While we were in Utah in April we saw The Lower Lights in concert. They’re a group of musicians who got together in 2009, delved into old hymns, new hymns, favorite hymns, and put together a collection of 15 revival hymns for their debut album. I bought the entire album (titled “A Hymn Revival”) on itunes last year which says a lot because I’m a cheapskate and purchase songs selectively but I like every song they’ve produced. Plus, I play their music while I set up the Seminary room before the kids arrive.
Think of church hymns with a folksy bluegrass feel (banjos, mandolins, tambourines, accoustic guitars, etc). I guess gospel revival music is a genre I really like. Who knew?!
The group name “The Lower Lights” comes from a hymn written by Philip Paul Bliss called “Let the Lower Lights Be Burning” or “Brightly Beams our Father’s Mercy.” Bliss wrote the hymn in the 1860’s after he heard Dwight L. Moody, a Protestant preacher, share a sermon about a ship that tried to enter the Cleveland harbor on a very stormy night.
The ship captain saw the bright light of the Cleveland harbor lighthouse but the lower lights weren’t visible. The lower lights are important for ships to identify the centerline of safe entry into a harbor.
Without the lower lights burning, the ship missed the entrance to the harbor, crashed into the rocks and many lives were lost. Reverend Moody reminded his parishioners that while the Master will take care of the great lighthouse, it is our obligation to keep the lower lights burning.
So, not only do I like this hymn revival music, I like the message behind the lower light’s name, and I like Mindy Gledhill’s voice who sings with them (she’s in the photo, left side, front row). What’s not to like?
The words to “Brightly Beams Our Father’s Mercy” are pretty cool too, found on page 335 (Men’s Choir) of our church hymn book (and below):
Brightly beams our Father’s mercy. From his lighthouse evermore,
But to us he gives the keeping, Of the lights along the shore
Let the lower lights be burning; Send a gleam across the wave.
Some poor fainting, struggling seaman, You may rescue, you may save.
Dark the night of sin has settled; Loud the angry billows roar.
Eager eyes are watching, longing, For the light along the shore.
Let the lower lights be burning; Send a gleam across the wave.
Some poor fainting, struggling seaman, You may rescue, you may save.
Trim your feeble lamp, my brother; Some poor sailor, tempest tossed,
Trying now to make the harbor, In the darkness may be lost.
Let the lower lights be burning; Send a gleam across the wave.
Some poor fainting, struggling seaman, You may rescue, you may save.
