oakleys.org.uk

I love discovering new hymns.

Like this one by Josiah Conder, entitled My Lord, I did not choose you.

God is working his purpose out,
As year succeeds to year;
God is working His purpose out,
And the time is drawing near;
Nearer and nearer draws the time,
The time that shall surely be,
When the earth shall be filled
With the glory of God,
As the waters cover the sea.

While Shepherds Watched is a great hymn.

...except for the last verse, which records what the angels sang as recorded in Luke 2:14. The carol is based on the AV, which (at this point) used limited manuscript evidence to opt for its translation. The result is that most people learn what the angels sang from the carol, not from Luke’s gospel, and think that Christmas is about spreading good will around. (I know I know, it is in part – but not according to the angels, and slightly more indirectly).