The last stanza of Let Me Rise is where Gerhardt finally renounces the depression, as he was encouraging himself to do in the first stanza.
He doesn't deny the reality of the depression.
He doesn't hang onto the depression.
Instead, he sings the devil away.
Dr Kleinig reminded us that the practice of piety involves praying/singing doctrinal hymns and devotional hymns. These hymns teach the heart to sing what is true and what is right, regardless of how we feel. Doctrinal hymns used in our devotions will carry us through times of sorrow and of joy, times of health and of illness, times of highs and lows. Our piety is dependent upon the objective truth of God's word and what He has done to save me. When we sing about it, we are preserved in the faith.
These hymns chase the devil away.
These hymns bring comfort to beseiged Christians. The "comfort" isn't about feeling better. Rather, the comfort is found where doctrine strengthens the soul, where doctrine vivifies faith. God's word sung and prayed will have its effect, regardless of how it hits our emotional state.
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That is so true---I've been going through that exact thing lately. Nice to see it put into words:
ReplyDelete"These hymns chase the devil away."
Thanks for the reminder!
Yes, this is well said. It is exactly what I have experienced and found to be true, particularly in the case of singing Gerhardt's hymns. And as you and I have each observed in other conversations, it is this blessing of the Cross that others have borne, that also serves to bless us under the Cross.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your wonderful summaries of Dr. Kleinig's paper. Makes me wish all the more that I could have been there for it!