^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
You bring the Hymnal,  I'll bring the History
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Bishop William Walsham How (1823-1897) said, "A good hymn should be like a good prayer - simple, real, earnest and reverent." How was inspired to write the hymn, "O Jesus Thou Art Standing," after viewing a painting by William Hunt entitled, The Light of the World.  The painting is of Jesus standing outside a closed door that has no outside latch.  There is a lantern in Jesus hand to suggest His being the Light of the World.  William How also had read a poem by Jean Ingelow entitled "Brothers, and a Sermon."  In the poem two brothers are listening to sermon .  The preacher is downcast, for he realizes that his audience is not listening.  The preacher reads the words from Rev 3:20 "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."  The preacher now challenges,
"Open the door with shame, if ye have sinned;
If ye be sorry, open it with sighs.
Albeit the place be bare for poverty . . .
Be not ashamed for that, but open it . . ."

(note: sorry, but I do not have a copy of the entire poem)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
O Jesus, Thou art standing outside the fast-closed door,
In lowly patience waiting to pass the threshold o'er;
Shame on us, Christian brothers, His name and sign who bear,
O shame, thrice shame upon us, to keep Him standing there!

O Jesus, Thou art knocking; and lo! that hand is scarred,
And thorns Thy brow encircle, and tears Thy face have marred;
O love that passeth knowledge, so patiently to wait!
O sin that hath no equal, so fast to bar the gate!

O Jesus, Thou art pleading in accents meek and low;
"I died for you, My children, and will ye treat Me so?"
O Lord, with shame and sorrow we open now the door;
Dear Saviour, enter, enter, and leave us nevermore!
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Hymn Tune-
The tune St. Hilda or another name is also St. Edith is an adaptation of an 18th tune Knecht composed by Justin Heinrich Knecht.  The tune is named after a 17century abbess who founded a nunnery and monastery in Whitby in northeastern England.  It was known for its charity and also for being a center of theological and literary learning.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^