From time to time, we all experience what it’s like to be the recipients of what we usually term, bad news. On Sunday past, I dealt with Philippians 1:19-26, most of which is given over to how Paul viewed life and death. There were some solemn thoughts, but they are real issues.
Today then, I came across the following poem, penned by one of the most pious men of recent centuries, Robert Murry M’Cheyne.
He tenderly binds up the broken in heart,
The soul bowed down He will raise:
For mourning, the ointment of joy will impart:
For heaviness, garments of praise.Ah, come, then, and sing to the praise of our God,
Who giveth and taketh away;
Who first by his kindness, and then by his rod,
Would teach us, poor sinners, to pray.For in the assembly of Jesus’ first-born,
Who anthems of gratitude raise,
Each heart has by great tribulation been torn,
Each voice turned from wailing to praise.
He also penned two of my favourite hymns, ‘Jehovah Tsidkenu‘ and ‘When This Passing World Is Done‘. Strange that someone who dealt so frequently with death, should die aged 29.
Added Commentary
By david
on 14.08.07
That’s beautiful.
By Raffi
on 14.08.07
Great Blog! Armen
I would like to ask you also whether you have any link with armenians :)
By Armen
on 14.08.07
david - Welcome to this blog. They are beautiful words indeed.
Raffi - Thank you.
All my father’s side of the family are Iranian Armenian’s. In fact, I have a second cousin named ‘Raffi’. :)
I see that you are evangelical Christians in Lebanon. Do you know Pastor Edgard Traboulsi?
By Raffi
on 14.08.07
It’s good to know that you’re an Armenian. I know Iranian Armenians here in Lebanon, who are from evangelical armenian churches in Iran. We have worship songs that are written by Iranian Armenians too.
Yeah, Raffi is a name widely named in the Armenian communities…
I do not know Rev. Edgar Traboulsi personally, but I have heard about him, a pastor in an Arab Baptist church.
By Armen
on 14.08.07
Raffi - I’ve spoken with Pastor Traboulsi a couple of times, and once he told me that an Armenian evangelical choir he listened to, was the best he’s ever heard.
I’ll email you soon Raffi, I have to ask you something.
By Raffi
on 14.08.07
Armen, you must be talking about the ARMISS choir, which was formed in the 70’s 80’s by Armenag Missirlian, the conductor. Years later from 1999 to 2004 Rev. Nerses Balabanian became the conductor. (the years are not accurate)
Ok, I’ll await your email.
Haven't you got anything to say?