{"id":1820,"date":"2020-12-10T06:22:00","date_gmt":"2020-12-10T11:22:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kenpulsmusic.com\/blog\/?p=1820"},"modified":"2020-12-09T22:18:48","modified_gmt":"2020-12-10T03:18:48","slug":"who-is-this-so-weak-and-helpless","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kenpulsmusic.com\/blog\/2020\/12\/who-is-this-so-weak-and-helpless\/","title":{"rendered":"Who Is This So Weak and Helpless?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Manger<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There are many well-matched hymn tunes and texts in the treasure trove of hymnody. A well-matched tune not only fits the poetic meter of the text, it helps to undergird, emotionally interpret, and express the meaning of the text. Crafting or finding music that aptly conveys and strengthens the message of the lyrics is called text painting<\/strong>. Examples of hymn tunes that beautifully paint the text include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHoly, Holy, Holy\u201d by Reginald Heber (1783\u20131826)\u00a0
Set to the tune NICAEA by John B. Dykes, 1861<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This hymn echoes the threefold praise of God\u2019s holiness found in Scripture (Isaiah 6:3, Revelation 4:8). It affirms the doctrine: \u201cGod in three Persons, blessed Trinity.\u201d The motive of the tune accompanies the words \u201cHoly, Holy, Holy.\u201d It consists of a rising arpeggio of the tonic chord: a major triad made up of a root, 3rd, and 5th. It is a musical illustration of the doctrine of the Trinity: 3 notes, one chord.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHow Firm a Foundation\u201d<\/a> from\u00a0John Rippon\u2019s Selection of Hymns<\/em>, 1787\u00a0
Set to the tune FOUNDATION from John Funk\u2019s\u00a0Genuine Church Music<\/em>, 1832<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This hymn affirms the certainty of God\u2019s Word. All that God has said and promised will surely come to pass. The tune conveys firmness by emphasizing the structural tones of the major scale. Most of the melody consists of the three notes of the tonic triad (the most stable chord of the key). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cO Sacred Head Now Wounded,\u201d a Medieval Latin poem ascribed to Bernard Clairvaux (1091\u20131153)
Set to the tune PASSION CHORALE by Hans Leo Hassler, 1601, harmonized by J.S. Bach, 1729<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hassler\u2019s tune in minor with Bach\u2019s harmonization captures well the \u201cgrief,\u201d \u201canguish,\u201d and \u201csorrow\u201d in the text. Bach concludes with a cadence in the relative major, as the hymn expresses both the suffering of Christ on the cross and God\u2019s grace and love that come to us through Christ\u2019s sacrifice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUp from the Grave He Arose\u201d (Low in the Grave He Lay)\u00a0
Set to the tune CHRIST AROSE
Words and music by Robert Lowry (1826\u20131866)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lowry\u2019s hymn celebrating Christ\u2019s resurrection begins with an 8-measure subdued verse (\u201cLow in the grave He lay\u201d) leading into a 12-measure triumphant chorus with dotted rhythms and expanded range. The chorus opens with an ascending arpeggio on the tonic chord interpreting the words \u201cUp from the grave He arose.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJoy to the World\u201d<\/a> by Isaac Watts, 1719\u00a0
Set to the tune ANTIOCH by Lowell Mason, 1836, based on music by G.F. Handel, 1742<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This familiar Christmas hymn proclaims Christ\u2019s incarnation. The tune begins with a descending major scale conveying the text: \u201cJoy to the world, the Lord is come.\u201d The melody then ascends, returning to the starting note, reaching up with the words: \u201cLet earth receive her King!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A lesser-known Christmas hymn, whose tune beautifully portrays the text, is \u201cWho Is This So Weak and Helpless.\u201d<\/a> This hymn begins with the birth of Christ, then points us to His life, suffering, and death on the cross. The first half of each verse focuses on Christ\u2019s humiliation and asks the perplexing question: \u201cWho is this?\u201d The question is tied to the hymn\u2019s motive that begins with the opening notes of the minor scale, rising a\u00a0minor<\/strong>\u00a0third from \u201ca\u201d to \u201cc\u201d (from tonic to mediant). The second half of each verses answers the question posed in the first half. We see Christ\u2019s exaltation in stark contrast to His humiliation: \u201cWho is this?\u201d Answer: \u201cTis the Lord!\u201d \u201cTis our God!\u201d The motive also begins the second half of each verse, but the notes are raised a third. Now the notes rise from \u201cc\u201d to \u201ce\u201d (a\u00a0major<\/strong>\u00a0third), brightening the motive with uplifting wonder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It seems improbable that the child who \u201ccoldly in a manger laid\u201d is \u201cthe Lord of all creation.\u201d It seems astounding that \u201ca Man of Sorrows\u201d is indeed \u201cour God, our glorious Savior.\u201d Yet this is the profound mystery of the incarnation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below is the full text of the hymn. As you celebrate this Christmas season look from the manger to the cross and marvel at the wondrous way that God has accomplished our salvation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,\u201d says the Lord.
\u201cFor as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.\u201d
(Isaiah 55:8-9)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who Is This So Weak and Helpless?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not\u201d (John 1:10).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WHO is this so weak and helpless,
Child of lowly Hebrew maid,
Rudely in a stable sheltered,
Coldly in a manger laid?
\u2018TIS the Lord of all creation,
Who this wondrous path hath trod;
He is God from everlasting,
And to everlasting God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WHO is this, a Man of Sorrows,
Walking sadly life\u2019s hard way,
Homeless, weary, sighing, weeping,
Over sin and Satan\u2019s sway?
\u2018TIS our God, our glorious Savior,
Who above the starry sky
Now for us a place prepareth,
Where no tear can dim the eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WHO is this? Behold Him shedding
Drops of blood upon the ground!
Who is this, despised, rejected,
Mocked, insulted, beaten, bound?
\u2018TIS our God, who gifts and graces
On His church now poureth down;
Who shall smite in holy vengeance
All His foes beneath His throne.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WHO is this that hangeth dying
While the rude world scoffs and scorns,
Numbered with the malefactors,
Torn with nails and crowned with thorns?
\u2018TIS the God who ever liveth\u00a0
\u2018Mid the shining ones on high,
In the glorious golden city,
Reigning everlastingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWho Is This So Weak and Helpless\u201d\u00a0
Words by William Walsham How (1823\u20131897)
Music by John Ambrose Lloyd, the elder (1815\u20131874)
Words and Music \u00a9Public Domain<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Download lyrics and free sheet music<\/a> (PDF), including guitar chord charts and an arrangement of the hymn tune EIFIONYDD for classical guitar.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More Hymns from History<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

More Christmas hymns arranged for Classical Guitar<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There are many well-matched hymn tunes and texts in the treasure trove of hymnody. A well-matched tune not only fits the poetic meter of the text, it helps to undergird, emotionally interpret, and express the meaning of the text. Crafting or finding music that aptly conveys and strengthens the message of the lyrics is called text […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[173,21,22],"tags":[250,133,50,270,98,134,18],"class_list":["post-1820","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-history","category-hymn","category-music-for-worship","tag-advent","tag-christmas","tag-church-music","tag-humiliation","tag-hymn","tag-incarnation","tag-music-2"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4lLgO-tm","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kenpulsmusic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1820","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kenpulsmusic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kenpulsmusic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kenpulsmusic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kenpulsmusic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1820"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kenpulsmusic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1820\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1822,"href":"https:\/\/kenpulsmusic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1820\/revisions\/1822"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kenpulsmusic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1820"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kenpulsmusic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1820"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kenpulsmusic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1820"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}