“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?”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
