At age sixteen he began his apprenticeship as an engineering draftsman. However, he decided to become a Baptist minister and was educated at the Evangelical Baptist Fellowship Bible College in Glasgow, Scotland, after which he became an assistant superintendent at the Seamen’s Chapel of Glasgow, one of the area’s outstanding evangelistic centers.
In 1952, while serving at the Seamen’s Chapel, Moore
received a call from the company secretary of a large shipping firm requesting
that he visit a young merchant seaman who was lying in a Glasgow hospital
critically ill. He tells in his own words how this hymn came to be:
“After getting permission from the nursing sister, I went in to visit the young sailor. I talked for a few moments and then put my hand in my case for a tract, not knowing which one I would pull out. It happened to be a tract based on 'Pilgrim's Progress', with a color reproduction of Pilgrim coming to the cross with a great burden on his back.
“I showed the young seaman this picture and told him the story in brief, adding that Pilgrim's experience had been my experience too. I explained that when I came to the cross of Christ, my burden rolled away and my sense of sin and guilt before God was removed. He nodded his head when I asked him, 'Do you feel this burden on your back today?' We prayed together and never shall I forget the smile of peace and assurance that lit up his face when he said that his burden was lifted!
“Later that night, sitting by the fireside with paper and pen, I could not get the thought out of my mind--his burden is lifted! I started writing, but never for a moment did I imagine that this little hymn would become a favorite throughout the world. Since that time, I hear of people all over the world who are being blessed and saved through the singing of this hymn."
Moore was very active in the Baptist denomination. He obtained an honorary Doctor of Divinity from the Northwest Baptist Theological College and Seminary in Langley, British Columbia.
Before immigrating to North America, he married Esther Marr. They have one son. Moore was a pastor and evangelist to a church in Ontario, Canada before his death in 2017.
Moore was a prolific gospel hymn writer, in addition to being a minister. However, "Burdens Are Lifted at Calvary" is the best known of the more than 150 songs he has written.
This song points us to Calvary as the place where Jesus has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. Moore wrote that he never imagined this little hymn would become a favorite throughout the world. He also wrote the music for this hymn.
Studylight.org, Gill’s Exposition of the Whole Bible: With
all spiritual blessings, with an abundance of grace, as well as with temporal
mercies, for which He is, and ought to be, praised day by day . . . He will
hear us or carry us . . . in His own time and way, deliver
[us] from [our] burdens and be the author of salvation to [us] . . . and
therefore His name is to be praised.
Studylight.org, Barnes’ Notes on the Whole Bible: Bear with
each other; help each other in the divine life. The sense is, that every man
has special temptations and easily besetting sins, which constitute a heavy burden. We should aid each other in
regard to these, and help one another to overcome them . . . The special law of
Christ, requiring us to love one another . . . This was the distinguishing law
of the Redeemer; and they could in no way better fulfil it than by aiding each
other in the divine life . . . They should be pressed to the warm bosom of
brotherly kindness; and prayer should be made to ascend without ceasing around
an erring and a fallen brother . . . This the case in regard to all who bear
the Christian name.
Studylight.org, Clarke’s Commentary: Whatever cares, afflictions and trials [you] may be with which [you] art oppressed, lay them upon Him . . . He shall sustain [you] . . . He shall bear both [you] and [your] burden. What a glorious promise to a tempted and afflicted soul! God will carry both [you] and [your] load. Then cast [yourself] and [your] burden upon Him . . . While a man is righteous, trusts in and depends upon God, He will never suffer him to be shaken. . . While he trusts in God, and works righteousness, he is as safe as if he were in heaven.
Studylight.org, Clarke’s Commentary: Whatever things concern a follower of God, whether they be spiritual or temporal, or whether in themselves great or small, God concerns Himself with them; what affects them affects Him; in all their afflictions He is afflicted. He who knows that God cares for him, need have no anxious cares about himself.
Biblehub.com, Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary: Hannah mingled tears with her prayers; she considered the mercy of our God, who knows the troubled soul. God gives us leave, in prayer, not only to ask good things in general, but to mention that special good thing we most need and desire. She spoke softly, none could hear her. Hereby she testified her belief of God's knowledge of the heart and its desires . . . Hannah went away with satisfaction of mind. She had herself by prayer committed her case to God, and Eli had prayed for her. Prayer is heart's ease to a gracious soul. Prayer will smooth the countenance; it should do so. None will long remain miserable, who use aright the privilege of going to the mercy-seat of a reconciled God in Christ Jesus.
Christianity.com: Golgotha, a skull-shaped hill in biblical Jerusalem, is the place of Jesus’ crucifixion. It is mentioned in all four books of the Gospels. Also known as Calvary, this site was directly outside Jerusalem's boundaries where Jesus was crucified along with two thieves, one who confessed that Christ was God and was saved that day.
Carrying any burdens? Give them to the Lord and experience
the peace that only He can give. This song not only reminds us that our sin
burden was lifted at Calvary, but it also reminds us that Jesus can do the
"heavy lifting" of our other burdens. Cast your cares upon the only
One who can relieve you of them.
