This is hymn 3 of the Open Heavens daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
Hymn 3: ANCIENT WORDS
1. Holy words long preserved
For our walk in this world
They resound with God’s own heart
Oh, let the ancient words impart
Chorus:
Ancient words, ever true
Changing me and changing you
We have come with open hearts
Oh, let the ancient words impart
2. Words of life, words of hope
Give us strength, help us cope
In this world, where e’er we roam
Ancient words will guide us home
3. Holy words of our faith
Handed down to this age
Came to us through sacrifice
Oh, heed the faithful words of Christ
4. Holy words long preserved
For our walk in this world
They resound with God’s own heart
Oh, let the ancient words impart
ANCIENT WORDS HYMN COMMENTARY
Beloved in Christ, in a world of constant change, shifting opinions, and fleeting trends, our souls crave an unchanging foundation. The hymn “Ancient Words” directs our hearts to the eternal, life-giving truth of God’s Word. This is not a song about a distant, historical document, but a celebration of the living, active, and enduring revelation of God Himself, preserved for us and entrusted to us for our journey today.
Why Sing This Hymn
We sing this hymn to reaffirm our trust in the Bible, to celebrate its divine origin and practical power, and to open our hearts afresh to its transforming truth. It is a declaration that in the ancient words of Scripture, we hear the present heart of God.
1. It is a Hymn of Divine Preservation and Present Relevance (Verse 1)
The hymn begins with a profound truth: these are “Holy words long preserved for our walk in this world.” The Bible is not an accidental collection, but a sacred treasure intentionally guarded by God through centuries and millennia for our benefit here and now. These words do not merely contain information; they “resound with God’s own heart.” To read Scripture is to listen to the heartbeat of the Father. The prayerful cry, “Oh, let the ancient words impart,” is an invitation for the Holy Spirit to make those timeless truths living and active in us today (Hebrews 4:12).
2. It is a Hymn of Personal Transformation and Guidance (Chorus & Verse 2)
The chorus reveals the dynamic purpose of God’s Word: it is “ever true” and actively “changing me and changing you.” Scripture is not for information alone, but for transformation. It corrects, trains, and equips us (2 Timothy 3:16-17). We approach it not with closed minds, but with “open hearts,”ready to be shaped. Verse 2 describes this Word as our practical sustenance: “Words of life, words of hope” that provide “strength” to endure and “help us cope.” In a world where we can feel spiritually homeless, these ancient words provide the only reliable map to guide us safely “home.”
3. It is a Hymn of Sacred Legacy and Sacrificial Cost (Verse 3)
This verse roots the Bible in the grand narrative of faith and redemption. These “Holy words of our faith” were “handed down to this age.” We are links in a mighty chain of believers who have cherished, copied, preached, and often died for this Book. They came “through sacrifice”—ultimately, the sacrifice of Christ, the Living Word, and often the sacrifice of martyrs who gave their lives to preserve it. Therefore, we are called to a posture of holy attention: “Oh, heed the faithful words of Christ.” To heed is to listen, obey, and treasure.
4. It is a Hymn of Continual Impartation (Verse 4)
The final verse is a purposeful repetition of the first, bringing us full circle. This repetition emphasizes the ongoing, daily necessity of God’s Word. Our need for it is perpetual—for every step of our “walk in this world.” It is a call to return again and again to this well that never runs dry.
A Word for Your Spirit Today
Are you feeling uncertain, weary, or adrift in this world? Do you crave something solid and true amidst the noise? Open the ancient words. Let them impart life to your spirit.
Come to your Bible today not as a duty, but as a seeker with an open heart. Listen for God’s own heart resounding through the pages. Let the ancient promises strengthen you, the ancient commands guide you, and the ancient story of redemption remind you of your place in God’s faithful plan.
These words are your inheritance, your daily bread, and your light for the path ahead. Do not let them sit idle on a shelf. Heed them. Cherish them. Let them change you, and trust them to guide you all the way home.
In the name of Jesus, the Word made flesh, Amen.
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