After reading these words of scripture, Charles Fry sat down
and wrote about a personal, intimate relationship with Jesus. Those words
became the hymn, "The Lily of the Valley."
Charles William Fry was born May 30, 1838, in Alderbury,
Wiltshire, England. He followed in his father’s footsteps and became a
bricklayer by trade. He was a versatile musician, playing the violin,
cello, piano, cornet, and harmonium, and leading an orchestra and band at the
Wesleyan chapel in Alderbury.
Fry was committed to ministry. He formed a brass band with
his three sons and named it the Fry Family Band. The story is that Fry,
witnessing the abuse of Salvation Army workers, offered to serve as their
bodyguard. The Fry Family Band arrived with their weapons—two cornets, a
trombone, and a baritone horn or euphonium. They attracted a crowd for the
preachers with their music while holding the troublemakers at bay. William
Booth was impressed by their efforts, and the first Salvation Army Band was
born.
Inspired by service to the impoverished, Fry joined William
Booth’s evangelistic efforts, assisting with the Christian mission and devoting
himself to the aid of those in need. He became an integral part of the Salvation
Army and, with the assistance of his family, helped develop the Salvation
Army’s brass band, one that continues to this day.
Mr. Fry declared he had found a friend in Jesus. He
compared the “Beloved” in Song of Solomon to Jesus as the lily of the
valley. One commentary explains “Undoubtedly, this lily of the valley
symbolizes the sweetness, purity, fruitfulness, humility, and healing qualities
of Jesus Christ. Fry could see only in Jesus all he needed to be cleansed and
be made fully whole. He declared that Jesus was his comfort in sorrow and in
trouble because Jesus has told him to roll every care on Him for He cares.
Jesus is indeed ‘the Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star, He’s the
fairest of ten thousand to my soul.’”
The tune was adapted from the song Little Old Log Cabin.
Fry died the year after writing his popular hymn in 1882 in
Park Hall, Polmont, Stirlingshire, Scotland.
Baptist hymnologist William J. Reynolds noted that: “Soon
after Fry’s death on August 24, 1882, the manuscript of these words, written to
a secular melody, was found among his personal effects by his widow. Attached
to the song was a note stating that this had been written at a Mr. Wilkinson’s
home during his service in Lincoln, England, in June 1881, where Fry was a
guest with the Salvation Army in that city. “
“The Lily of the Valley” highlights the redeeming power of
Jesus. Each stanza draws heavily on Scripture, with the first highlighting
Christ’s beauty, atonement, and comfort, echoing the Bible as it crowns Him, “the
Bright and Morning Star.” There are multiple direct scriptural references—such
as Revelation 22:16b: “I am the root and the offspring of
David, and the Bright and Morning Star” (KJV). The refrain cites Song
of Solomon 5:10: “He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.” The hymn
alludes to other scriptural references, such as atonement (Jeremiah 33:8) and
making complete (Job 5:18).
The music is by William Shakespeare Hays (1837–1907), a USA
steamboat captain on the Mississippi and Ohio rivers and journalist for
the Louisville Courier-Journal. He composed several hundred vaudeville
songs, some of which were adapted for hymns. This minstrel song was written in
Louisville in 1871 to a text titled, “This Little Old Log Cabin Down the Lane.”
It became popular in England, where Fry heard it and adapted it for a sacred
text.
Like other hymns of the time, there is a strong theological
appeal within this salvationist song, calling for constant reliance, trust, and
hope in Jesus. The stanzas center on Jesus’ promises and love —both implicitly
and explicitly. The listener and singer alike are drawn to God’s unfailing Word
to take courage and press on as they await Christ’s return.
Bibleref.com: Abraham is referred to in Scripture as a ‘friend of God.” Here, Jesus calls the disciples—and by extension, those believers who “abide” in Him, His “friends,” as proven by communication. God openly spoke with Abraham, and Jesus openly speaks with us through His Word. That Christ instructs and informs us, beyond brute commands, as well as offering His life for our sake are powerful proofs that He sees us as His “friends.”
Studylight.org, Gill’s Exposition of the Whole Bible: Christ, as man, is chosen of God, from among the myriads of the individuals of human nature, to union with the Divine Word, or Son of God; as God-man and Mediator, to be the alone Savior and Redeemer of His people; "the standard bearer," Christ is a more excellent standard bearer than all others; there may be ten thousand persons that carry a flag, but none to be compared with Him, for comeliness, strength, and courage: or He is lifted up, as a standard, above others, angels and men; as He was upon the cross, and now, in the ministry of the Word, that souls may gather unto Him, and enlist themselves in His service.
Studylight.org, Coffman’s Commentaries on the Bible: The
agency of God Himself is in view in this passage. All temptation, while allowed
by God, is also controlled by Him; and the Father will simply not allow a child
of God to be tempted above what he is able to bear. In the wise providence of
God, He has made a way out of every temptation; and, as Barclay noted, “There
is the way out, and the way out is not the way of surrender, and not the way of
retreat, but the way of conquest in the power of the grace of God.”
Dailyverse.knowing-Jesus.com: We are to be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power by putting on Christ and standing firm by abiding in Him, knowing that His grace is sufficient for the greatest challenges we may meet, and being fully assured God is the one Who is going with us, for He has promised.
Biblequeue.com: This verse is a reminder that we are never alone, and that God is always with us. It is easy to be afraid when we are faced with difficult situations, but this verse reminds us that we can trust in God’s strength and courage. When we put our faith in Him, He will never leave us or forsake us. This is excellent advice for facing the challenges of life. After all, courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the ability to face our fears and overcome them. He will give us the strength to endure and the courage to overcome.
Biblehub.com, Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary: Christians have reason to be contented with their present lot. This promise contains the sum and substance of all the promises; I will never, no, never leave thee, nor never forsake thee. In the original there are no less than five negatives put together, to confirm the promise: the true believer shall have the gracious presence of God with him, in life, at death, and forever.
Biblestudytools.com: Christ is compared to a "star,” for its light, the light of nature, and of grace, and of the new Jerusalem state being from Him; and for its glory, His glory being the glory of the only begotten of the Father, and He having a glory, as Mediator, which His saints will ever behold, and be delighted with; and for its influence, all the blessings of grace, life, and righteousness, being from Him; and to a "bright" star, because He is the brightness of His Father's glory, and so splendid, shining, and illustrious, that He is light itself, and in Him is no darkness at all; and to a bright "morning" star, which shows the night is going off and the day is coming on, and is the bringer of light; as Christ by His first coming, who was then the dayspring from on high.
