Johannes Groenewegen: Singer of “The Songs of Israel”

It was really a time of decay, of darkening of the truth, and an increasing influence of perilous philosophical ideas, wherein the church of the Reformation came after the many gracious benefits the Lord had given in the eighteenth century. We see that the truth of free grace was attacked or denied by many preachers. But in that time the Lord also gave faithful watchmen upon the walls of Jerusalem. Among them were Alexander Comrie, Theodorus van der Croe, Nicholas Holtius, Jan Jacob Brahé and others. A contemporary of them was Johannes Groenewegen, still known by some of us as the poet who, together with his brother Jacob, wrote, “De Lofzangen Israels” (The Songs of Israel). Although their poems, from a poetical aspect, are not comparable to those of Jan Luyken and Jacob Revius, yet they are beautiful and practical. These simple poems show much spiritual life and have been a source of comfort and joy to many pilgrims travelling to the new Jerusalem, for they found in them the experiences of their own heart, as they journeyed through this wilderness.

Johannes Groenewegen was born July 7, 1709, at Zoetermeer, which was at that time a small village in the western section of Holland. It is the place where also Jodocus van Lodestein served for some time after 1644, in the Lord’s vineyard. Johannes Groenewegen’s parents were members of the Remonstrant fellowship; so, he was not brought up under the pure, sound Reformed doctrine. But in God’s providence he met people who loved that truth and the Lord used it to his eternal welfare. Johannes Groenewegen was still very young when it pleased the Lord to open His blind eyes and grant unto him the life of grace. What a precious privilege it is to be called by God out of darkness into His marvellous light while we are still young!

His youth was spent in Gorinchem where he studied the classical languages with the intention of serving the Lord in His vineyard, according to the desire of his heart. And so, after having finished these classical studies at the University of Groningen, he enrolled in the renowned University of Leiden, there to continue his theological education.

After becoming a candidate for the sacred ministry, he received a call from the church of Aarlanderveen, a small village in the western part of Holland, near Leiden. He accepted this call. He preached his inaugural sermon in 1738 and so he began his ministerial career.

He himself said to his flock in his farewell sermon, preached one and one-half years later that he in a very special, wonderful way, unexpectedly and unanimously, was called to be their shepherd and teacher, as a man sent by God. “Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto Thee” (Ps. 51:13). “These were the words,” he says, “with which I initially came unto you, as you know.”

But as we saw already, his stay in Aarlanderveen was very short, and in 1739 already the Lord called him away, to take up the shepherd’s staff in Werkendam, in Brabant. The Lord had blessed his labors in Aarlanderveen, but He now led him to this new charge. His farewell sermon was from Jeremiah 17:16: “As for me, I have not hastened from being a pastor to follow thee: neither have I desired the woeful day; Thou knowest: that which came out of my lips was right before Thee.” In this farewell address he says, “If a pastor, although being convinced of his many shortcomings, has endeavoured to be faithful according to the grace given unto him, this will be a cause of great joy; be it whether the hearers have heard or rejected his message.” It is a great privilege if such a servant may testify, as Moses, in Deuteronomy 30:19, “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing.” This was also what the Apostle Paul said in Acts 20:26, “Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.” This was also the comfort of the prophet Jeremiah that in spite of all the hatred, scorn, and persecution, he could show his work unto the all-seeing eyes of God. What a privilege if we, in spite of all our official and personal sins, yet may say: “Lord, Thou knowest what my desire has been,” although we also need the atoning blood of the Great Shepherd for our official sins. The parting pastor also explained what he, as a shepherd, had desired to do among them:

• He sought to know his sheep, visiting them to see if they revealed the marks of Christ’s sheep.

• He wanted to give them healthy food, to lead them in good pasture, to bring them the pure and sound meat of God’s Word.

• He intended to show unto them the many false ways, the paths of destruction and error, in order to lead them “in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment” (Prov. 8:20).

• He desired to lead them, not only by his voice and words, but also by his example, although he knew his many shortcomings and had to confess with Nehemiah to have sinned with his people; so, he pleaded for undeserved goodness.

• He visited the sick and weak ones, and inquired after their physical, but also their spiritual condition. He prayed with them, laid them before the Great Shepherd, and also showed unto them what is necessary to be prepared for a departing blessing, a dying in peace.

On August 16th, 1739, he preached his inaugural sermon in Werkendam. It was about the vineyard of Solomon, Song of Solomon 8:11,12. He testified in that sermon that he could believe that God had used him as an instrument in His hand to the glory of the Greater Solomon, but that he was called to leave that part of the vineyard and was placed by the Lord of the harvest as an appointed shepherd in his new congregation.

Johannes Groenewegen labored for more than twenty-five years in Werkendam. The Lord richly blessed his preaching there. Many sinners were turned again unto God and the congregation flourished.

On the occasion of his twenty-fifth anniversary as minister, he proclaimed Cod’s Word from Psalm 71:17,18. What a wonder if we may really say with the poet, “O, God, Thou has taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared Thy wondrous works!” But then he also laid this supplication before his Sender, although he was not yet so very old, “O, God, forsake me not until I have shown Thy strength unto this generation, and Thy power to everyone that is to come.” In this sermon he referred to that memorable event whereof we read in 1 Samuel 7:12, of Samuel’s erecting of a stone which he called: “Eben-ezer, saying, hitherto hath the Lord helped us.” He declared how he also could confess that although he was not a Samuel in grace, knowledge and piety, that hitherto the Lord had helped him. In the application of this text, he expressed the possibility that his time would be short in their midst. His hope for the future was, with David, “And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in Thee” (Ps. 39:7). He concluded with an expression of deep gratitude unto his flock for the manifold tokens of love and friendship which he had experienced in those many years. He said, “What a blessing and privilege it is, if a minister can say, “My heart is with my congregation,” and if a congregation can say, “Our heart is firmly united with the minister,” and if they seek the welfare of one another, carrying each other in love and commending each other to the throne of grace.

As expressed in this commemoration sermon, his time was short in the Lord’s vineyard, for on August 11,1764, he passed away at the age of fifty-five years, leaving behind a mourning congregation and a people who loved the truth. Again there was an empty place here upon the earth, in the church militant—a “prayer” less, a “praiser” more.

Johannes Groenewegen’s, “Lofzangen Israels,” is still known and loved by God’s people. Some of these spiritual songs are not from his hand, but were written by his brother Jacob Groenewegen. God’s children love them; they are quoted from the pulpit sometimes, but where is the practice of this poem: “Zoete banden die mij binden aan des Heeren lieve volk” (Sweet ties which knit me together with God’s dear people)? And what do we experience of this poem, “Jezus is het alleen” (it is Jesus only) that says, “Naar dien Levensvorst mijne ziele dorst” (My soul thirsts after that Prince of Life)? Or, do we really live as we hear in the pilgrims song, “Ik ben een vreemdeling op aarde” (I am a stranger on the earth), “de hemel is mijn regte woon” (heaven is my real home)? Many songs are instructive and encouraging for an afflicted people and try to show the way unto the Keeper of Israel. Groenewegen, who also sang the praises unto the God of Israel in his sermons, now may sing his praises without sin and darkness in the Church triumphant.

It is in the Church triumphant that there will be one flock and one Shepherd. Here there are sometimes strifes, separations and divisions, as we also see in the discussions in that time about justification by faith. For instance, Johannes’s brother, Jacob Groenewegen, expressed his objections against the doctrine of justification from eternity, as was so clearly taught by his contemporary, Alexander Comrie. And so it has been, and will be, as long as we know only in part and are here upon the earth. But then they will see Him and know Him as the apostle says in 1 John 3:2.

So it was also, my friends, in days of spiritual decay as Johannes Groenewegen’s times were. Days of decay, but wherein still much was found then what we are missing in our days, for we read in the preface of “De Lofzangen Israels” written by Jacob Groenewegen that was true also when they used those songs. He says, “People here have the custom for many to meet together on Sunday evenings. They first sing some psalms to God’s glory, pray together, laying their needs before God. Then they sing some of these and other hymns to delight themselves in God, and after singing, somebody requested thereto, begins to tell what he has experienced of God in that day or in the week that is passed, telling how God gave new blessings and what He spoke to their soul. And others sometimes express their sorrow because of spiritual darkness and because Jesus is hidden for them. Or there are some people who, knowing their sins and lost state, cry and weep for Jesus; they tell how miserable they are, how necessary Jesus is to them, what hope or revelation they receive sometimes, or how they wrestle and call upon Him, in their inner-room or in God’s house, to receive Him as their portion, their Savior. And if there sometimes may be one who has been delivered out of his bondage and may believe, on reliable grounds, that there is reason to glorify God for His grace, then he may also speak or sing of it. Finally, they close with thanksgiving to God for all His benefits, also evident in such a meeting wherein there is fellowship and love.”

Then he speaks of the advantages and usefullness of such meetings and that it is very harmful for spiritual life when God’s children do not come together, but stay away from those meetings. For then their spiritual condition will worsen and they still stray farther from the Lord. This is a warning also for us. Oh, people of God, seek each other and let there be found among us more of the communion of saints—by God’s grace. Oh, how sad are our times! How are the sheep scattered, and how little there is of that condition of the church when they were together with one accord in one place.

And although times were dark in Groenewegen’s days too already, yet there was still a seeking of each other’s company and they used the means to strengthen those ties. Oh, let us do that also today, for it seems to be necessary even more than in those days. May it be seen, as we read in Psalm 133:1, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” May we experience that today, also among young people, according to the promise of God in Psalm 45:16, “Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children.” And that to God’s glory and the salvation of us and our dear children.

Rev. C Vogelaar is pastor of the Netherlands Reformed Congregation of St. Catharines, Ontario.

Deze tekst is geautomatiseerd gemaakt en kan nog fouten bevatten. Digibron werkt voortdurend aan correctie. Klik voor het origineel door naar de pdf. Voor opmerkingen, vragen, informatie: contact.

Op Digibron -en alle daarin opgenomen content- is het databankrecht van toepassing. Gebruiksvoorwaarden. Data protection law applies to Digibron and the content of this database. Terms of use.

Printen