Blanchard attended Davidson College and graduated from Mercer University. He met his wife, Anne, who was a student at Wesleyan College in Macon. He then went to seminary at the Candler School of Theology. Ordained an elder in 1950, he transferred from the North Georgia Conference to the Florida Conference, serving United Methodist congregations there until his retirement in 1988.
His interest in music came from a number of sources: his mother, an accomplished pianist; from the school band where he learned to play the trombone; from a friend who taught him chords so he could play anything by ear, and from the popular music of the Big Band era.
Blanchard’s method of composition was to write the words to his pieces after developing a thought or reading Scripture, and then to write the music “by ear” to fit the words rather than composing the melody on paper.
In 1953, Blanchard was waiting for a couple to arrive for pre-marital counseling at Wesley Church in Coral Gables, Florida. They were late, and he was annoyed. He told his secretary he would wait thirty minutes, then he would leave. Instead of fuming, he went to a Sunday school classroom and began to doodle on the piano to kill time.
He later said, “When I was not in the mood to be used of God, God was in a mood to use me. As I waited for the young couple, God gave him the inspiring song ‘Fill My Cup, Lord.'"
Life was never to be a bed of roses for Richard Blanchard. A lung condition required two surgeries and left him with one-third of normal lung capacity. His son, Richard, was left a quadriplegic at seventeen after an accident. And after Blanchard and his wife moved to North Carolina in 2000 to be near their three grown children, they experienced their son’s death and the fatal illness of one of their daughters.
The tragic accident in which Richard and Anne's son, Rick,
became a quadriplegic at age 17, had a permanent effect on Dick's life. As he
grew older, hospital visitation became more important to him because of Rick's
injury as well as his own health.
As Richard Blanchard looks back over his life, he declares,
“Even though God chose in His providence to impair my physical being, He has in
so many other ways “Filled My Cup.”
Biblestudytools.com: These words are an exhortation to others, or a prophecy that they should do this; that is, apply to Christ for grace, and receive it from Him: for by “water” is meant grace, which is compared to it, because it is softening, purifying, cooling, and refreshing, and extinguishes thirst; and this is to be “drawn,” it is to be come at, though the well in which it is be deep . . . the bucket is faith that it is drawn with, and this is the gift of God; and it is in the exercise of this grace, which requires diligence, strength, and labor . . . this is exercised in the use of means, by prayer, reading of the Scriptures, and attendance on the Word and ordinances, by which faith draws hard, and receives much, and, when it does, it is attended “with joy.”
Studylight.org, Dr. Constable’s Expository Notes: The Lord Himself would be the sure foundation of the blessed Zion. His people would then enter into their time in history, a time marked by salvations of many kinds, wisdom in following God’s ways, and knowledge of the truth . . . "Wisdom is the true and correct evaluation of things, whereas knowledge is the true recognition of what things are. It emphasizes the objective, whereas ’wisdom’ brings to the fore the subjective aspect” . . . Fearing the Lord will be the key to the treasures that He has laid up for His people. The practical meaning of the fear of the Lord is admitting that one’s destiny lies in His hands.
Blueletterbible.org, David Guzik: Honor, respect, and reverence towards the LORD is His treasure. It is a gift God gives us, not so we will cower in fear, but so we will rightly honor Him.
Biblehub.com, Gill’s Exposition of the entire Bible: [This] is done, when men, before the Lord, and from their hearts, and in the sincerity of their souls, acknowledge their meanness and unworthiness, their vileness, sinfulness, and wretchedness, and implore the grace and mercy of God in Christ, as did Abraham, Jacob, Job, Isaiah, Paul, and the publican; and when they walk humbly with God, acknowledging they can do nothing without Him; owning their dependence on His grace, and ascribing all they have, and are, unto it: and He shall lift you up; this is God's usual way to lift up the meek, and exalt those that humble themselves; He lifts them from the dunghill, to set them among princes; He gives them a place, and a name in His house, better than sons and daughters; He adorns them with His grace; He clothes them with the righteousness of His Son, He grants them nearness to Himself; and at last will introduce them into His kingdom and glory.
Dailyverse.knowing-Jesus.com: David expressed his joyful satisfaction and confidence in the God of his salvation, with a truth that must rejoice the heart of every sinner, saved by grace. He believed the Lord was his Refuge and Strength in every eventuality of life. David had come to so firm a faith in the Rock of his redemption, that assaults of the enemy and even death itself did not infect his peace, and he acknowledged he was held securely in the Father's hand . . . Assuredly, this is a truth that must rejoice the heart of all God's blood-bought children; a truth that each one of us can treasure in our hearts and rejoice with singing, as we look for our blessed hope and journey towards our heavenly home.
Heartlight.org: So often, we settle for façade and not substance. All too frequently, we take the shortcut and miss the destination. But there is no shortcut to spiritual fulfillment. Only Jesus can supply the water that our thirsty souls desire. Only he can fill the emptiness and the ache. An amazing promise about Jesus' gift, His blessing, His refreshment, is that it is lasting. This water that Jesus gives is a spring of water, not a cistern. It is living, not static or stagnant. This water gives life, and this life provides more water. Later in His ministry, Jesus makes clear this water is the Holy Spirit. God comes to live in us through the Holy Spirit. God fills us with His life through the Holy Spirit. God cleanses and transforms us by His Spirit. God quenches our thirst with the Holy Spirit that Jesus gives.
