Philip Bliss, author of this hymn, and his wife, Lucy, were
traveling by train in 1876. When the train crossed a trestle bridge, it
collapsed into the icy ravine below, and neither Philip nor Lucy survived.
Their trunk was found and in it was the manuscript for “I Will Sing of My
Redeemer.”
There are two stories of how the trunk of Bliss survived the
accident. The first is that somehow the trunk wasn’t damaged. The second is
that during an earlier transfer the trunk was put on a different train.
However, the trunk survived, and Major Whittle and James
McGranahan found it and the manuscript. The manuscript bearing the lyrics is
the only well-known Gospel song Bliss wrote for which he did not write a
tune. The lyrics found were titled “My Redeemer.”
Bliss was born in Clearfield County, PA in 1838. His
youthful days were spent on a farm or in a lumber camp, where he experienced
severe poverty. At an early age, young Bliss displayed unusual talent and
interest in sacred music. Although he never received formal training in music,
his self-study made him a knowledgeable and proficient musician.
Bliss studied with Professor J. G. Towner. He also studied
at the William Bradbury Music Convention in Rome, Pennsylvania. There, he met
James McGranahan, another student of Towner.
McGranahan was two years younger than Bliss and was also
born in Pennsylvania. McGranahan had developed an early love for music but was
discouraged by his father saying that he was needed on the farm. Finally, at
the age of seventeen, James hired a man to take his place and moved into town
so he could work and study music.
Bliss also worked with D. L. Moody who urged Bliss to
full-time service of the Lord. Bliss met Major Daniel Whittle, a former soldier
in the civil war, and under Moody’s instruction to preach and sing the gospel
as a team, Bliss and Whittle embarked on a trip to find the will of God.
It was here at the sight of the accident, while trying to
identify the bodies that Major Whittle and James McGranahan met for the first
time. Bliss had often talked to Whittle about his good friend McGranahan and
how he desired that he would commit his life to full time service for the Lord.
The Major immediately challenged McGranahan to be the gospel
musician God could use to replace Philip Bliss. Major Whittle and James
McGranahan returned to Chicago together. McGranahan, age 36 at the time of
Bliss’s death, was so moved by the tragedy that he decided to give up his
miscellaneous works and succeed Bliss as Whittle’s evangelistic singer.
McGranahan composed the music for “My Redeemer” and the hymn
had a great spiritual impact when it was first introduced to a large tabernacle
audience in Chicago as Whittle related how the text had been found among Bliss’
belongings. He told how McGranahan had composed the music for this text and how
that this musician would now continue the work begun by Bliss.”
Another hymn text found in Bliss’ trunk contained these
words: “I know not what awaits me. God kindly veils my eyes.”
Bliss wrote “Hold the Fort”, “Almost Persuaded,” “Hallelujah,
What a Savior!” “Let the Lower Lights Be Burning” and “Wonderful
Words of Life” among other songs. He also wrote the tune for
Horatio Spafford’s hit, “It Is Well With My Soul.”
While ministering at a meeting in Chicago, Bliss spoke these
words to the congregation: “I may not pass this way again, after which he
sang, “I’m Going Home Tomorrow.” His words and song would prove to be
prophetic.”
Bibleref.com: Jesus came to earth in human form as a servant. In addition, Jesus both was born and died in humility. His humbleness was not for show but was part of being "obedient." In a similar way, Paul encouraged his readers to be humble in obedience to Christ, following both the example of Jesus and of Paul.
Studylight.org, Contending for the Faith: Now that they have obeyed the gospel by faith in Jesus Christ, repentance of sins, and baptism into Christ for the remission of sins, Christians have been set free from sin’s power and have become the slaves of God. Consequently, their obligation is to live obedient and righteous lives marked by the constant development of an even greater degree of holiness. Each day they are to be more closely fashioned into the image of Christ by the unflagging application of the New Testament pattern of teaching to their life.
Bibleref.com: "Ransom" is from the Greek root
word lutron and refers to the price paid to redeem a slave or captive
or a firstborn or recompense for a crime or injury. Jesus is able to "proclaim
liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound"
because He is the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53 who came to bear the iniquities of many, so they can be accounted
righteous. By Jesus' death and resurrection, we can be set free from the sin
nature that separates us from God. Our freedom releases us from selfishness,
arrogance, fear, and the desire to control. Our slavery to God frees us to love
others and experience eternal life.
Biblehub.com, Barnes’ Notes on the Bible: We, who are Christians; all Christians. The victory over sin, death, and the grave. God alone is the author of this victory. He formed the plan; He executed it in the gift of His Son; and He gives it to us personally when we come to die. By His death, thus destroying the power of death; by His resurrection and triumph over the grave; and by His grace imparted to us to enable us to sustain the pains of death, and giving to us the hope of a glorious resurrection.
Bibleref.com: God's Kingdom is not about talk, Paul declares. It is about power. That's easy for all of us to forget. So much of our practice of Christianity focuses on words being preached, read, or prayed. All that talk, though, is meaningless without the legitimate power of God behind it. Paul does not want the Corinthians to forget that he did not just introduce them to big ideas that can be captured and manipulated with words. He introduced them to the power of God available only through faith in Christ and the Holy Spirit.
Studylight.org, Coffman’s Commentary on the Bible: This is
the third of the three great certainties with which John concluded his epistle;
and it is rather an extensive certainty. Note: We know that the Son of God is
come in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. He hath given us an understanding (of
all things that pertain to life and godliness). We know Christ who is the true
one. We are "in Christ," having believed in Him and having been
baptized into the "one body," Christ's spiritual body. This is the
true God (an unqualified designation of Jesus Christ as God). As a result of
Christ's redemptive work, we enjoy eternal life (presently, in the joys of
Christian service, and ultimately, throughout all eternity).
Biblehub.com, Benson Commentary: I [Job] have no knowledge, nor confidence, nor hope of being restored to the prosperities of this life; yet this one thing I know . . . I have a living and powerful Redeemer to plead my cause, and vindicate my person from all severe and unjust censures, and to give sentence for me: a Redeemer, whom I call mine . . . My Redeemer is living, is now living, and I know Him: I am acquainted, truly, experimentally, and savingly acquainted with Him, because He hath revealed Himself to me, and hath given me an understanding to know Him.
Studylight.org, Clarke’s Commentary: The Holy Spirit in the soul of a believer is God's seal, set on his heart to testify that he is God's property, and that he should be wholly employed in God's service.
Studylight.org, Contending for the Faith: The Spirit is the seal, or identifying mark, placed on each child of God. Evidently, when the Lord returns to claim the redeemed, each of them will be recognized by the Spirit dwelling within them. Redemption, in one sense, has already taken place at the cross. The final realization of redemption, however, will take place at the end of this age when God will be "revealing...the sons of God" and they will receive "the redemption" of their bodies.
