Trust and Obey

 

One night in an evangelistic meeting, an unknown man stood and said these words: “I’m not quite sure. But I’m going to trust and I’m going to obey.” Whoever that man is he opened the door for this powerful and strong hymn to be written.

The simple words of faith struck the soul of song leader, Pastor Daniel Towner. Quickly he jotted down the sentence. Afterward, Pastor Towner wrote a letter to his friend, Pastor John H. Sammis, giving a quick report of the young man’s testimony and the stirring words he had said.

As soon as Pastor Sammis read his friend’s letter, he realized the testimony was perfect for a hymn. First came the refrain: “Trust and obey for there’s no other way, To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”

Daniel Brink Towner was an American composer who held a Doctorate of Music and used his abilities to develop the music to several well-known Christian hymns including “At Calvary,” “Saved by the Blood” and “Send Out a Light.”

Towner was born in Rome, Pennsylvania, in 1850. He received his early musical training from his father, J. G. Towner. He later studied under John Howard, George Root and James Webb.

Towner was the music director at Centenary Methodist Church, in Binghamton, New York (1870-1882); York Street Methodist Episcopal Church, in Cincinnati, Ohio (1882-1884); Union Methodist Episcopal Church, in Covington, Kentucky (1884-1885); and Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois (1893-1919).

As a composer of music for evangelistic purposes, Dr. Towner occupied a prominent place among writers. He was a very able leader of choirs and of large assemblies, and an impressive singer, possessing a well-trained baritone voice of unusual compass and power and of smooth and pleasing quality, which he used to the best advantage and with blessing to multitudes wherever he sang.

Pastor Towner joyfully led music at many of Dwight L. Moody’s revival meetings. In 1893, Pastor Towner became the first director of the Moody Bible Institute Music Department. In his lifetime, he composed over 2,000 hymns. He was leading singing in a revival when suddenly, without warning, Pastor Towner passed from this life into eternity. Both he and his friend, Pastor Sammis, were still in ministry when God called them home.

John H. Sammis lived from 1846–1919. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, and at age 23 moved to Indiana. He became a successful businessman and through his work with the YMCA he was called to full-time ministry. He was an active Christian layman. He graduated from seminary in 1881 when he was thirty-five years old, and afterward pastored churches in the Midwest. Later, Pastor Sammis served as a professor at the Bible Institute of Los Angeles until his death in 1919. He wrote over 100 hymns.

An unknown, young man gave a quiet, spontaneous testimony  at an evangelistic meeting one evening that inspired a hymn that would touch the lives of millions of people all over the world. No one knows his name. That’s encouraging. It is an example that God can use every faithful word that we utter and every faithful deed that we do in ways beyond our imagining. When we get to heaven, God will show us how much He has done with the little deeds and kindnesses that we have long since forgotten.

Verse One

“When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,

What a glory He sheds on our way!

While we do His good will, He abides with us still,

And with all who will trust and obey.”

1 John 1:7

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”

Godsbless.ing: This verse speaks to the importance of living a life guided by God’s light. It emphasizes the idea of walking in the light, which symbolizes living in truth, righteousness, and grace. Walking in the light encourages us to have a close relationship with God, to seek His guidance and presence in our everyday lives. This fellowship with God is depicted as essential for our spiritual growth and well-being. It offers a sense of communion with our Creator, providing us with comfort, strength, and direction in our journey.

 1 John 2:17

“The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”

Bibleref.com: Doing God's will cannot save us, of course—no good works can overcome our sin. We are saved by Christ's sacrifice, when we put our trusting faith in Him. However, a natural outcome of salvation is a desire to do God's will. This is a hallmark of the believer, and only the believer will live with God forever. More immediately, John is explaining that a life lived in fellowship with God will go on forever, while earthly things will someday be gone.

Verse Two

“Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,

But His smile quickly drives it away;

Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,

Can abide while we trust and obey.”

Psalm 17:8

“Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.”

Scripturesavvy.com: This is a beautiful depiction of how God nurtures us . . . The imagery employed in this verse may evoke feelings of peace and rest as we embrace the understanding that, despite whatever turmoil we may face, we are cradled under His wings. It beckons us to trust in the care that God has for us, recognizing that His heart is to protect us lovingly. Reflecting upon these phrases can strengthen our faith and inspire hope amidst our struggles.

Romans 15:13

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Scripturesavvy.com: In this context, to be filled with “all joy and peace” means to experience a profound emotional and spiritual state that can only come from trusting in God. It signifies a trust that goes beyond mere belief – it’s about putting our hope and reliance on God. Through this trust, believers find a sense of joy even amidst life’s struggles and peace that surpasses understanding.

Verse Three

“Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,

But our toil He doth richly repay;

Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,

But is blessed if we trust and obey.”

Ecclesiastes 5:19

“Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God.”

Godsbless.ing: “To accept their lot and be happy in their toil” encapsulates the essence of contentment, urging individuals to find fulfillment in their circumstances and work. This mirrors Paul’s exhortation in Philippians 4:11-12, highlighting the importance of learning contentment in all situations. In today’s society, where success is often equated with material wealth, this message resonates deeply. True contentment and joy stem from recognizing and cherishing God’s blessings, rather than incessantly pursuing more.

Verse Four

“But we never can prove the delights of His love.

Until all on the altar we lay;

For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,

Are for them who will trust and obey.”

2 Corinthians 6:2

“For he says, ‘In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.’ I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

Scripturesavvy.com: When God says, “In the time of my favor,” it indicates that God has set times when He shows grace. This might mean that there are moments in our lives when we feel more connected to God, or when we experience major blessings. Understanding this concept is crucial for us as believers because it can help us wait patiently for God’s providence. It reassures us that God has perfect timing, unlike our human impatience . . . God is extending His hand of favor toward us all. We may feel lost and unsure about where we stand in our relationship with God. However, the beauty of this scripture is that it presents an open invitation to experience God’s grace. We don’t need to feel qualified for it; we just need to be willing to accept it.

Verse Five

“Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,

Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;

What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;

Never fear, only trust and obey.”

Psalm 37:31

“The law of their God is in their hearts; their feet do not slip.”

Kingjamesbibleonline.org, Matthew Henry’s Commentary: By His grace and Holy Spirit, He directs the thoughts, affections, and designs of good men. By His providence He overrules events, so as to make their way plain. He does not always show them His way for a distance, but leads them step by step, as children are led. God will keep them from being ruined by their falls.

Scripturesavvy.com: This verse provides comfort and assurance that those who live by God’s guidance are firmly rooted. Their faith equips them to navigate the ups and downs of life with God’s wisdom lighting their path. In doing so, it offers a sense of security; we can be confident that our steps won’t lead us astray when God’s law guides us.

Refrain

“Trust and obey, for there’s no other way

To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”

The hymn reminds us that obedience is the outflow of our trust in God. As we trust Him, we can more readily obey Him. Satan may tempt us to think negatively about obeying our authorities. He may whisper, “If you obey God, you’ll have to stop doing what makes you happy.” However, the truth about obedience is the joyful fruit it yields.

 

I am indebted to the following resources:

Umcdiscipleship.org

Cacworldnews.com

Iblp.org

Hymnologyarchive.com

En.wikipedia.org

Wholesomewords.org

Hymnary.org

By His Grace . . . 

 

I Must Tell Jesus

The author and composer of this hymn, Elisha A. Hoffman, gives the following account of its writing:

“During a pastorate in Lebanon, PA, there was a woman to whom God permitted many visitations of sorrow and affliction. Coming to her home one day, I found her much discouraged. She unburdened her heart, concluding with the question: ‘Brother Hoffman, what shall I do? What shall I do?’ I quoted from the Word, then added, ‘You cannot do better than to take all of your sorrows to Jesus. You must tell Jesus.’ For a moment she seemed lost in meditation. Then her eyes lighted as she exclaimed, ‘Yes, I must tell Jesus.’ As I left her home I had a vision of that joy-illuminated face, and I heard all along my pathway the echo, ‘I must tell Jesus . . . I must tell Jesus.’”

As soon as he arrived home, he penned the words for this hymn. The tune is titled “Orwigsburg” for the town in which he was born.

In the vast majority of his compositions, Hoffman is the author of both the words and music. In his composition, Hoffman sought to create songs for congregational worship. According to Hoffman, a hymn is "a lyric poem, reverently and devotionally conceived, which is designed to be sung, and which expresses the worshipper's attitude toward God or God's purposes in human life. It should be simple and metrical in form, genuinely emotional, poetic and literary in style, spiritual in quality, and in its ideas so direct and so immediately apparent as to unify a congregation while singing it.”

Elisha A. Hoffman was born in Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1839. His parents, Francis and Rebecca were Pennsylvania Germans. His father was a minister of the Gospel in the Evangelical Association and rendered over sixty years of service in preaching the Word.

Elisha was educated in the public schools of Philadelphia and graduated in the scientific field from Central High School. Afterwards he took up the classics and completed a classical course in Union Seminary of the Evangelical Association. For eleven years he was connected with the Association's publishing house in Cleveland, Ohio.

Hoffman's musical education was obtained from his parents. While possessing natural musical abilities, Hoffman never attended a school of music. Any musical instruction Hoffman received came from his experiences at his father's church or at home.

His parents both had sweet voices and sang well. It was their custom in the hour of family worship, both morning and evening, to sing one or two hymns. At an early age, the children became familiar with these hymns and learned to love them and to feel their hallowing and refining power. Their lives were marvelously influenced by this little service of song in the home. A taste for sacred music was created and developed, and singing became as natural a function of the soul as breathing was a function of the body.

Under the power of such an environment, Hoffman came to consciousness of a princely possession with which God had endowed him — the ability to express his intuitions and conceptions. His inner being thrilled with inspirations, longing for expression, and he used the power with which God had clothed him in the production of the many songs which bear his name. His first composition was given to the world when he was eighteen years of age. Since then, heart, brain and pen have been very prolific in the birth of songs.

In addition to pastoring, he wrote over 2,000 hymns including “What a Wonderful Saviour!” “Enough for Me,” “Are You Washed in the Blood?” “No Other Friend Like Jesus,” “Leaning On the Everlasting Arms,” “Down at the Cross,” and “Is Your All on the Altar?” 

Verse One

“I must tell Jesus all of my trials;

I cannot bear these burdens alone;

In my distress He kindly will help me;

He ever loves and cares for His own.”

Psalm 18:6

“In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice; my cry came before Him, into His ears.”

ExplainingtheBible.com: The phrase “In my distress” gives us insight into a moment of vulnerability, showing that even the strongest of people can feel overwhelmed and in need of support. The act of calling upon the Lord during this time signifies a relationship built on trust—a trust that God will hear our cries and respond . . . Distress is an inevitable part of life; it shapes our character and invites growth. It brings forth resilience, pushes us to seek God and brings us back to the source of our strength. Just as with Jesus, who experienced distress in the Garden of Gethsemane, we, too, are called to venture deep into our pain and bring it before God. Each cry can lead us back to Him, where hope and healing reside.

Verse Two

“I must tell Jesus all of my troubles;

He is a kind, compassionate friend;

If I but ask Him, He will deliver,

Make of my troubles quickly an end.”

James 2:23

“And the scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,’ and he was called God’s friend.”

Bibleref.com:  James reminds us that those made righteous by faith in Christ will proceed to do good works. James also adds that Abraham was called a friend of God. Jesus, too, called His disciples friends. It's hard to imagine being God's friend, but that is available to those who trust in Christ and, in faith, obey the Father who loves us.

2 Kings 17:39

“Rather, worship the Lord your God; it is He who will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.”

Godsbless.ing: The promise embedded in the phrase “He will deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies” underscores God’s unwavering faithfulness and protection towards those who remain loyal to Him. It serves as a beacon of hope and assurance, assuring believers that God’s power transcends any challenge or threat they may face. This promise echoes throughout the Bible, resonating with other passages that emphasize the blessings and protection bestowed upon those who fear and serve the Lord wholeheartedly.

Verse Three

“Tempted and tried, I need a great Savior,

One who can help my burdens to bear;

I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus;

He all my cares and sorrows will share.”

2 Corinthians 1:5

“For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.”

ExplainingtheBible.com: In this verse, Paul expresses a profound connection between suffering and comfort in the Christian experience. He points out that the sufferings we go through are linked to Christ’s own sufferings. Just as Jesus faced hardships, our lives will also encounter difficulties. However, there is a beautiful flip side to this message: just as Christ’s sufferings fill our lives, His comfort does too. This means that through every challenge and trial we face, we are not alone; the comfort that comes from Christ also fills our hearts and helps us to endure. This verse beautifully captures the balance of pain and healing in our spiritual journey. It encourages us to remember that in our most difficult times, Christ is there to provide us solace, making our suffering meaningful . . . God provides comfort in such richness that it can spill over into the lives of those around us. As we allow His love to fill our hearts, we can recognize that our comfort is multiplied as we share it with others. It’s a reminder to be open to the ways God wants to use our stories to impact others positively.

Psalm 68:19

“Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.”

Studylight.org, Barnes’ Notes on the Whole Bible: He enables us to bear it; He gives us strength; and finally He delivers us from it. “Though,” therefore, He constantly lays on us a burden, He constantly aids us to bear it. He does not leave us. He enables us to triumph in Him, and through Him; and we have occasion constantly to honor and to praise His name. This accords with the experience of all His people, that however heavy may be the burden laid on them, and however constant their trials, they find Him as constant a helper, and they daily have occasion to praise and bless Him.

Verse Four

"O how the world to evil allures me!

O how my heart is tempted to sin!

I must tell Jesus, and He will help me,

Over the world the vict'ry to win.”

Colossians 2:8

“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.”

ExplainingtheBible.com: Paul emphasizes that we should discern between God’s truth and what the world presents as wisdom. In other parts of the Bible, such as Romans 12:2, we are advised not to conform to the patterns of this world. Instead, we are encouraged to renew our minds and understand God’s will. This renewal only comes through a close relationship with Jesus and grounding ourselves in His word . . . Colossians 2:8 provides a powerful reminder to keep our focus on Christ as we navigate our journey of faith. While engaging with the world around us, we must prioritize the truth found in Jesus over hollow philosophies that can potentially lead us away from Him. Recognizing where our influences come from and aligning ourselves with God’s teachings is essential.

Refrain

“I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!

I cannot bear my burdens alone;

I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!

Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.”

Tell it to Jesus. How often do we forget to turn to Jesus and tell Him everything. He is always ready to listen. He hears your voice, your whisper and your thoughts. He already knows what you need to say. But He wants us to tell Him. To have that deep and ready desire to talk to Him. Tell Him.

 

I am indebted to the following resources:

Barryshymns.blogspot.com

Christianmusicandhymns.com

En.wikipedia.org

Wholesomewords.org

Kenneth W. Osbeck, 101 More Hymn Stories

Hymnologyarchive.com

Dianaleaghmatthews.com

By His Grace . . . 

Still, Still With Thee

In the summer of 1853, when Harriet Beecher Stowe was visiting at the home of a friend, the results of her experiences of meditation while walking in the early morning hours led her to pen the words to this compelling and lovely hymn, “Still, Still With Thee.” Many hymnologists believe that for sheer poetic beauty, there is probably not a single American hymn that can excel it. As we are drawn into the silence of the dawn where we can be alone with the Lord, it is as if we are telling Him that there is no greater blessing in this life than being "Still, Still With Thee." Personally, I love the first verse of this delightful hymn which the last line says: “Dawns the sweet consciousness, I am with Thee.”

Stowe is mostly known for her novel, “Uncle Tom's Cabin,” which she wrote and first appeared in The National Era in 1852.  She was intensely interested in the abolition of slavery and this led her to write this well-known book which brought her national attention and is considered one of the factors that ultimately led to the Civil War. The Stowe’s home was a station on the Underground Railroad and helped runaway slaves escape to Canada.

Stowe was born at Litchfield, Connecticut, on June 14, 1811, the sixth child and third daughter of Congregational minister Lyman Beecher and his wife Roxana. She was raised in a fervently religious family. Her next-door neighbor was Mark Twain. Her brother, Henry Ward Beecher, also became a minister. Her mother died when she was four, and she went to live with her grandmother at Guilford, Connecticut, until her father’s remarriage. 

After being educated at the Academy at Litchfield, she taught at a seminary in Hartford, Connecticut, which had been founded by her sister Catherine.  In 1832, the Beecher family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where Harriet’s father became President of Lane Seminary and the sisters established another school.

At the age of twenty-two (1833), she attended a slave auction in Kentucky which made a profound and painful impression upon her young soul. Her novel contributed to the growing conviction in America that slavery was evil.

In 1836 she married a teacher of languages and biblical literature in the seminary, Professor Calvin E. Stowe Later, the couple moved to Maine, where Mr. Stowe taught at the Andover Theological Seminary. It was here that Mrs. Stowe published her famous novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin. It first appeared, in serial form, in the Washington National Era paper, in 1851, and in the following year, it appeared as a complete book, reaching sales of more than a million copies as well as being translated into more than twenty languages. This book has generally been recognized as one of the strong influences that ushered in the Civil War against slavery.

Throughout her life, Mrs. Stowe was known as an avid abolitionist as well as a saintly, godly woman. In 1853, she even traveled to Europe for the purpose of arousing the women there in the fight against world-wide slavery. Harriet dated her conversion experience to her early teen years, after hearing one of her father’s sermons. She gives this account of that event:

“As soon as my father came home and was seated in his study, I went up to him and fell in his arms, saying, ‘Father, I have given myself to Jesus, and He has taken me.' Never shall forget the expression on his face as he looked down into my earnest childish eyes: ‘Is it so?’ he said, holding me silently to his heart, as I felt the hot tears on my head. ‘Then has a new flower blossomed in the kingdom this day.’”

In later years, in looking back over many of the difficulties she had experienced in her busy life of raising six children, along with other pursuits, Harriet wrote, “I thank God there is one thing running through all of them, from the time I was thirteen years old, and that is the intense unwavering sense of Christ’s educating, guiding presence, and care.”

In 1855, Harriet was introduced as a hymn writer when her brother, Henry Ward Beecher, included three of her poems in his new hymnal, Plymouth Collection of Hymns and Tunes. “Still, Still With Thee” was originally titled “Resting in God” and was written by Mrs. Stowe two years earlier, while meditating on Psalm 139:17-18, especially on the phrase “When I awake, I am still with Thee.”

Verse One

“Still, still with Thee, when purple morning breaketh,

When the bird waketh, and the shadows flee;

Fairer than morning, lovelier than daylight,

Dawns the sweet consciousness, I am with Thee.”

 
Exodus 16:7a
“And in the morning you will see the glory of the Lord”
 
Scripturesavvy.com: “In the morning” signifies hope and the promise of a new day and new mercies. Just as the dawn follows the darkest night, God’s provision reminds us that no matter the challenges of the current day, there is hope ahead.
 

Psalm 104:12
“The birds of the sky nest by the waters; they sing among the branches.”
 
Enduringword.com: “If these little choristers of the air, when refreshed by the streams near which they dwell, express their gratitude by chanting, in their way, the praises of their Maker and Preserver, how ought Christians to blush, who, besides the comforts and conveniences of this world, are so indulged with copious draughts of the water of eternal life, if, for so great blessings, they pay not their tribute of thanksgiving, and sing not unto the Lord the songs of Sion!” (Horne)
 

Verse Two

“Alone with Thee, amid the mystic shadows,

The solemn hush of nature newly born;

Alone with Thee in breathless adoration,

In the calm dew and freshness of the morn.”

 

Psalm 16:50
“Lord, You alone are my portion and my cup; You make my lot secure.”

Godsbless.ing: This verse speaks to the deep and personal relationship we have with God. When the psalmist says, “The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup,” it is a declaration of complete trust and reliance on God as the ultimate provider and sustainer of our lives. The psalmist chooses God above all else as the most important and satisfying aspect of their life, just as we carefully choose our favorite food or drink. This verse reminds us that our true fulfillment and satisfaction can only be found in God.

Psalm 133:3
“It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.”
 
Studylight.org, Barnes’ Notes on the Whole Bible: The most probable and plausible interpretation is that the mind of the poet was turned to the dew of Hermon - to the gentleness, and the copiousness, and the vivifying nature of that dew - diffusing beauty and abundance all around - and that he thought of that dew, or dew like that, as descending on the mountains of Zion.

Verse Three

“As in the dawning o'er the waveless ocean,

The image of the morning star doth rest,

So in the stillness Thou beholdest only

Thine image in the waters of my breast.”

 

2 Peter 1:19
“We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”
 
Thegracecommentary.com: The day dawns. The day the Lord returns in glory . . . The morning star is Jesus himself. We already have His Spirit within us, but when He returns to earth we will have Him in person. When that day dawns and the morning star rises in our hearts, all things will be made new. There will be no more sorrow and no more death. When Christ returns it will be the beginning of life such as we can only dream of.
 
Hymnstudiesblog.wordpress.com: The third stanza says that looking for the morning star can help us draw nearer to God. The dawning of the morning is a good time to seek the Lord. Just as the dawn is heralded by the "morning star" so Jesus is our Bright and Morning Star
 

Verse Four

“So shall it be at last, in that bright morning,

When the soul waketh and life's shadows flee;

O in that hour, fairer than daylight dawning,

Shall rise the glorious thought, I am with Thee.”

 
Isaiah 41:10
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
 
Godsbless.ing: This verse from the Bible is a powerful reminder of God’s presence and protection in our lives. It is a comforting reassurance that we do not have to face life’s challenges alone because God is always with us. When we feel afraid or discouraged, this verse encourages us to trust in God’s presence and to find strength in the knowledge that He is our God. It offers a sense of comfort and security, knowing that we are never truly alone in our struggles.
 
Studylight,org, Barnes’ Notes on the Whole Bible: This is a reason why they should not be afraid. God was their protector, and of whom should they be afraid. "If God be for us, who can be against us?" What higher consolation can man desire than the assurance that he is with him to protect him?
 
Studylight.org, Calvin’s Commentary on the Bible: For I am with thee. This is a solid foundation of confidence, and if it be fixed in our minds, we shall be able to stand firm and unshaken against temptations of every kind . . . God is present with us and takes care of our salvation.”
 
Studylight.org, Gill’s Exposition of the Whole Bible: Fear thou not, for I am with Thee . . . Not merely by His essence or power, who is everywhere; or by His providence supporting, preserving, observing, ordering, and overruling all things; but in a way of special grace, to guard and protect His people, support and supply them, comfort and strengthen their hearts; wherefore they need not fear any of their enemies.
 
1 Thessalonians 4:17
“After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”

Godsbless.ing: Paul’s words about the Lord descending from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and the trumpet call of God, resonate deeply with the believers. They are filled with anticipation and excitement, knowing that one day they will be caught up together with the Lord in the clouds to meet Him in the air . . . This verse reminds us to fix our eyes on this ultimate reunion and to live in a way that reflects our anticipation of Christ’s return . . . Let this promise of Christ’s return inspire you to continue in faith and hope, eagerly awaiting the day when we will be gathered together with Him.

As we are drawn into the silence of the dawn where we can be alone with the Lord, it is as if we are telling Him that there is no greater blessing in this life than being "Still, Still With Thee."
 
I am indebted to the following resources:
Barryshymns.blogspot.com
Bymnstudiesblog.wordpress.com
Aocinternational.org
Kenneth W. Osbeck, 101 More Hymn Stories

By His Grace . . . 

O, The Deep, Deep Love of God

 

We know God’s love primarily through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, whose work on the cross was motivated by an inestimably great love for the Father and an equally awesome love for us, His sheep, His bride, His elect.  The Bible doesn’t just tell us that He loves us; it proves it by His willingly giving Himself for us.  It was Jesus who told the disciples (and us) that He calls us not merely His servants, but His friends.

Samuel Trevor Francis was born in 1834 in Chestnut, Hertz, England.  He was raised by a godly mother and grandmother.  He was taught to read using the Bible as a textbook and remembers his mother praying that her sons would grow up to be God-fearing men.  Samuel attended church services regularly with his family and sang with the choir, but he was not saved.  

As a child, Samuel enjoyed poetry and even compiled a handwritten volume of his own work. He also developed a love for music and joined a church choir at age nine.  However, throughout his youth, religion was primarily a matter of tradition for him.

As he grew older, his father arranged for him to be an apprentice with a medical doctor.  He was in that program for 12 years.  But after that year his father passed away and Samuel dropped out of the program.  He went to stay with his uncle in Hull.  There he met Mr. Akester, a chemist who was leading youth Bible studies.  Samuel was exposed to clear gospel preaching through these meetings.  

At age 19 when traveling back to London, he had a spiritual turning point as a teenager, at one point even contemplating suicide. Lonely, walking home after work, he was asking God to have mercy on him. He had to cross the Hungerford Bridge. Mulling over his sadness and loneliness, he heard a whisper tempting him to end his misery and jump into the churning waters below.

When he drew back from that thought another emerged, a question: “Do you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ?”  Samuel immediately answered that he believed and he put his trust in Christ as his Savior.  He received the reply, “Then you are saved.”  With the joy of that response, Samuel ran across the bridge and went back home. 

Samuel searched for a home assembly.  He found a church similar to the assembly he attended in Hull.  Later, he joined the Moody and Sankey London campaign in 1873-1874 as their singing director during the meetings. 

Someone soon after invited him to come “see a man buried alive.” It was actually a baptismal service held by Andrew Jukes, an English theologian who greatly influenced Hudson Taylor (1832-1905), the famous English missionary to China.  It was Taylor whose work led to the China Inland Mission (which is today the Overseas Missionary Fellowship – OMF). Samuel was moved by the service and was introduced to people that spoke passionately about the gospel

Soon thereafter, Samuel began open-air preaching, and during the English Revival of 1859 (when Francis was in his 20s), his preaching led many people to the Lord. Francis was not only a gifted preacher, but he was a talented singer and hymn writer.

One friend wrote of Francis: “All his poetical work, as well as his spoken word, was permeated by a realization of the love of Christ, and with a heart desire to see the Savior’s face.”

The depths of the ocean are a frequent metaphor for the immensity of God. It makes perfect sense when we realize how big the ocean is and how little of it we actually know. Samuel utilized this imagery in picturing the love of Jesus. It was only the greater depths of Jesus’s love that were able to overwhelm the rivers of depression experienced by the teenaged Samuel.

Verse One

“O the deep, deep love of Jesus, vast, unmeasured, boundless, free,

Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me.

Underneath me, all around me, is the current of Thy love;

Leading onward, leading homeward to Thy glorious rest above.”

Ephesians 3:17b-18

“So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.”

Scripturesavvy.com: In Ephesians 3:18, we are encouraged to grasp the vastness of God’s love. The Apostle Paul uses vivid imagery to convey the dimensions of God’s love: width, length, depth, and height. This is not just a mere description but a call for us to truly understand how immense and all-encompassing the love of God is. It stretches beyond human comprehension, covering every aspect of our lives. We find ourselves in a relationship with a God whose love is boundless and limitless . . . The “depth” suggests that God’s love reaches deep into our hearts and souls, offering healing and restoration. Many of us carry wounds from our pasts, but God’s love can penetrate those depths, bringing about a profound transformation. His embrace comforts us and assures us that we are valued and cherished.

Verse Two

“O the deep, deep love of Jesus, Spread His praise from shore to shore!

How He loveth, ever loveth, Changeth never, nevermore!

How He watches o’er His loved ones, Died to call them all His own;

How for them He intercedeth, Watcheth o’er them from the throne!”

Romans 15:11

“And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; let all the peoples extol him.”

Scripture.savvy.com: Praise is not just meant to be a private or sporadic act; it is a community-oriented response. When we worship together, we reflect God’s glory back into the world, providing a testimony of His character and goodness. United in praise, we can impact those around us, just as the early church transformed the world through their worship and love for one another.

Hebrews 13:8

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

Studylight.org, Contending for the Faith: The statement about Jesus’ being unchangeable is Paul’s final plea to his readers to persevere in their faithfulness to Jesus Christ and His doctrine. It also presents the best possible argument that can be made to encourage one to remain steadfast to Jesus. This sentence emphasizes the importance of holding to their faith in Jesus’ doctrine because He is the same now as He was the first time they were taught about Him. He is forever unchangeable. 

Psalm 1:6

“For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.”

Godbless.ing: This verse from the book of Hebrews is a powerful reminder of the unchanging nature of Jesus Christ. It emphasizes His eternal consistency and reliability throughout all time. The verse highlights the timeless nature of Jesus’s character, teachings, and promises by stating that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Verse Three

“O the deep, deep love of Jesus, love of every love the best!

’Tis an ocean vast of blessing, ’tis a haven sweet of rest!

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, ’tis a heaven of heavens to me;

And it lifts me up to glory, for it lifts me up to Thee.”

Psalm 123:1

“I lift up my eyes to you, to you who sit enthroned in heaven.”

Enduringword.com: The psalmist declares his intention and action – to lift up his eyes to the LORD. This means that his eyes are not on his circumstances or himself, but on the LORD . . .  “It is good to have someone to look up to. The Psalmist looked so high that he could look no higher. Not to the hills, but to the God of the hills he looked.” (Spurgeon)

Psalm 107:30

“They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven.”

Barnes’ Notes on the Whole Bible: The word translated “haven” occurs nowhere else. By some it is rendered “shore,” but the word “haven” or “port” seems best to express the sense of the passage: “the haven of their desire.” No one can appreciate this fully who has not been long at sea, and who has not experienced the intense desire once more to see “land” . . . So God brings His people to rest in heaven - their haven, their home. After being tossed by the tempests of life, after encountering its storms and dangers, after the fear and agitation experienced, He stills the storms; the way becomes smooth and calm; the end of the voyage is serene; and death is like the ship smoothly gliding into port with its sails all set. The soul enters heaven - the desired haven - the port that was longed for; a safe haven, beyond all storms or tempests; an eternal home!

Thousands of years ago, the apostle Paul wrote of this love: "How wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ" (Eph. 3:18). And the beautiful hymn, "O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus" echoes Paul's words. The melody ebbs and flows, reminding us of a boundless ocean, the ocean of God's love.

Underneath me, all around me. That's how the hymn writer described Jesus' love. And that's how His love affects us all. When we face the darkest trial of our life, God's comfort and encouragement surround us. When life brings happiness, His love is there in every blessing. No matter where we are, God's love always fills us with the greatest gift of all: new life.

It is a love that has no comparison among human relationships, even those of the highest purity.  It is a love that is tied to all of God’s attributes, so that His love is holy, it is eternal, it is compassionate, it is gracious, it is wise, it is powerful, it is patient, it is kind, it is merciful … it is all of these and vastly more.

 

I am indebted to the following resources:

Songsandhymns.org

En.wikipedia.org

Gospelreformation.net

Scripturetruth.org

Hymns4him.mjbhost.com

Thoughtsonchrist.com

Hymnologyarchive.com, Henry Pickering

By His Grace . . .