My dear Harmony Plains Singing School family,
We are just emerging from a world pandemic. If we have not lost loved ones, I expect all of us are acquainted with those who have. We have been shut in and in some cases only able to worship virtually. Jobs have been lost, incomes shattered, many have had difficult schooling, and of course we had to cancel HPSS 2020.
Is it possible to be healed from such a year? Yes, because we have a Great Physician. William Hunter endured the deprivations of the middle 1800s and wrote “I Feel Like Traveling On”, “I Am Dwelling on the Mountain”, and “The Great Physician Now Is Near”.
“The Great Physician Now Is Near” will be our theme this year, and the hymn “The Great Physician Now Is Near” will be our theme song (OSH #11, hymn 209).
The Great Physician Now Is Near, by Willian Hunter
1 The great Physician now is near,
the sympathizing Jesus;
He speaks the drooping heart to cheer,
oh! hear the voice of Jesus.
Refrain:
Sweetest note in seraph song,
sweetest name on mortal tongue;
sweetest carol ever sung,
Jesus, blessed Jesus.
2 Your many sins are all forgiven,
oh! hear the voice of Jesus;
go on your way in peace to heaven,
and wear a crown with Jesus. [Refrain]
3 All glory to the risen Lamb!
I now believe in Jesus;
I love the blessed Savior’s name,
I love the name of Jesus. [Refrain]
4 His name dispels my guilt and fear,
no other name but Jesus;
oh! how my soul delights to hear
the charming name of Jesus. [Refrain]
Our text is I Peter 2:23-24, “Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”
Where does strength come from to endure the difficulties of a pandemic? Where does motivation come from to not just endure but to thrive in a pandemic? As our text says, it comes from realizing our Savior was reviled, suffered, endured stripes, and remained committed to bare our sins and heal us. Dear brethren, our Great Physician has healed us! We are healed, yes healed from our sins by his cross. Oh, what love has been bestowed upon us; oh, what righteousness we possess. My, oh what a blessing we have to serve Him.
Lord willing, see you at Harmony Plains on the evening of July 18, 2021.
In Christ,
Brother Dickie