HEAVENLY MELODIES

Hymns, Choruses & Verses of Timothy Tow
(Singapore: True Life BPC, 2017)

Foreword

“Music is next to theology” said Martin Luther. This was often quoted by the Rev Dr Timothy Tow when he taught the Bible and Theology at the Far Eastern Bible College (FEBC). I was a student there from 1985 to 1989. The Rev Tow truly believed this, and used music to teach the Bible and Theology to his students. I remember him teaching “Old Testament History in Song”. The biblical accounts were put into song sung to the tune of familiar hymns. He used music as a teaching tool to help his students remember God’s Word—an effective way of hiding God’s Word in our heart, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Ps 119:11).

The hymns reflect his twofold ministry as pastor and theologian. As a pastor, he wrote hymns like “Our God Is a Loving Father” and “Courage, Weary Sons and Daughters” to comfort and encourage the battered and sorrowing heart. These hymns remind believers to look up to their Heavenly Father always for all their material and emotional needs. They are spiritually therapeutic. He also wrote hymns on the Second Coming of Christ. He believed that the Lord Jesus was coming back very soon, and that believers have everything to look forward to when Jesus returns. Hymns like “In the New Jerusalem” and “Jesus Christ Is Coming” speak to that. The lovely thoughts in these hymns are sure to lift the reader and singer out of discouragement or depression. The return of Christ is our blessed hope (Tit 2:13).

As a theologian, he was a strong and uncompromising defender of the Christian faith. He wrote to warn against false doctrines and called people to separate from unbelief and apostasy, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? ... Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” (2 Cor 6:14, 17, 18). In his effort to “earnestly contend for the faith” (Jude 3), he wrote such hymns as “Living Faith”, “Come Out from the Church Apostate”, “The King James Version versus the Hundred Versions”. His hymns on doctrine sought to teach and defend God’s Word and Truth, to warn against false Christs and false prophets especially in these last days, and to encourage believers to live a faithful and successful Christian life to the glory of God.

Selected John Sung choruses and Chinese hymns by Dr Calvin Chao, Dr Chia Yu Ming, Miss Chiau Wei Chen, the Rev Jason Linn, the Rev John E Su, and the Rev Newton Y T Tsiang translated into English by the Rev Dr Timothy Tow are found in this volume. Also included are hymns by Dr Chan Kay Heem, Miss Gloria Ho, the Rev Lek Aik Wee, Mr Christopher Tan, Dr S H Tow, and one other who have in one way or another been influenced and blessed by the ministry of the Rev Dr Timothy Tow.

Many thanks to editors Miss Joycelyn Chng, who researched into the hymns to discover the history and anecdotes behind them, and Mr Christopher Tan for the arrangement and typesetting of the hymns. Many thanks also to Mrs Ivy Tow and Mrs Jemima Khoo for contributing photos of the Rev Dr Timothy Tow, to Mrs Catherine Tan for her photos of the Holy Land, to Jose Trinipil Lagapa (Biboy) for his drawings, and to Miss Judith d’Silva, Mrs Jemima Khoo, Mrs Jacelyn Goh and Miss Katherine Go for proofreading the drafts.

The Rev Dr Timothy Tow was called home to be with the Lord on 20 April 2009. Now home with the Lord, he is no doubt singing heavenly melodies in holy worship of his God even his Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ. We urge all who have a copy of this historical and commemorative hymnbook to use it regularly, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col 3:16). Singing such heavenly melodies is a prelude to what we will do when the Lord Jesus Christ comes back. We will all be singing “a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth” (Rev 5:9, 10).

Soli Deo Gloria!

Jeffrey Khoo

Pastor, True Life Bible-Presbyterian Church

Principal, Far Eastern Bible College

Notes from the Editors

Christopher Tan:

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col 3:16).

I count it a great privilege and honour to be given the opportunity to typeset and edit the hymns of the late Rev Timothy Tow. I am extremely thankful to Pastor Jeffrey Khoo for assigning me this task and also for encouraging me in the good tradition of hymn writing. Special thanks to Mrs Jemima Khoo, Joycelyn Chng, Judith d’Silva and everyone who has contributed to this most worthy project in one way or another.

Rev Tow did not go through formal music education and training but that did not stop him from writing many beautiful original hymns, choruses and verses. This clearly shows his heart and theology and demonstrates how the Holy Spirit has worked so powerfully in his life. He reminds me of the great “father of English hymnody”, Isaac Watts, who was both a theologian as well as a hymn writer. Indeed, Rev Tow will be remembered for being both a great theologian and hymn writer!

I am forever indebted to Rev Tow for the Biblical doctrines that he defended so fervently. The very first time I stepped into the Far Eastern Bible College night class was in 2002, when Rev Tow was teaching Calvinism. He taught the precious doctrine of the perseverance of the saints – “Once Saved, Always Saved”, which brought great relief and saved my troubled soul. There are many apostate and false churches today which teach false doctrines and a false gospel. In contrast, Rev Tow preached and defended the true gospel of Christ in its entirety, including the inspiration and preservation of Scripture. We are forever grateful for his life and ministry.

Joycelyn Chng:

The time spent researching into the history and theology behind Rev Timothy Tow’s hymns has been a most rewarding one. In the process of trawling through Rev Tow’s writings in the old issues of the weekly bulletin dating way back to the 1960s, I was given a fresh glimpse into his life and ministry. Rev Tow had been my pastor ever since I was a little girl. Nonetheless, working on this songbook has helped me to appreciate anew the courageous defender of the Christian faith that he was. He was full of zeal for his Lord and Saviour, and was loving, yet uncompromising, in the ministry that the Lord had entrusted to him.

Unearthed from the treasure trove of weekly bulletins are a number of beautiful “new” hymns and choruses by Rev Tow, such as “Jesus Is Coming Again”, “O Israel, Give Ear to Isaiah” and “He Came for Me”. All these compositions, together with some lesser known traditional hymns that Rev Tow had published for congregational singing, can be found in this songbook.

Presenting the background of the hymns in the own words of Rev Tow where possible, it is our prayer that the reader will catch a glimpse of his love for the Lord, His work and His people. May many hearts be ministered unto and lives be devoted to the cause of Christ, to the glory of God alone.

TESTIMONY OF A DOMESTIC HELPER

For six years since 5 March 2011, I have faithfully looked after my employer’s mother. Though she could not utter a word, I have learned so much from her. Through her life she taught me many things. I learned to be even more grateful, and every day I learned new things, new lessons till the final hour when God called her home.

Thank God for giving me the strength I needed each day. Looking after her was not easy. When I first knew of her condition, I was worried that I did not have the skill and strength to do the job. I had zero knowledge, but I was willing to do and to learn new things. Each day I learned and have done my best with not many mistakes. Every time I faced a new thing, I was afraid—afraid that I could not do it, or not able to take it.

Thank God for God’s people. I was much encouraged by the brethren especially from the Ladies Fellowship which I attended regularly, where I shared my problems and burdens, and got prayer support. There were many others who prayed for me. When I hear the word, “I/We will pray for you”, it gives me the courage and strength to continue on.

Truly, God never fails to keep His promise. When God leads, He provides for the needs. These past few weeks especially, when grandma’s condition deteriorated, it was only by God’s grace and mercy that I could manage to take care of her. Every sunrise is a blessing, but when the sun went down, my fear started growing—fear that she would pass away after midnight—and that I was too tired and not awake. I prayed to the Lord that it would not happen at night. Even then, I was still afraid as I have never had any experience with a dead person. Thank God for a dear sister in Christ (church friend) who encouraged me and taught me to pray, to ask God to give me the strength instead of asking, “Don’t happen at home.”

God is good, He answered every prayer. He took away every fear. Through His Word He spoke to me. Just the night before grandma went, I read the book of Deuteronomy for my daily Bible reading. God assured and comforted me with this verse: “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee” (Deut 31:6). Slowly my fears faded away. I was with grandma till her very last breath. I was cleaning her mouth removing secretion. Then she closed her mouth and stopped breathing. I was able to dress her up. Seeing her go peacefully also gives me joy and peace. Thank the Lord for His Word that is full of promise and assurance. Thank God for helping me cross the river of fear. Grandma has gone home to be with the Lord on Friday at 1410hrs. She is 97 (10 Oct 1919 – 31 Mar 2017)! Margaretha