THE PASSOVER,

a Hymn Devotion for 29 November 2024 Anno Domini,

the Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide

“ . . . when I see the blood, I will pass over you.” Exodus 12:13

Christ our passover is sacrificed for us” 1 Corinthians 5:7

This hymn by Frank E. Beldin (1858-1945) is an example of the classical hymn that bears its entire theme upon Scriptural truth. Mr. Beldin is the author of hundreds of hymns including “O the Wondrous Love of Jesus.” This hymn helps us to remember the profound truths of the New Testament projected in the Old Testament writings.

THE PASSOVER

 1 The day is dead, and Egypt’s night returning,
Is dark and still in death’s prophetic gloom.
The world sleeps on, but Israel’s lamp is burning;
At midnight sounds the’ oppressor’s note of doom.

Refrain:
“I will pass over you, when I see the blood:”
I will pass over you, ’tis a saving flood.
“I will pass over you, when I see the blood,”
The precious blood of Jesus.

 2 The Lamb is slain, the Sacrifice immortal,
Whose life received creates the soul anew;
His blood is shed, but is it on the portal?
O haste and see! doth it avail for you? [Refrain]

 3 Not there? not there? no crimson on the lintel?
Delay! delay! O thou destroying One!
Give grace? give grace! it must be more than mental:
My heart! my heart! let there thy work be done. [Refrain]

 4 Art safe, my soul! rest not in thy salvation,
Else thou art not like Him who came to die;
In love go forth with mercy’s invitation,
Awake the world! death’s angel passes by. [Refrain]

 1 The day is dead, and Egypt’s night returning, Is dark and still in death’s prophetic gloom. The world sleeps on, but Israel’s lamp is burning; At midnight sounds the’ oppressor’s note of doom. Just as on that fateful night ere the first Passover, there was a quiet dread in the Land of Egypt just as we witness in our modern times of unrestrained sin. The prophetic gloom uttered by the prophets from ancient days is being revealed in every avenue of our lives. Though no one knows the hour or day, we see the fig tree greening before us and all signs point to an end of time as we know it. The whole world has gone mad in sin and ignorance.

2 The Lamb is slain, the Sacrifice immortal, Whose life received creates the soul anew; His blood is shed, but is it on the portal? O haste and see! doth it avail for you? The Lamb of God, slain before the Foundation of the World, has been sacrificed for the sins of many, but your dwelling place must be under that blood on the lintels and doorposts of your life. The first Passover in Egypt was a symbolic representation of that coming sacrifice that was made by our Lord once and for all time. It stood as a shadow to Israel, as to all the people of God, in annual remembrance of the hard bondage from which they had been freed in Goshen of Egypt. It was a lessor symbol of that coming Passover that our Lord would become at Calvary’s Mountain. If we are not under the blood of Christ, then we alike shall perish with the firstborn of Egypt. (Egypt represents sin in Old Testament prophecy).

3 Not there? not there? no crimson on the lintel? Delay! delay! O thou destroying One! Give grace? give grace! it must be more than mental: My heart! my heart! let there thy work be done. There was an impending dread that night in Egypt to wonder if the terrible prophecy given to Moses might be fulfilled outside the homes of the Children of God. All else he had prophesied was fulfilled to the least detail, but what of this latter prophecy? The Angel of Death passed over those homes on which the blood was applied – not because of any righteousness of the inhabitants but owing to the blood under which they commanded to apply. Our hearts are the Temple of God in which He resides. He will not enter that heart that is not under the blood of His Beloved Son.

4 Art safe, my soul! rest not in thy salvation, Else thou art not like Him who came to die; In love go forth with mercy’s invitation, Awake the world! death’s angel passes by. How nearly does death pass over the heads of His people. Merely a thin smear of blood and we are made safe; but O what blood that smear represents! Though the ancient Passover was a continuous sacrifice, we need only observe that Passover as already offered by our Lord Jesus Christ. We observe that Passover in the Lord’s Supper, or Holy communion, at which our Lord is spiritually present at His Table. We are not to rest on our Laurels of salvation, but go forth as witnesses and examples of the Lord by whom we have been saved.

REFRAIN:

“I will pass over you, when I see the blood:” I will pass over you, ’tis a saving flood. “I will pass over you, when I see the blood,” The precious blood of Jesus. Just as no inhabitant of the houses in Egypt that was covered by the blood, no soul in our day need fear death if under that redeeming blood of Christ. It is not our own works of presumed righteousness that will save, but only that Passover blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

 

By |2024-10-22T18:30:26+00:00October 22nd, 2024|Blog|Comments Off on THE PASSOVER,

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