mgpcpastor's blog

‘I Heard The Voice Of Jesus Say’ was the last song sung at the final service of the Allendale East Presbyterian Church. We conducted that Service today and also marked the 145th anniversary of the church’s founding.
This is the third of our parishes’ ‘country churches’ which have closed over the last five years. Time, paved roads and lifestyle have meant that the purposes which saw many small churches established closed to larger towns have been fulfilled. If I was in a funnier mood tonight I’d tell you they keep closing because of the purity with which I preach the Gospel. But I’m too tired to be in a funny mood.
I preached from John chapter four on the prototypical presentation and response to the Gospel which is presented there as Jesus interacts with a woman that he meets at a well.
Horatius Bonar’s words pick up Jesus’ gracious invitation to receive the living water. The tune ‘Vox Dilecti’ by John Bacchus Dykes is tuneful, brings helpful emphasis at the right times as the lyrics progress, and helps to traverse the sense of journey from burden to freedom which is emblematic of the Gospel life.

1.
I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Come unto Me, and rest;
Lay down, thou weary one, lay down
Thy head upon My breast.”
I came to Jesus as I was,
Weary, and worn, and sad;
I found in Him a resting-place,
And He has made me glad.
2.
I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Behold, I freely give
The living water: thirsty one,
Stoop down, and drink, and live.”
I came to Jesus, and I drank
Of that life-giving stream;
My thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
And now I live in Him.
3.
I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“I am this dark world’s Light;
Look unto Me, thy morn shall rise,
And all thy day be bright.”
I looked to Jesus, and I found
In Him my Star, my Sun;
And in that Light of life I’ll walk
Till trav’lling days are done.

This is another hymn where the tune I know best doesn’t seem to feature in a lot of renditions. Here’s an organ playing the tune ‘Vox Dilecti.’

Here’s a different, commonly used tune with Joanna Hogg singing the hymn.