awake_my_soul.mp3 |
Though not written for the dawn of a new year, praising God for His lovingkindness is a wonderful way to start one.
The author, Samuel Medley, reached adulthood unconcerned with Christianity. While serving in the British navy in 1759, he was badly wounded. The midshipman's injury confined him to his grandfather’s home and spiritual influence. As he heard a sermon by Isaac Watts read aloud, he saw himself as the blind made to see and the prisoner set free. Recovery dragged on, with the doctor finally telling him his leg would need to be amputated. Faced with such a future, he begged God for his leg, and saw God answer “yes” to that request when the doctor examined it the following day and found miraculous improvement.
After conversion Medley left the Navy, first running a school, then becoming a pastor. He took charge of a Particular Baptist congregation, deliberately reaching out to the sailor population whose experiences he understood. His change of occupation gave him more opportunities to use his penchant for rhyme and humor. In answer to church report questions from London, he once responded to “In what town is your church?” with “In one where sin makes many a fool, known by the name of Liverpool.”
There he wrote several hymns to coordinate with his sermons. His poetry tends toward simple rhyme and repetition. Also in the Trinity hymnal are “O Could I Speak the Matchless Worth” and a severely altered version of what is likely his best hymn “I Know that My Redeemer Lives! What comfort this sweet sentence gives.”
This hymn’s opening lines and refrain-like phrase may allude to Psalm 57:7-10,
My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast;
I will sing and give praise.
Awake, my glory!
Awake, lute and harp!
I will awaken the dawn.
I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing to You among the nations.
For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens. . .
It was published with this tune in 1831 in The Christian Lyre, the first hymnal to use the modern format of hymn lyrics with their own tunes printed on the same page.
The author, Samuel Medley, reached adulthood unconcerned with Christianity. While serving in the British navy in 1759, he was badly wounded. The midshipman's injury confined him to his grandfather’s home and spiritual influence. As he heard a sermon by Isaac Watts read aloud, he saw himself as the blind made to see and the prisoner set free. Recovery dragged on, with the doctor finally telling him his leg would need to be amputated. Faced with such a future, he begged God for his leg, and saw God answer “yes” to that request when the doctor examined it the following day and found miraculous improvement.
After conversion Medley left the Navy, first running a school, then becoming a pastor. He took charge of a Particular Baptist congregation, deliberately reaching out to the sailor population whose experiences he understood. His change of occupation gave him more opportunities to use his penchant for rhyme and humor. In answer to church report questions from London, he once responded to “In what town is your church?” with “In one where sin makes many a fool, known by the name of Liverpool.”
There he wrote several hymns to coordinate with his sermons. His poetry tends toward simple rhyme and repetition. Also in the Trinity hymnal are “O Could I Speak the Matchless Worth” and a severely altered version of what is likely his best hymn “I Know that My Redeemer Lives! What comfort this sweet sentence gives.”
This hymn’s opening lines and refrain-like phrase may allude to Psalm 57:7-10,
My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast;
I will sing and give praise.
Awake, my glory!
Awake, lute and harp!
I will awaken the dawn.
I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing to You among the nations.
For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens. . .
It was published with this tune in 1831 in The Christian Lyre, the first hymnal to use the modern format of hymn lyrics with their own tunes printed on the same page.