Heritage Sabbath Materials, October 20, 2001

The first printing of this hymn was in John Rippon's Selection of Hymns, London, 1787, under the heading "Heaven Anticipated." The original had eight four-line stanzas. The refrain was added much later.

This figure of crossing the swelling, stormy river of Jordan before death and entering the heavenly Canaan to enjoy eternal life is not strictly Biblical. It is parallel to the experience of the Israelites in Joshua's time, who came to cross the Jordan River and found the banks flooded (see Joshua 3). The Lord caused the waters to stop flowing so that the Israelites could pass over into Canaan's land. Another incident associated with the Jordan and with death and eternal life concerns the translation of the prophet Elijah. He was crossing the Jordan in the other direction, from Jericho eastward. Again a miracle occurred, for Elijah smote the waters with his mantle and he and Elisha went over on dry ground (2 Kings 2:8). In neither case was there a struggle against Jordan's waves. We owe this figure to John Bunyan's usage in Pilgrim's Progress, when all the trumpets sounded for Christian from the other side as he made a triumphant crossing of the watery barrier between him and the Delectable Country.

John Rippon (1751-1836) was born at Tiverton, Devon, England, and prepared for the ministry at Baptist College, Bristol. He was the pastor of Carter Lane Baptist Church in London for 63 years! His most significant contribution to hymnody was a collection of hymns he put together in 1787, A Selection of Hymns From the Best Authors, Intended as an Appendix to Dr. Watts's Psalms and Hymns.

Samuel Stennett, born at Exeter, England, in 1727, also was a Baptist minister. He succeeded his father as pastor of the Seventh Day Baptist Church in Little Wild Street, London, in 1758, and served there until his death. Holding a prominent position among the "dissenting" ministers of London, he was respected by the statesmen of his time for his stand on religious liberty, a tenet strongly held by Baptists, who were considered heretics by the established Church of England. He was a personal friend of King George III, and not only preached regularly on seventh-day Sabbaths, but also for the other Baptists on Sundays. His published works include sermons, pamphlets, and 38 hymns in Rippon's book. In 1763 he was honored with a D. D. degree by the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. He died in London August 25, 1795.

It is undoubtedly the delightful music of "Promised Land" that has made this hymn so popular since it first appeared in William Walker's Southern Harmony, 1835, where credit is given to Miss M. Durham. Nothing about her is known. William "Singing Billy" Walker (1809-1875) was a Baptist layman and singing-school teacher of South Carolina, who wrote some 25 tunes for his successful book, of which 600,000 copies were sold in 30 years. An all-day "sing" that started in 1884, using this book, is still carried on in Benton, Kentucky, every fourth Sunday in May.

Adapted from Wayne Hooper and Edward E. White, Companion to the Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal, Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1988, pp. 570, 571. Used by permission.

For many years Jesus sent messages to His children here on earth through His messenger, Mrs. Ellen G. White. Sometimes Jesus even sent messages to children. Once he sent a special message to Mrs. White's granddaughter, Ella Mae. She was only 14 years old at the time.

One night when Ella came home from school she was very tired and discouraged. Her mother had to spend so much time taking care of her new twin baby brothers that much of the housework had become Ella's responsibility. Consequently, Ella always seemed tired. And she never had enough time to study.

Tearfully Ella prayed, "Dear Jesus, please help me. Please take away my unhappy feelings and give me peace." But she still didn't feel any better. It seemed to her that Jesus wasn't near her, and that He didn't hear her prayers. Finally Ella fell asleep feeling very sad and lonely.

A day or two later Grandma White’s carriage stopped at the front door of Ella's home. Grandma told Ella's father to call the family together, for she had come with a special message just for them. She also asked Ella's mother to have one of their helpers take care of the twins. Grandma White wanted Ella and her sister Mabel to pay attention to every word and not be distracted by the babies. Mrs. White took out of her bag the message that she had written that very morning and began to read.

Jesus had come to Mrs. White during the night and had spoken to her in a vision. He told her that there was too much noise and confusion in their home. She was also shown that they forgot to think about God and to ask His blessing as they did their study and work. They should make more time for Bible study and prayer. As they went about their work they were to remember that it was the same as if they were doing it for Jesus.

Grandma White told Ella and Mabel that their mother needed their help, and that they should be faithful in doing their chores. She told them they should respect their mother and obey her when they were asked to do something. Boys and girls should learn to respect and obey their parents because it is helping them to get ready for heaven.

Ella was told that she needed to set a good example for her little sister by being like Jesus. She was told that she should be willing to do her home chores. If she saw something that needed to be done she should do it without being asked. She was also told that she should keep her room neat and clean, as well as the kitchen.

These were the very things that Ella didn't like to do, and she certainly didn't like hearing about them right in front of the whole family. Interrupting her grandmother, Ella asked, "Did the angel say all those things, or did you think of them yourself as you were writing?"

Patiently Grandma replied, "The angel talked with me in the night; I then got out of bed and dressed and wrote down the messages that were given to me for you."

Grandma White also told Ella that she should put her books away when it was time to do chores, and that she should not study until her chores were done. She reminded Ella that by obeying her mother, and doing her chores promptly and neatly, she was being a missionary. She was being like Jesus. To Him, even little jobs in the kitchen are important The Bible tells us that when we are faithful in doing the least important things it will help us to be true and faithful in the most important things.

"We are told not to be discouraged," Grandma continued, "Angels are watching to see how they can help us become more like Jesus."

Ella didn't like the message that Jesus had given to Grandma White for her. She ran upstairs to her room, buried her face in her pillow and cried and cried. "Why do I have to sweep and scrub and wash dishes?" she sobbed. "I need time for studying."

And then suddenly she remembered her prayer that Jesus would help her and take away her bad feelings. Was this His answer? Had Jesus heard the cry of a young girl and sent an angel with the answer to her prayer? Yes. Jesus had heard her. He did love her! He had sent His angel to give a message to her grandmother just for her telling her how she could be better because He loved her.

Now Ella began to cry again, but this time it was because she was sorry. She wiped her tears away and went scurrying down to the kitchen. Because she had been feeling so stubborn and cranky she had hidden a sticky saucepan behind the stove. As soon as she was sure no one was looking, Ella got it and gave it a good cleaning. It had never shone so brightly before! Then she looked around the kitchen and straightened things up here and there. She even used some of her new-found energy to scrub the stains from the wooden table. My, how much better she felt!

Ella repeated the words, "He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much." From now on she would to do every chore as faithfully and carefully as if she could look up and see Jesus standing there, watching lovingly as she did her work.

Adapted from Over My Shoulder, by Ella White Robinson.

Introduction

1. Sermon Texts: Deut. 4:9, 23; 6:12; 8:11.
2. These texts emphasize Moses' great burden for Israel—that as time passed, they would not forget the Lord.

The Three Forty-year Periods of Moses’ Life

1. In the first 40-year period Moses was born to Hebrew parents, adopted by Pharaoh's daughter as her own child, reared to the age of 12 by his own mother. Then, living in the palace of the king, he was educated as heir to the Egyptian throne.
2. After killing an Egyptian, Moses was forced to flee from Egypt to Midian, where he was tutored by God to carry out the mission He had planned. It took him 40 years to unlearn the ways of Egypt.
3. Moses received his call to service directly from God at the burning bush. During the next 40 years he led the people out of Egypt and was as a father to them as they wandered in the wilderness.

Moses' Last Warnings and Admonitions

1. Moses rehearsed the history of Israel's deliverance from Egypt. Deut. 4-6, Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 462-468.
2. They were not chosen because of their number, nor because they were better than other people. Deut. 7:7-9.
3. The consequences of obedience and disobedience. Admonished to choose life (Deut. 30:19, 20) or their fate would be terrible.

Prophetic Fulfillment

1. Israel did not obey God in spite of Moses' warnings. Matt. 23:38; Acts 7:51-53.
2. They rejected the Messiah. Matt. 27:25. They had expected Him to come:

1. As a mighty Prince. DA, p. 34.

2. To break the power of the Romans. DA, p. 30.

3. As a conqueror. DA, pp. 65, 66; PK, p. 709.

4. As a Lion of the Tribe of Judah. MB, p. 2.

5. To reign as a Mighty World King. EW, p. 159.

6. To make Judea an earthly paradise. DA, p. 377.

1. Remnant will be saved from out of the Jewish nation. AA, p. 380; John 1:12; Rom. 11:5, 6.
2. Salvation for both Jews and Gentiles. John 3:16; Acts 18:5, 6; 13: 46, 47.

Warnings of Moses Apply to God's People Today

1. God chose Moses as His prophetic leader in the Exodus Movement. Exodus 4:25.
2. In the Advent Movement, Ellen G. White was chosen by God for her prophetic role. Fundamental Beliefs No. 17; 1 SM, p. 32.

The Gift of Prophecy

a. In the New Testament Church

1. Our Lord promised it. Matt. 23:24; Luke 11:49

2. Poured out upon all flesh. Acts 2:17, 18.

3. Prophets in the early church. Acts 11:27; 13:1; 15:32.

b. In the Remnant Church

1. Mark of identity. 1 Cor. 1:6-8.

2. Associated with God's commandment-keeping people. Rev. 12:17; 19:10.

3. A test of truth. Isa. 8:16, 20.

c. Blessings of the Gift of Prophecy

1. Gives spiritual eyesight, thus preventing spiritual blindness. 1 Sam. 3:1, 2; 28:6; Prov. 29:18.

2. When heeded, brings prosperity. 2 Chron. 20:20.

3. Practical counsels for Christian living. Deut. 1-33. E. G. White books on Biblical themes.

Lest We Forget

1. Similarities between the Exodus Movement and the Advent Movement. Hosea 12:13.
2. What would have happened to the Seventh-day Adventist Church without the guidance of Ellen G. White?
3. There would be no SDA church as we now know it. Would have foundered on the rocks of fanaticism.
4. “Nothing to Fear for the Future, Except as We Forget.” TM, p. 31.

Conclusion

1. Let us pay attention to the counsels of the Messenger of the Lord.
2. Thank God for this gift that seeks to get us ready for the coming of the Lord.
3. “We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and His teaching in our past history” (LS, p. 196).

Both words and music were written by Franklin Edson Belden (1858-1945) and appear in Hymns and Tunes, 1886. The heading is a Scripture quotation selected from Matthew 24.

In both Hymns and Tunes, 1886, and Christ in Song, 1900, the tune, unnamed, is marked allegretto, which means “briskly.” This instruction is most apt, for the words recognize the imminence of the Lord’s coming.

Belden was born at Battle Creek, Michigan, on March 21, 1858. He was the eldest of five children born to Stephen Belden and Sarah Harmon Belden, the elder sister of Ellen Harmon White. He obtained most of his education at Battle Creek College. About the year 1876 he moved with his father and stepmother and James and Ellen White (his uncle and aunt) to California, where he began to compose music. Bronchial trouble caused him to move to Colorado, where, in 1881, he married a woman with musical talent. In the early 1880s Belden and his wife moved to Battle Creek. There he connected with the Seventh-day Adventist publishing work. With Edwin Barnes, he was music editor of The Seventh-day Adventist Hymn and Tune Book for Use in Divine Worship (known as Hymns and Tunes), 1886. With his cousin James Edson White, he produced Joyful Greetings for the Sabbath School, also in 1886. In 1895 he published Gospel Song Sheaf; in 1900, Christ in Song and books of patriotic music. For a time he served as a superintendent at the Review and Herald Publishing Association. About 1910 he began to write songs for evangelist Billy Sunday, which were included in his book Songs for the King’s Business.

Unfortunately, a misunderstanding arose between him and Adventist leaders concerning royalties for his books. The matter was never satisfactorily settled. After his death on December 2, 1945, all his papers and manuscripts were deposited at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary.

Belden's genius in music and poetry was demonstrated by his frequent practice of writing a song to fit a sermon while it was being preached. He and his wife sat in the choir. He would take the Scripture text of the sermon as his theme and, using the preacher’s exposition, write the hymn text. Then he would compose the music for the newly written words. Finally, he and his wife would offer to sing the new hymn in place of the final hymn chosen to conclude the service. They would give the original manuscript of the hymn to the preacher as a souvenir. The book Christ in Song contains many of these hymns and tunes. His contributions to the current Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal are 12 complete hymns (text and tune) and four tunes to words written by other authors.

Adapted from Wayne Hooper and Edward E. White, Companion to the Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal, pp. 558, 627, 628. Used with permission.