Videos & Stories Behind Hymns

It is almost impossible to believe that "I Sing the Mighty Power of God" was originally written for children. But that is exactly what this hymn was intended for. 
It was first published in 1715 in a hymnal called "Divine and Moral Songs for Children".
It was the goal of the author, Isaac Watts to write songs to the level of a child's understanding. However, this song is now more associated with adults than with children.
Its simple message continues to bless millions of Christians worldwide.
To appreciate this hymn more one has to be reminded of the state of Christian music during that period. Most of the songs then were songs directly from the book of psalms. It was more of chanting the scriptures than actual singing.
Church music had become dull that a 19 year old Isaac Watts complained to his father about this. It was his father who challenged him to write something better.
From that moment on Isaac Watts began writing hymns. He was so prolific that by the…

God Leads Us Along Hymn History
This song is a reminder that God's providence is still with us even in our difficult moments. There are moments when we feel like God has abandoned us we still need to know that God is still with us as we go through these difficult times.
The author of this song, George A Young was a rural preacher and carpenter who humbly served the Lord on a meager salary. However, instead of complaining about his situation George Young and his family served the Lord as a loyal servant.
This preacher through their meager salary and resources eventually managed to construct a house on their own. They were happy to have their own house just like all of us would.
Unfortunately while Young was away holding meetings in another area some bad people decided to make life difficult for this humble servant of God. They burnt the house down to ashes.
Instead of complaining and blaming God for not preventing this misfortune, George Young never lost his faith in the Lord. It …

The Old Rugged Cross Hymn History
The Old Rugged Cross is one of the most popular Christian hymns in the English world. It is a hymn that leads us to focus on what Christ did on the cross and make his sacrifice our own. 
Being a Christian is not easy but we all need to cling to that old cross and bear the shame and ridicule we might face.
This hymn composed in 1912 by evangelist and song leader George Bennard. He was born in Youngstown, Ohio, in 1873. 
He was converted at the age of 24 after attending a Salvation Army meeting. He later left the salvation and joined the Methodist church in 1910. 
After joining the Methodist church he became an itinerant preacher for the Methodist church. He held revival meetings in the Midwest of the United States.
It was during one of these revival meetings that he came up with this hymn. This was his response to the heckling and ridicule he received from several youths at a revival meeting in Michigan. 
Bernard was troubled by their disregard of the…

Sabine Baring-Gould and Arthur Sullivan composed this hymn. The words were written by Sabine Baring-Gould in 1865 while the music to the song was added in 1871 by Arthur Sullivan. 
Arthur Sullivan added the tune of the song at his friend Ernest Clay Ker Seymer’s house. This later made him name his tune “St. Gertrude” after his friend’s wife.
This hymn is one of the commonly known gospel hymns, derived from the New Testament, where Christians are sometimes referred to as soldiers of Jesus Christ. This can be seen in verses such as II Timothy 2:3 (KJV): "Thou, therefore, endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ."
The hymn was originally meant for the procession with the cross by children who walked from Horbury Bridge to Horbury St Peter's Church near Wakefield, Yorkshire, at Whitsuntide in 1865. 
This hymn was originally titled, "Hymn for Procession with Cross and Banners" and Baring-Gould composed it in five minutes. He was later reported to have sai…

Amazing Grace Hymn Story
Amazing Grace is a gospel hymn that was written by John Newton who was a former slave trader. This gospel hymn is commonly associated with the African-American community. 
The gospel hymn talks about Newton’s life story from his early days when he was forced into joining the Royal navy until the time when he decided to settle in religion. 
John Newton had joined the navy in 1743 after he was captured and forced to join while visiting his friends.
In 1745, while in the navy en route to India he rebelled against the discipline of the Royal navy and deserted. He was captured and was flogged and put in leg irons.
Following this incident and humiliation John Newton actually considered murdering the sea captain and committing suicide by throwing himself overboard at sea.
He later convinced the sea captain to discharge him to a slave ship.
He was transferred to Pegasus a slave-trading ship bound for West Africa. As in the navy, the freethinking and rebellious John N…

Most of the old gospel hymns are still being sung today in the twenty-first century. There are many awesome old southern gospel hymns, which were composed in the 70s and before. 
It is difficult to rate the songs from the best to the worst because all of them were a hit in their day.
The southern gospel hymns someone of the most beautiful and powerful songs, which have ever been written. Most of them were derived from the Bible whereas some were written according to one’s personal experience. 
Mostly, the experiences were ones, which tested the faith of individuals. They found comfort in singing to Christ Jesus and this is how hymn songs came about. Some of the examples of the commonly known hymn songs are as follows;
1. Because He lives
This is one of the southern hymn songs that are well known. It was written by Bill and Gloria Gaither, who are some of the most influential southern gospel musicians in the world. 
Gaither is received well wherever he goes and his song “Because He Li…

Come Unto Me, Ye Weary Hymn Story
This hymn was written by William Chatterton Dix in 1867.
William Chatterton Dix was born on June 14, 1837, in Bristol England. He was the son of John Dix, a surgeon, who wrote The Life of Chatterton the poet. He was educated at Bristol Grammar School.
He wrote hymns and carols during his lifetime on earth.
It is based on Matthew 11:28, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest".
In talking of this hymn, Dix says, "I was ill and depressed at the time, and it was almost to idle away the hours that I wrote the hymn. I had been ill for many weeks and felt weary and faint, and the hymn really expresses the languidness of the body from which I was suffering at the time. Soon after its composition, I recovered, and I always look back to that hymn as the turning point in my illness."



Come Unto Me Ye Weary Hymn Lyrics
1 "Come unto me, ye weary, and I will give you rest." O blessed voice of Jes…

Behold the Glories of the Lamb Hymn Story
This is Isaac Watts' first-ever hymn. Isaac Watts was born in 1674. He wrote this around 1688. He was therefore only a teenager when he wrote this hymn.
When Isaac Watts was born congregation singing involved chanting the psalms direct from the bible. Most people believed that any composition would not be inspired.
Before this hymn was written Isaac Watts argued with his father that singing only Psalms made him miss important New Testament truth. He, therefore, began composing his own hymns.
He is said to have composed hymns on a weekly basis for his congregation.
Considering that he was only a teenager, it is amazing to note that he appeared to have in-depth knowledge of the scripture. He appears to have studied the bible quite a lot judging by the scriptures employed in this song.


Behold the Glories of the Lamb Hymn Lyrics
Behold the glories of the Lamb Amidst His Father’s throne. Prepare new honors for His name, And songs before unknown.
Le…