PRESENTS WEARY OF WANDERING A GUIDE FOR LENT PSALM 107 / / WEARY OF WANDERING FROM MY GOD by Charles Wesley Prayers and Illustrations by John Hatfield
INTRODUCTION During Christmastide, I was searching for Lenten hymn texts to feature on an upcoming episode of Hymnistry. Our Lenten episode will be the 4th episode of the new season of the show, and our 2nd curated hymn to be retuned by a member of our little tribe of Houstonian worship pastors. The monthly exercise of combing through tattered old hymnals and church songbooks has been both joyful and humbling as we endeavor to find beautiful but obscure lyrics to offer up for renewal and reintroduction to the Church. My search for a Lenten hymn, however, did not take me to a stack of worn books, but rather to the cavernous depths of the inexhaustible Google. And this expedition did not net an obscure lyric by a little-known writer, but rather a text from the hymn writer whom I now profess to be my favorite among the greats of historical Church songsmiths: The Reverend Charles Wesley. There is no lack of hymns to express the breadth and depth of the practice of Lent. Wesley alone is credited with over 6,000 hymns, and many, many of them are wonderful to sing during this season of reflection and renewal. But to me, this Wesley hymn, Weary of Wandering From My God, is a beautiful encapsulation of the Lenten journey from lost to found, fear to faith, death to resurrection (as my friend and pastor, Matt Boyle, describes it). Around the same time I found this hymn, I was also searching for psalms to incorporate into worship for my local congregation in Clear Lake. I was struck by the parallels between Weary and the stanzas of Psalm 107. The psalmist continually implores the reader to give thanks to the Lord and consider the steadfast love of the Lord within four stories of redemption told in the song. The writer concludes by reflecting upon the promises and power of God and God s unrelenting faithfulness toward God s people. In my mind, this is a perfect psalm for Lent. If you d like a new melody to sing with the text, our friend Joe Deegan re-tuned this hymn for us and it s featured on the Lenten episode of Hymnistry. We hope that both the hymn and this prayer guide will enrich your Lenten journey as you reflect on this Psalm and Wesley s wonderful lyric. Each of the six weeks features a section of the psalm, a stanza of the hymn, and a prayer for the week. On behalf of my dear friend and co-host, Luke Brawner, I thank you for making Hymnistry a part of your church year, and specifically your Lenten journey. May the Holy Spirit lead you out of the desert and into the waiting arms of our Savior, where your soul will be restored at the foot the throne of Love. Grace + Peace. John Hatfield The Hymnistry Podcast www.hymnistry.com Hymnistry 2 Lenten Prayer Guide
WEEK 1 - WEARY OF WANDERING FROM MY GOD HYMN // VERSE 1 Weary of wandering from my God, And now made willing to return I hear and bow me to the rod For thee, not without hope, I mourn: I have an Advocate above A Friend before the throne of love. Psalm 107:1-6 (ESV) 1 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! 2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble 3 and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. 4 Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in; 5 hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them. 6 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. 7 He led them by a straight way till they reached ma city to dwell in. 8 Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! 9 For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things. Gracious God who welcomes all, make my heart willing to return to you as I begin this Lenten journey. Hear my cry and deliver me. Teach me again of your steadfast love, revealed to me in Jesus Christ. Lead me out of desert wastes by your Spirit. Hymnistry 3 Lenten Prayer Guide
WEEK 2 - O JESUS, FULL OF TRUTH AND GRACE HYMN // VERSE 2 O Jesus, full of truth and grace More full of grace than I of sin Yet once again I seek Thy face: Open Thine arms and take me in And freely my backslidings heal And love the faithless sinner still. Psalm 107:10-16 (ESV) 10 Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons, 11 for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High. 12 So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor; they fell down, with none to help. 13 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and burst their bonds apart. 15 Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! 16 For he shatters the doors of bronze and cuts in two the bars of iron. Oh Lord, I cry to you from a prison of my own making. Forgive me for the times I have spurned your counsel, bringing upon myself the full weight of sin s hard labor. Forgive, I pray, by the merit of Jesus Christ, who is more full of grace than I of sin. I long to be welcomed back into your arms by the comforting voice of the Holy Spirit. And I praise you for you unfailing love toward me. Hymnistry 4 Lenten Prayer Guide
WEEK 3 - THOU KNOW ST THE WAY TO BRING ME BACK HYMN // VERSE 3 Thou know st the way to bring me back My fallen spirit to restore O for Thy truth and mercy s sake, Forgive, and bid me sin no more: The ruins of my soul repair And make my heart a house of prayer. Psalm 107:17-22 (ESV) 17 Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction; 18 they loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death. 19 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. 20 He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction. 21 Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! 22 And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy! Today I can admit that I often don t know the way back to you, God of mercy. Sin makes me look like a fool, for your truth exposes my brokenness. But you know the way. Jesus, you are the way. I know you can hear me as I cry out beneath the ruins of my own soul. Reconstruct me, through the power of your Holy Spirit, into a temple for your glory; where my song can ring out through the spacious halls of your love and grace in Jesus name! Hymnistry 5 Lenten Prayer Guide
WEEK 4 - THE STONE TO FLESH AGAIN CONVERT HYMN // VERSE 4 The stone to flesh again convert, The veil of sin again remove; Sprinkle Thy blood upon my heart, And melt it by Thy dying love; This rebel heart by love subdue, And make it soft, and make it new. Psalm 107:23-32 (ESV) 23 Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the great waters; 24 they saw the deeds of the LORD, his wondrous works in the deep. 25 For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea. 26 They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths; their courage melted away in their evil plight; 27 they reeled and staggered like drunken men and were at their wits' end. 28 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. 29 He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. 30 Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven. 31 Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! 32 Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders. Oh God, my heart is no small stone. Heavy with worry, it sinks quickly beneath the waves of my fear. The tumult of the world and the anxiety within my spirit often overwhelm your still small voice. Jesus, speak peace to the waves, pull me up from the depths, and bring me into your safe harbor. Fill my lungs with the breath of your Holy Spirit and let your blood pump through my heart again, restoring me to life. Teach my heart to trust you when the next storm arises. Hymnistry 6 Lenten Prayer Guide
WEEK 5 - GIVE TO MINE EYES REFRESHING TEARS HYMN // VERSE 5 Give to mine eyes refreshing tears, And kindle my relentings now; Fill my whole soul with filial fears, To Thy sweet yoke my spirit bow; Bend by Thy grace, O bend or break, The iron sinew in my neck! Psalm 107:33-37 (ESV) 33 He turns rivers into a desert, springs of water into thirsty ground, 34 a fruitful land into a salty waste, because of the evil of its inhabitants. 35 He turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water. 36 And there he lets the hungry dwell, and they establish a city to live in; 37 they sow fields and plant vineyards and get a fruitful yield. Lord, I long for a land where your grace flows in refreshing streams, bringing life to the barren desert. I look forward to the City of God where the hungry are fed at the table of your mercy and love. Jesus, guide me to that destination, not in some future sense, but today. Make me obedient to your will through the prompting of the Holy Spirit, that I may feel those healing waters even now. May your kingdom come, and your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Hymnistry 7 Lenten Prayer Guide
WEEK 6 - AH! GIVE ME, LORD, THE TENDER HEART HYMN // VERSE 6 Ah! give me, Lord, the tender heart That trembles at the approach of sin; A godly fear of sin impart, Implant, and root it deep within, That I may dread Thy gracious power, And never dare to offend Thee more. Psalm 107:33-37 (ESV) 38 By his blessing they multiply greatly, and he does not let their livestock diminish. 39 When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, evil, and sorrow, 40 he pours contempt on princes and makes them wander in trackless wastes; 41 but he raises up the needy out of affliction and makes their families like flocks. 42 The upright see it and are glad, and all wickedness shuts its mouth. 43 Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the LORD. Teach me, Holy Spirit, to fix my thoughts on the steadfast love of the Lord, to flee from sin, and to prepare my heart for the coming week of Christ s passion, death, and resurrection. Remind me of the provision of God in my own life and in those lives around me, that I may consider God s unfailing love and rejoice and be glad. Hymnistry 8 Lenten Prayer Guide
LENTEN JOURNAL Hymnistry 9 Lenten Prayer Guide
LENTEN JOURNAL Hymnistry 10 Lenten Prayer Guide
NOTES, LINKS, AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Weary of Wandering From My God by Charles Wesley, 1749 hymnary.org is a fantastic resource for our show and for hymn nerds everywhere. More info about this hymn and its author can be found at http://www.hymnary.org/text/weary_of_wandering_from_my_god Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version ), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Joe Deegan is a wonderful singer/songwriter, and his music can be found at: www.joedeeganmusic.com Thank you, Joe, for the wonderful music you put to this text. Hymnistry logo was designed by Heather Hale. She s awesome. Look her up at: http://twineandtwig.squarespace.com Special thanks to Matt Boyle and Lacy Hilbrich for mind-expanding conversations about Psalm 107. Thank you to Ecclesia Clear Lake and Grace Bible Church for letting John and Luke work on this podcast during office hours. And finally, thank you to all who listen to and participate in the Hymnistry conversation. We are eternally grateful for your support, feedback, and love. Please share this prayer guide freely with anyone who could benefit from it. May your Lenten journey be filled with God s grace and peace. Hymnistry 11 Lenten Prayer Guide