Tag Archives: Hymns

Birds in Hymns – O For A Closer Walk With God

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Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) by Quy Tran

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) by Quy Tran

… and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. (Rev 3:4)

Author: William Cowper, 1731-1800
Musician: Old Irish Tune

O For A Closer Walk With God

O for a closer walk with God,
A calm and heav’nly frame,
A light to shine upon the road
That leads me to the Lamb!

Where is that blessedness I knew
When first I saw the Lord?
Where is the soulrefreshing view
Of Jesus and His Word?

Mourning Dove by Reinier

What peaceful hours I once enjoyed!
How sweet their mem’ry still!
But they have left an aching void
The world can never fill.

Return, O holy Dove! return,
Sweet messenger of rest!
I hate the sins that made Thee mourn,
And drove Thee from my breast.

The dearest idol I have known,
Whate’er that idol be,
Help me to tear it from Thy throne,
And worship only Thee.

So shall my walk be close with God,
Serene and calm my frame;
So purer light shall mark the road
That leads me to the Lamb.

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May we all desire to walk closer to God.

Go near and hear all that the LORD our God will say and speak to us all that the LORD our God will speak to you, and we will hear and do it.’ (Deuteronomy 5:27 ESV)

For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? (Deuteronomy 4:7 ESV)

But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works. (Psalms 73:28 ESV)

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
(James 4:8 KJV)

Most information from The Cyber Hymnal

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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.

Most information from The Cyber Hymnal

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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.

Most information from The Cyber Hymnal

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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.

Most information from The Cyber Hymnal

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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

Most information from The Cyber Hymnal

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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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Most information from The Cyber Hymnal

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.

Most information from The Cyber Hymnal

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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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Birds in Hymns – God Speaks To Us In Bird And Song

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To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice. (Psalms 68:33 KJV)

Words: Jo­seph John­son, Dibs: A Sto­ry of Young Lon­don Life (at the be­gin­ning of chap­ter 4: ‘Pro­mot­ed to the Choir’), 1888. The hymn was pub­lished in School Hymns in 1891.

Music: Child­hood – by Hen­ry W. Da­vies (1869-1941)

God Speaks to us in Bird and Song

Crested Bunting (Emberiza lathami) by Nikhil Devasar

Crested Bunting (Emberiza lathami) by Nikhi lDevasar

God speaks to us in bird and song,
In winds that drift the clouds along,
Above the din and toil of wrong,
A melody of love.

God speaks to us in far and near,
In peace of home and friends most dear,
From the dim past and present clear,
A melody of love.

God speaks to us in darkest night,
By quiet ways through mornings bright,
When shadows fall with evening light,
A melody of love.

O Voice divine, speak Thou to me,
Beyond the earth, beyond the sea,
First let me hear, then sing to Thee,
A melody of love.

Most information from The Cyber Hymnal

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Birds in Hymns – He Waters The Hills

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He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills. They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst. (Psalm 104:10-11)

Johann M. Haydn (1737-1806)

Words: From The Psal­ter (Pitts­burgh, Penn­syl­van­ia: The Unit­ed Pres­by­ter­i­an Board of Pub­li­ca­tion, 1912), num­ber 286.

Music: Ly­ons, at­trib­ut­ed to Jo­hann M. Hay­dn (1737-1806); ar­ranged by Wil­liam Gar­din­er, Sac­red Mel­odies (Lon­don: 1815)

HE WATERS THE HILLS

Pileated and Red-bellied on same tree - turkey point by Ray

Pileated and Red-bellied on same tree - turkey point by Ray

He waters the hills with rain from the skies,
And plentiful grass and herbs He supplies,
Supplying the cattle, and blessing man’s toil
With bread in abundance, with wine and with oil.

The trees which the Lord has planted are fed,
And over the earth their branches are spread;
They keep in their shelter the birds of the air,
The life of each creature the Lord makes His care.

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.

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.

The 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.

Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. (Matthew 13:31-32 KJV)

Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; Sing praises on the harp to our God, Who covers the heavens with clouds, Who prepares rain for the earth, Who makes grass to grow on the mountains. He gives to the beast its food, And to the young ravens that cry. (Psalms 147:7-9 NKJV)

Most information from The Cyber Hymnal

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The Bird With The Broken Wing

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Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. (Psalms 124:7 KJV)

Words: He­ze­ki­ah But­ter­worth (1839-1905).

Music: Dan­i­el B. Town­er, 1919

The Bird With The Broken Wing

Broken Wing of Pelican-Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehab Center

Broken Wing of Pelican-Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehab Center

I walked in the woodland meadows,
Where sweet the thrushes sing,
And found on a bed of mosses,
A bird with a broken wing;
I healed its wing, and each morning
It sang its old sweet strain,
But the bird with the broken pinion,
Never soared as high again,
Never soared as high again.

I found a young life broken
By sin’s seductive art,
And, touched with a Christlike pity,
I took him to my heart;
He lived with a nobler purpose,
And struggled not in vain,
But the life that sin had stricken,
Never soared as high again,
Never soared as high again.

Bare-eyed Thrush (Turdus tephronotus) by Daves BirdingPix

Bare-eyed Thrush (Turdus tephronotus) by Daves BirdingPix

But the bird with the broken pinion
Kept another from the snare,
The life that sin had stricken,
Raised another from despair;
Each loss has its own compensation,
There’s healing for each pain,
But the bird with the broken pinion
Never soared as high again,
Never soared as high again.

Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
(2 Corinthians 7:9-10 NKJV)

This hymn reminds me of a story I have heard numerous times about the effects of sin in our lives. We may repent, but the scars are still there. I found a copy, it’s a little long, but I hope you’ll read it.

“That was a significant, story of the man who gave his little son a hammer and some nails, and told him that whenever he did anything that was wrong he might drive one of the nails into the barn door. The boy was honest and diligent too, and in a few days he came to his father saying that the last nail was in its place well driven down. ” And now,” said the father, “whenever you do any specially good deed, you may draw out one of the nails.” This pleased the son. He was as diligent in goodness now as he had been in badness before. He carried his little sister over the rough places, and then went and drew a nail. He sawed some wood for a poor widow and drew another nail. He ran on willing errands for his mother that he might have a chance to draw more nails. In a few days the last one was removed, and he came with pride to tell his father.

“What, all drawn so soon?” said the father.

” Every one,” responded the son.

” Let us go and see,” said the father.

” Come, then,” said the son, and he led the way. ” See, see,” said the eager boy, ” there is not a nail left in the door, and I assure you that I did something good for every nail I drew.”

” I am glad, my dear son,” said the father, ” that the task of removing them is so quickly done, but then,” continued he sadly, ” don’t you see how you have marred and injured the door? The nails are gone, but the scars remain.” (A. J. Paterson)

The Gospel Message

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Birds in Hymns – Updated

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Oriental Turtle Dove (Streptopelia orientalis) by Nikhil

Oriental Turtle Dove (Streptopelia orientalis) by Nikhil

While updating the Birds in Hymns page, I had to read through the hymns to find the references to the birds. What struck me, is the depth of the writings of these hymn writers. Many of these were written in the 1,700 and 1,800s. These are not the shallow words of today, but are filled with great doctrinal truths, praise and worship for our Savior.

We here on the blog use the birds that God has created to teach you about them, but also to make applications that will help us with our lives. That is how many of the birds are used in Scripture, to learn from them by way of illustrations of truths to help make us better Christians or to become Christians.

I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever; With my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations. (Psalms 89:1 NKJV)

Below are just some of the examples I pulled out. Time spent reading through the hymns, will be a blessing to you.

Jesus, Holy, Undefiled by Emily M. Shapcole wrote these words:

Now the little birds arise,
Chirping gaily in the skies;
Thee their tiny voices praise,
In the early songs they raise.

Thou, by Whom the birds are fed,
Give to me my daily bread;
And Thy holy Spirit give,
Without Whom I cannot live.

Speed For Thy Life by Fanny Crosby

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.

There Seems A Voice In Every Gale by Amelia A. Opie

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

This is My Father’s World by Maltbie B. Babcock

This is my Father’s world, the birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white, declare their Maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world: He shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass;
He speaks to me everywhere.

Yes, God is Good by John H. Gurney

The merry birds prolong the strain,
Their song with every spring renewed;
And balmy air, and falling rain,
Each softly whispers, “God is good.”

Jesus, I Come by William T. Sleeper

Out of unrest and arrogant pride,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into Thy blessèd will to abide,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of myself to dwell in Thy love,
Out of despair into raptures above,
Upward for aye on wings like a dove,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

Let Him Come In by C. W. Ray

To thy barred and bolted door,
Gently as a wooing dove,
Jesus comes as oft before,
Pleading in His tender love.

Refrain

Let Him in; let Him in;
Sinner, why not make Him room?
Let Him in; let Him in;
Lest He never more may come.

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