mgpcpastor's blog

Today at our worship services at Nelson and Allendale East we sang Search Me, O God.
With the advent of the Rejoice! Hymnbook in the late 1980s the hymn Search Me, O God came into wider use among Presbyterian Churches throughout Australia. The familiarity which most singers would have had with the tune Maori, (an adaption of the Maori Farewell tune, Po Atarau/Now Is The Hour) would have helped.
The hymn’s real strength though is the lyrics, which were composed by J. Edwin Orr, a Christian teacher who had a life long interest in Revivals. Read about his life and work here. The hymn begins with an expression similar to that of Psalm 139: 23-24 which reads: “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”
While the words are in the first person singular, the song works in a group setting because it speaks of a necessary individual resolve which is a precursor to a gathered response. It also does not emphasise the individual’s actions, but rather their dependence upon God to work in them. Because of this it serves as a testimony and encouragement amongst gathered Christians.
It is a good choice when seeking a song that expresses a personal response to a biblical challenge to live out a life of gospel obedience. I also think we could use it as our Congregation’s corporate confession of sin and dependence upon God’s forgiving grace.
The version below is not the one from Rejoice!, which has been altered to modernise the pronouns. I think this version is closer to the author’s original version.
1.
Search me, O God,
And know my heart today;
Try me, O Savior,
Know my thoughts, I pray.
See if there be
Some wicked way in me;
Cleanse me from every sin
And set me free.
2.
I praise Thee, Lord,
For cleansing me from sin;
Fulfill Thy Word,
And make me pure within.
Fill me with fire
Where once I burned with shame;
Grant my desire
To magnify Thy Name.
3.
Lord, take my life,
And make it wholly Thine;
Fill my poor heart
With Thy great love divine.
Take all my will,
My passion, self and pride;
I now surrender, Lord
In me abide.
4.
O Holy Ghost,
Revival comes from Thee;
Send a revival,
Start the work in me.
Thy Word declares
Thou wilt supply our need;
For blessings now,
O Lord, I humbly plead.

© J Edwin Orr – Moody Press

Our youtube contains an acapella version of the first verse sung in both English and Samoan. Lovely harmonies.