January 4, 2019 (Friday)
When I think of this hymn being compared to little musical ditties, I am reminded of a scene from the movie, “Crocodile Dundee.” The hero, Mick, is with a girl on the street when a mugger shows up and asks for a light. “You got a light, buddy?” “Yeah. Sure, kid. There you go.” “And your wallet.” Girl: “Mick, give him your wallet.” “What for?” “He’s got a knife.” “That’s not a knife.” (Mick pulls out a giant sword-like knife) “That’s a knife.” (Mugger utters an obscene exclamation and runs away, fast!) Mick: “Just kids having fun.”
When I hear the words of the old hymn, “Brethren, We Have Met to Worship,” I think, “Now there’s a hymn!” It gets down to the “nitty gritty” of spiritual experience. It’s almost one of a kind.
Words: George Atkins, 1819
Tune: Holy Manna, William Moore, 1825
Subjects:
Worship, Exhortation, Prayer
Scripture (New King James Version):
Psalm 95:6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
Psalm 99:5 Exalt the Lord our God, And worship at His footstool– He is holy.
Brethren, we have met to worship and adore the Lord our God;
Will you pray with all your power, while we try to preach the Word?
All is vain unless the Spirit of the Holy One comes down;
Brethren, pray, and holy manna will be showered all around.
Brethren, see poor sinners round you slumb’ring on the brink of woe;
Death is coming, hell is moving, can you bear to let them go?
See our fathers and our mothers, and our children sinking down;
Brethren, pray, and holy manna will be showered all around.
Sisters, will you join and help us? Moses’ sister aided him;
Will you help the trembling mourners who are struggling hard with sin?
Tell them all about the Savior, tell them that He will be found;
Sisters, pray, and holy manna will be showered all around.
Is there here a trembling jailer, seeking grace, and filled with fears?
Is there here a weeping Mary, pouring forth a flood of tears?
Brethren, join your cries to help them; sisters, let your prayers abound;
Pray, oh, pray that holy manna may be scattered all around.
Let us love our God supremely, let us love each other, too;
Let us love and pray for sinners, till our God makes all things new.
Then He’ll call us home to Heaven, at His table we’ll sit down;
Christ will gird Himself and serve us with sweet manna all around.
and/or
LISTEN TO THIS HYMN AS IT SUNG BY THE MORMON TABERNACLE CHOIR MEN
and/or
LISTEN TO THIS HYMN AS IT IS SUNG BY A CONGREGATION.