Father, Thy name our souls would bless

Every meeting has an opening, and there are hymns for this purpose. Selecting a hymn for opening the meeting requires careful consideration. We not only need to know the hymns according to their categories, but we also must learn to touch the feeling of the hymns. Hymns are refined utterances, and they convey a feeling. They are expressions of human sentiments. It is hard for a person who is unrefined to sing with much feeling. We must learn to taste the different hymns, because each one has its particular feeling and taste. Hymns, #127, "Hark! Ten thousand voices crying," is majestic and powerful. Hymns, #95, "O Head once full of bruises" and Hymns, #101, "When we survey the wondrous cross," are both on the Lord's suffering, and their feeling is fine. The chorus of Hymns, #513, "All in all forever," written by A. B. Simpson, expresses the feeling in the brothers and sisters in exalting Christ. Hymns, #33, "Father, long before creation"; Hymns, #47, "Father, Thy name our souls would bless"; and Hymns, #52, "Father, to Thee a joyful song we raise," are all superb hymns of praise to the Father from His many sons. After singing these hymns, it is difficult to follow with another one. The best thing to do is turn the hymns into prayer as a conclusion to the meeting. Only by identifying the feeling and flavor of the hymns can we use them at the suitable time.

In the Lord's table meeting, the brothers and sisters should sit around the table face to face. The meeting should not be too long, and the progression should be strong. Even if we feel that the meeting is of an ordinary nature, we still need to praise the Lord. We also need to pay attention to the atmosphere and environment of the meeting, including the lighting and furnishings of the meeting hall. In the course of the meeting we need to touch the feeling of the meeting. A hymn such as Hymns, #47, "Father, Thy name our souls would bless," is a concluding hymn for the worship of the Father and should not be sung at the opening. During the course of the meeting, we should know how to make a turn. To turn from remembering the Lord's love to remembering His suffering is like driving a car in reverse. When the meeting turns from the Lord's redemption to His love or His name, our hearts are touched as we look at the symbols on the table.

Allow me to add a few words here concerning healing. Never believe that divine healing is absolutely unconditional and unlimited. As far as God's power is concerned, it is indeed unlimited, but as far as men who receive the divine healing are concerned, there is still a limit. Brothers and sisters, I would like to tell you that those who have received divine healing in the past have eventually still died. Even Lazarus, after having been raised from death, eventually died. We have to wait until the coming day of resurrection to receive the unlimited divine healing. Today there is no sickness that is absolutely and completely healed. Tens of thousands in the church have received divine healing in the last two thousand years, but where are they today? They are all in tombs; they are in death waiting for the ultimate healing. Hence, Brother Darby wrote: "Waiting for Him who takes us up beyond the power of death" (Hymns, No. 47). Although you and I have not entered into tombs, we are in death. All sicknesses are factors of death. Actually, before resurrection comes, everyone who is healed receives but a temporary healing. Today, in times of necessity, God gives us limited healing. He allows us to live a few more years on this earth, but it is not for our health or for our longevity, but for His will.

I love hymn #44 in the Chinese hymnbook. The first stanza says that we bless the name of our Father as children taught by grace and we rejoice that because of His life we were brought back to the flock. This is exactly what John 10 says. Once His life comes into us, it causes us to return to the flock. We were formerly lost sheep; it was by His life coming into us that we became sheep belonging to the flock and being shepherded under the hand of the good Shepherd.

J. N. Darby, one of the Brethren, wrote #47 in Hymns. It is difficult to find a similar hymn of such quality. The first two stanzas say, "Father, Thy name our souls would bless, / As children taught by grace, / Lift up our hearts in righteousness, / And joy before Thy face. / Sweet is the confidence Thou giv'st, / Though high above our praise; / Our hearts resort to where Thou liv'st / In heaven's unclouded rays." The truth in this hymn is truly high, deep, and penetrating. We must note here that when Brother Watchman Nee translated this hymn into Chinese, he improved upon the original English. Although the hymn was already very good, it was not so clear in its meaning. After passing through Brother Nee's translation, it is clearer.