SINGING HYMNS

Lessons from Old Hymns on the Unfailing God

What is your favourite hymn from your childhood? Do you have any?

Singing hymns reminds me of the many Sundays I spent at St. Michael Anglican Church as a young child.

Decades after I first became familiar with them, singing some of those old hymns still brings back memories of the atmosphere at my local church in my small town: the booming sound from the big black organ, the clergy members in their white cassocks, and the pulpit tucked away in the far left corner of the church. I always wondered who thought it was a good idea to place it there.

I can still picture the choir with their diverse voices, the musty scent of the old church, and the small blackboards listing the day's hymns on each side of the wall.

Back then, I had my favourite hymns I looked forward to singing, such as “The Spacious Firmament on High” and “Count Your Blessings.” They were meaningful to me then, but I did not dwell on the words or connect with them as deeply as I do now.

Hymns, of course, are more than an old church tradition. We find them in Scripture. After the Last Supper, Jesus and His disciples sang a hymn before going to the Mount of Olives:

“And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.”Matthew 26:30, KJV

Paul also encouraged believers to speak to one another in “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,” teaching and admonishing one another through them (Colossians 3:16, KJV).

So today, I thought we could look back at some old hymns—not simply for nostalgia, but to hear the voices of the men and women who wrote them. Who were they? What was happening in their lives when they wrote these words? What had they discovered about God?

Reading about the writers and their state of mind when they wrote these hymns can make familiar words take on a whole new meaning.

It Is Well with My Soul — 1873

One of the most remarkable stories is that of Horatio Spafford, the writer of “It Is Well with My Soul.”

In 1873, Spafford sent his wife and four daughters ahead of him on a voyage across the Atlantic. Their ship, the Ville du Havre, collided with another vessel and sank. His wife survived. All four of their daughters died.

As Spafford later crossed the Atlantic to join his grieving wife, he wrote the words that became this well-known hymn:

“When peace like a river attendeth my way,When sorrows like sea billows roll;Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,It is well, it is well with my soul.”

“Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say…”

These were not the words of a man whose circumstances were well. Yet even in profound grief, Spafford could speak of peace. The hymn rests quietly on the unfailing love of God and expresses complete trust in Him, even when His ways cannot be understood.

Perhaps that is why the words “It is well with my soul” have brought comfort to so many Christians when all has not been well with their world.

Not every hymn, however, was born out of such extraordinary circumstances. Sometimes it was simply the recognition of God's hand in an ordinary life.

Great Is Thy Faithfulness — 1923

Thomas Chisholm, the writer of “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” worked as a schoolteacher, newspaper editor and insurance agent. He experienced poor health and never had a large income.

Let him tell it in his own words:

“My income has not been large at any time due to impaired health in the earlier years which has followed me on until now. Although I must not fail to record here the unfailing faithfulness of a covenant-keeping God and that He has given me many wonderful displays of His providing care, for which I am filled with astonishing gratefulness.”

His hymn, written in 1923, drew from the familiar words of Lamentations:

“They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”Lamentations 3:23, KJV

Chisholm wrote:

“Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;There is no shadow of turning with Thee;Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.”

And in the refrain:

“Morning by morning new mercies I see;All I have needed Thy hand hath provided…”

Chisholm's words remind us of God's constancy, regardless of our circumstances. His faithfulness is not seen only in the dramatic and miraculous. Sometimes it is experienced quietly—morning by morning. Each new day comes with new mercies and fresh provision for what that day will require.

Blessed Assurance — 1873

Then there is Fanny Crosby.

Crosby had been blind since infancy and became one of the most prolific hymn writers of her time.

In 1873, her friend Phoebe Knapp played a melody she had composed and asked Crosby what the tune said to her. Crosby's response was: “Blessed assurance.” The words of the hymn followed.

What is particularly striking is the language Crosby used:

“Perfect submission, perfect delight,Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;Angels descending, bring from aboveEchoes of mercy, whispers of love.”

A woman without physical sight wrote of “visions” bursting on her sight, of angels descending, and elsewhere in the hymn, of watching, waiting and looking above.

Yet Fanny Crosby went on to write thousands of hymns, many of which continue to be sung today.

Her life is a wonderful reminder that restrictions, no matter how permanent or inexplicable, need not take from us the opportunity to become a blessing to others.

The Spacious Firmament on High — 1712

And then there is one that has stayed with me since childhood: “The Spacious Firmament on High,” written by Joseph Addison in 1712.

There is an interesting story behind this one too. Addison's hymn first appeared in The Spectator on August 23, 1712, at the end of an essay about strengthening and confirming faith. The hymn was introduced with the words of Psalm 19: “The heavens declare the glory of God.”

To this day, when I am outside and struck by the beauty around me—the blue sky, the trees, a vast lake, the sun or the stars—I find myself singing it.

More than 300 years ago, Addison wrote about what we still see today. One verse I particularly love says:

“Th'unwearied sun, from day to day,Doth his Creator's power display;And publishes to every landThe work of an almighty hand.”

Perhaps that is why these words have stayed with me for so many years. Whenever I am outside and overwhelmed by the beauty of creation, this is the line that rises above the others:

“The work of an almighty hand.”

It is Psalm 19 put into song:

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.”Psalm 19:1, KJV

More than 300 years later, the heavens are still telling the story of a glorious God.

Lord, I Would Own Thy Tender Care — 1809

And finally, perhaps we do not have to look at anything extraordinary at all.

This was a favourite hymn of a dear friend who has since passed away.

“Lord, I Would Own Thy Tender Care” was written by Jane Taylor and published in Hymns for Infant Minds in 1809. Taylor had begun writing poetry from a young age, and she and her sister Ann wrote poems and hymns particularly for children.

Perhaps that helps explain the beautiful simplicity of this hymn. There is no complicated theology or extraordinary event behind its words. It teaches us to recognize God's care in the ordinary gifts of everyday life:

“The food I eat, the clothes I wear,Are all bestowed by thee.”

It even gives thanks for God's protection through the night:

“Kind angels guard me every night,As round my bed they stay;Nor am I absent from thy sight,In darkness or by day.”

And then comes that lovely acknowledgement:

“My health and friends and parents dearTo me by God are given…”

Food. Clothes. Health. Friends. Parents.

More than 200 years later, these are still gifts we can thank God for. The hymn reminds us that His goodness is not found only in the extraordinary. Sometimes it is found in the ordinary gifts we can so easily overlook.

These hymns were written generations ago—some more than two and even three centuries ago. Their writers lived very different lives and faced very different circumstances. Yet through their words, we hear testimony to the same God: His peace, His faithfulness, His assurance, His glory and His everyday care.

Different people. Different circumstances. Different centuries.

The same unfailing God.

Perhaps this weekend, get out an old hymn book. Find one you have known for years. Read the words again.

You may discover that an old familiar hymn has something new to say.

May we always find a reason to sing His praise—in every season and in every circumstance.

Happy Friday!