Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

One of the things I love about GfBC is that we concentrate on one hymn a month. It really helps with family worship and maybe some handwriting assignments or piano lessons ;) One of the most recent hymns was Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence. I had never heard of it but it has become one of my favorites in this season of my life. Here is the first verse:

Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
And with fear and trembling stand;
Ponder nothing earthly minded,
For with blessing in His hand,
Christ our God to earth descendeth,
Our full homage to demand.

Wow! So, since I am "mortal flesh" I should at least attempt silence. Does anyone else have trouble with that? So often I am just busy. Doing what? Homeschooling, laundry, correcting, playing, reading, crafting, talking, watching tv. Hmmm. Ok, keep silence. "And with fear and trembling stand". Yikes. Silent and reverent. Thinking about the awesome-ness of God-the Creator of the universe. And me. "Ponder nothing earthly minded" What? That means no "to-do" listing during worship. No thinking about what I can do when we get home. No worrying about the week ahead. Nothing earthly minded-only Heavenly minded. "For with blessing in His hand, Christ our God to earth descendeth, Our full homage to demand." He came to earth, as God-Man to bless us and He requires our full homage. What is homage you ask? Webster's 1828 Dictionary defines it as this:

HOM'AGE, n. [L. homo, man.]
1. In feudal law, the submission, loyalty and service which a tenant promised to his lord or superior,when first admitted to the land which he held of him in fee; or rather the act of the tenant in making this submission, on being invested with the fee. The ceremony of doing homage was thus performed. The tenant, being ungirt and uncovered, kneeled and held up both his hands between those of the lord, who sat before him, and there professed that "he did become his man, from that day forth, of life and limb and earthly honor," and then received a kiss from his lord.
2. Obeisance; respect paid by external action.
Go, go, with homage yon proud victors meet.
3. Reverence directed to the Supreme Being; reverential worship; devout affection.

I have alot to work on this week!