1 Wisdom hath builded her house,
she hath hewn out her seven pillars: 2 She hath killed her beasts; she
hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table. 3 She hath sent forth her maidens:
she crieth upon the highest places of the city, 4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in
hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, 5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink
of the wine which I have mingled. 6 Forsake the foolish, and live;
and go in the way of understanding. (Prov 9:1-6)
It has been suggested that at least a part of Napoleon’s military success in
war was owing to the rousing strains of the la Marseillaise. I do not
doubt that soldiers, and citizens, too, were inspired by the stirring notes and
words of that anthem. You may recall the dramatized effect of that tune as sung
in the Bogart movie, Casablanca. At the first reunion of Confederate and Union
soldiers at Gettysburg, an old Confederate shared with his Yankee counterpart, “If
we would’ve had your music, we would have beat the pants off of you.”
(Battle Hymn of the Republic comes to mind) There is fundamental truth in the
fact that music bears the soul of a nation and people. It may have been Lord
Acton (not sure) who said: “Show me a nation’s music, and I will tell you
the moral character of her people.” How true that quote is in view of the
decadence in music, and in character, that we observe in our modern American
(sub) culture.
There are many genres of music – classical (choral and symphonic), military,
country & western, pop, etc. Some of the heavy metal and demoralized music
we hear in the vulgar production of media do not even meet the definition of
music. I suppose the best way to identify good music is by the self-examination
of how it makes one feel. Can you relax at its sound, do you have elevated
desires to do good, does it make you want to march, or does it cause you to
have intemperate desires? Can you identify God’s presence therein, for all good
art is Godly and inspired by him. An excellent old exhaustive study by the
great art critic, Frederick Remington Ruckstuhl (1933), entitled ‘Great Works
of Art and What Makes Them Great,’ delves into the Creators role in inspiring
men such as Bach, Mendelsohn, Handel, Michelangelo, and Davinci – among others.
If it is beautiful – whether graphic art or musical art – it is inspired art.
Today’s hymn, Higher Ground, calls us to a place above the common plain of
society – a place nearer to the presence of God. I wish all works that pass
today as music could do the same. Remember, music is not amoral, but rather
moral. It may present a good moral lesson, or an immoral one – even sans
lyrics. Higher Ground, in both lyrics and quality of music, presents a message
that brings us nearer to the High Throne of God.
The lyrics were composed by Johnson Oatman, Jr. in 1898 and set to the musical score
written by Charles H. Gabriel. It is interesting to note how well the lyrics
and music in great music go hand in hand to lift the soul. Mr. Oatman aspired
to become, in the tradition of Francis Asbury and Peter Cartwright, another
great circuit-riding Methodist preacher. In this he failed. He found his niche
at hymn writing at age forty (never receiving more than $1.00 for any of his
3,000+ hymns). He is the author, also, of “Count Your Blessings,” “No, not One,”
and this present hymn.
Higher Ground
I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining every
day;
Still praying as I’m onward
bound,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher
ground.”
Refrain
Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
By faith, on Heaven’s table land,
A higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher
ground.
My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears
dismay;
Though some may dwell where those
abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher
ground.
Refrain
I want to live above the world,
Though Satan’s darts at me are
hurled;
For faith has caught the joyful
sound,
The song of saints on higher
ground.
Refrain
I want to scale the utmost height
And catch a gleam of glory
bright;
But still I’ll pray till Heav’n I’ve
found,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher
ground.”
Refrain
I’m pressing on the upward way, New heights I’m gaining
every day; Still praying as I’m onward bound, “Lord, plant my feet on higher
ground.” Our
lives are filled with challenge and trials, yet the Christian is called to the
sanctifying graces of the Gospel in his every decision and action. If our music
matches our good character, we may find the road less burdensome, Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which
leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matt
7:14) Not only
should our actions and words be sanctified, but our taste in music as well. How
sad would a nation’s people be if they lacked a rousing national anthem! How
sad, and even embarrassing, would the American people be if our great Star
Spangled Banner were replaced by Kum ba Yah which, incidentally, has
been suggested by some modern American leader. Our way is the way of Excelsior!
(As in Gloria in excelsis Deo!) Our upward way should leave none of our
parts behind, but be an upward way in faith, in worship, in musical taste, in
art, in business, and every other avenue of life – to the glory of God.
Refrain
Lord, lift me up and let me
stand, By faith, on Heaven’s table land, A higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
If we stand at all, it is only upon the solid ground of faith in God. All
others stumble as drunken men and fall into the gaping abyss. We may taste the
flavor of Heaven even while living in this mortal life if we “draw near to
Christ by faith.” The Mountain of God is that mountain that stands higher,
and mightier, than Everest, or any other mountain of the world. It is the
mountain which shall be standing alone when all others are consumed by fervent
heat.
My heart has no desire to stay Where doubts arise and fears
dismay; Though some may dwell where those abound, My prayer, my aim, is higher
ground. Where
is YOUR heart today? Is it found among the ruins of this world, or is it found
in the treasures of the snow and of Heaven? But
lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth
corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your
treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matt
6:20-21) Will your
taste in music, art, literature, and righteousness fit well in the neighborhood
of Heaven? Is the desire of your heart compatible and congruent with the will
of God? There is little room for doubts and fears when we are abiding on the
Mountain of God. Consider the blessed Christian people of Syria and Iraq who
face beheadings rather than renounce their Lord and Savior. Do we have that
steadfast faith?
I want to live above the world, Though Satan’s darts at me
are hurled; For faith has caught the joyful sound, The song of saints on higher
ground. If you
wish to live above the world, there will be no place for the world’s values of
art and music. Leave those to the acid-heads and depraved sorcerers of the
world. On the Mountain of God only the clean and wholesome will be admitted.
Naturally, Satan is not well pleased with the life of a committed Christian. He
is constantly seeking ways and means to cause us to compromise our faith and
betray our Lord. The song of faith is a “joyful sound” – not a discordant
series of notes out of tune. A joyful sound is not consistent with “rap,”
“heavy metal,” or “barroom ballads.” Joyful sound might be
glimpsed in Beethoven’s 9th
Symphony, 5th Movement – Joyful, Joyful We
Adore Thee; or in Handel’s, Messiah – Hallelujah Chorus! That, is God-honoring
music, friends! Of course, not all of our music can reach to such grandeur.
There is music for sorrow, for happiness, for pining away, and for celebration;
but it should never depart so very far from the uplifting chorus of the angels.
I want to scale the utmost height And catch a gleam of glory
bright; But still I’ll pray till Heav’n I’ve found, Lord, plant my feet on
higher ground.
Paul tells us in the Book of Hebrews that those of faith are as pilgrims and
strangers in the earth who seeketh after a city – not built with hands. These
all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar
off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they
were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things
declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful
of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to
have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly:
wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for
them a city. (Heb 11:13-16) If we are, indeed, pilgrims and
strangers in the world seeking a faire country, we should acquit ourselves as
such. A pilgrim travels lightly bearing only those articles essential for
survival on his back. None of the world’s cherished treasure will find place in
our Gospel backpacks. The Christian pilgrim is far-sighted to see the gleaming
of light from that city set upon a hill. Ye
are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
(Matt 5:14)
Those false and flickering lights of the world will find no favor in the eyes
of the Christian pilgrim. We climb the Narrow Way. We walk with resolute step.
We think only on those things which are beautiful and leave the sordid and
discordant notes of the world where they belong – with the lost and dying. Finally,
brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever
things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be
any praise, think on these things. (Phil 4:8)
I offer a penny for YOUR thoughts, friends.
