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About Numbered Notation

Numbered Notation (also called Jianpu, 简谱) writes each melody note as a number from 1 to 7 instead of a note on a staff. The number shows the note's position in the song's scale -- not its exact pitch -- so the same tune looks identical no matter what key it's sung in.

Within one octave, the numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 correspond to the familiar do re mi fa sol la ti. A dot above a number raises it an octave higher; a dot below lowers it an octave lower -- no dot means the middle, as-written octave.

A plain number lasts one beat. A dash (-) right after a number holds that same note for one more beat. A line underneath a number shortens it instead -- one line is half a beat, two lines a quarter of a beat. A 0 is a rest: silence for one beat.

The label at the top of the sheet, like "1=C" or "1=Ab", shows which pitch scale degree 1 ("do") is tuned to. A song in a minor key is labeled "6=X" instead -- scale degree 6 ("la") is the true tonic. Chord names printed above the notes (like "C" or "G7") always use their familiar letter names, never numbers.

For example, under a "1=C" heading, the numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 sound as C D E F G A B. Under a "1=G" heading, those very same numbers sound as G A B C D E F# instead -- same shape, different key.

Take time to behold Him

Encouragement For Fellowship with the Lord

English643
1
Take time to behold Him,
Speak oft with Thy Lord,
Abide in Him always,
And feed on His Word.
Wait thou in His presence,
Submissive and meek,
Forgetting in nothing
His blessing to seek.
2
Take time to behold Him,
The world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret
With Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus
Like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends, in thy conduct,
His likeness shall see.
3
Take time to behold Him,
Let Him be thy guide;
And run not before Him
Whatever betide;
In joy or in sorrow
Still follow thy Lord,
And, looking to Jesus,
Still trust in His Word.
4
Take time to behold Him,
Be calm in thy soul,
Each thought and each temper
Beneath His control.
Thus led by His Spirit
To fountains of love,
Thou then shalt be fitted
His mercy to prove.

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Nelson Liu

Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

Jan 10, 2016

Take time to behold Him!

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Victor Olusegun Solomon

London, United Kingdom

Jan 3, 2016

Take time to behold Him. In our practise of beholding Him we also learn to know and walk in His presence, having many conversation with Him in secrecy.

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Huilin

China

Jul 19, 2015

In joy or in sorrow, still follow Jesus my Lord!

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NVK

Evanston, Illinois, United States

Jul 3, 2015

This hymn has been playing inside me for almost 2 weeks—fragmented in remembering the words!!

A sister asked that we sing this as prayer after a message that included II Corinthians 3:17. Lord, If I neglect making time then time is wasted. I just want to behold You, gaze on You.

I like the change from "be holy" to 'behold Him." If you understand that "be holy" is not an act or trained behavior; but a Person, a key quality of Him, the the original is better. But so many have warped the understanding of "Holy".

Lord, in this darkening age keep the eyes of your people fixed on YOU, trusting Your unchanging Word.

Thank you for the short history of this hymn.

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Matt

San Francisco, California, United States

Jun 13, 2015

I know that most of us are very very busy. But brothers and sister take at least 3-5 a day to behold Him. Some little duration of time is better than no duration of time at all. AMEN

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Gerd H Aasen

Lansing, NY, United States

Feb 23, 2015

Thanks for playing this!. I think this is a great song to sing at my funeral!

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Roger Hsu

Arcadia, CA

May 11, 2014

Let us take time to behold Lord Jesus our Savior!

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Nelson Liu

Irvine, CA, United States

Oct 14, 2013

"Take time" brothers and sisters!!

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Steve Miller

Detroit, MI, United States

May 31, 2013

As Albert, 3/16/2009, said, the original says, "Take time to be holy". Both are good, but I think "take time to be holy" is more meaningful. We need to take time to be holy, and a big part of that is to take time to behold Him.

In stanza 1, lines 5-6 in the original are more down to earth:

Make friends of God's children;
Help those who are weak;
-----------------------------------------

The son of a wealthy ship merchant, William Longstaff was treasurer of his church and gave liberally to Christian causes. When evangelists D. L. Moody and Ira Sankey came to England, he assisted them financially, and he also wrote reports of the meetings for the Christian press.

A few years later Longstaff heard a sermon on the text "Be ye holy, for I am holy" and wrote down what holiness meant to him. A businessman at heart, Longstaff wrote no flowery or pious-sounding verses, but these down-to-earth thoughts.

The hymn appeared in a Christian newspaper in 1882 and was promptly forgotten. But years later composer George Stebbins, who was leading music in India in connection with evangelistic services there, remembered the poem when he was asked if there was a good hymn on living a holy life. Retrieving the newspaper clipping he had saved, he set the poem to music. - Great Songs of Faith by Brown & Norton

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Hudson

Jul 23, 2012

Oh to behold His face, to see Him in His glory, to love Him, to hold Him, to embrace Him always.

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