July 9, 2020 (Thursday)
Once upon a time this hymn, “O Happy Day” was sung at most baptism services. I recall one day especially, in 1950, in the little community of Prairie Point, just west of Groesbeck, Texas, when we met outside for a special service of baptism, administered by Herb Zimmerman, the pastor. We were concluding a week of revival services, and 19 people were there, ready to be baptized. They had come to Christ with a profession of faith in Him during the week of special services. A young college girl played the pump organ and we sang this song. What a glorious day it was. On an average Sunday the church had about 50 people in attendance, so the baptism of 19 people was almost a miraculous demonstration of the power of God. The baptism was done in a stock tank–one of many in that part of the state. (about two years later, I would baptize for the first time in a stock tank at Oletha, where I had become pastor).
Baptism is a symbol of the resurrection of Christ as the candidate is lowered like a dead person into the water and then raised from the icy grave, as it were. It is a symbol for the believer of the moment he or she accepted Christ, when he or she died to sin and began walking with Christ in a new life. It is saying to the world, “In Christ I died to sin, and have been raised to walk in newness of life.”(Romans 6).
The hymn, “O Happy Day,” is appropriate at baptisms because it reminds us of the forgiveness of God, which has washed away our sins. On the day of which I spoke earlier, the words of the song gave added meaning to the beautiful sybolic ordinace of baptism, reminding us of the day we accepted Christ as Savior and He washed our sins away by His magnificent grace.
O Happy Day
Author, Philip Doddridge, pub.1755
Refrain, Edward F. Rimbault, pub. 1854
O happy day, that fixed my choice
On Thee, my Savior and my God!
Well may this glowing heart rejoice,
And tell its raptures all abroad.
Refrain:
Happy day, happy day,
When Jesus washed my sins away!
He taught me how to watch and pray,
And live rejoicing every day:
Happy day, happy day,
When Jesus washed my sins away!
O happy bond, that seals my vows
To Him Who merits all my love!
Let cheerful anthems fill His house,
While to that sacred shrine I move. Refrain
It’s done: the great transaction’s done!
I am the Lord’s and He is mine;
He drew me and I followed on;
Charmed to confess the voice divine. Refrain
Now rest, my long-divided heart,
Fixed on this blissful center, rest;
Here have I found a nobler part;
Here heav’nly pleasures fill my breast. Refrain
High heav’n, that heard the solemn vow,
That vow renewed shall daily hear,
Till in life’s latest hour I bow
And bless in death a bond so dear. Refrain