forth Thy flight;
Move on the waters’ face,
Bearing the lamp of grace,
And in earth’s darkest place
Let there be light!

Blessed and Holy Three,
Glorious Trinity,
Wisdom and Might;
Where guilt and sin abound
Let gospel tidings sound,
Till Thy lost sheep be found,
Let there be light!

Information for various internet sources. CyberHymnal, Google Books and Online Hymnal

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