Some of the stories behind our great old hymns

I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR

Before Annie Sherwood Hawk’s death in 1918, she gave the full background story to this hymn which was inspired by the Bible passage in John 15:04-05.

“Seating myself by the open window, I caught up my pencil and committed the words to paper almost as they are today. A few months later Dr Robert Lowry composed the tune and also added the refrain. For myself the hymn, at its writing, was prophetic rather than expressive of my own experiences, for it was wafted out to the world on the wings of love and joy, instead of under the stress of great personal sorrow, with which it has often been associated. At first I did not understand why the hymn so greatly touched the throbbing heart of humanity. Years later, however under the shadow of a great loss, I came to understand something of the comforting power of the words I had permitted to give out to others in my hours of sweet serenity and peace. The hymn was written in 1922.

I need Thee every hour                                   I need Thee every hour

Most gracious Lord                                         In joy and in pain

No tender voice like Thine                              Come quickly and abide

Can peace afford                                            Or life is vain

I need Thee every hour                                   I need Thee every hour

Stay Thou near by                                           Teach me Thy will

Temptations lose their power                          And Thy rich promises

When Thou art nigh                                        In me fulfil

I need Thee, O I need Thee

Every hour I need Thee

O bless me now my Saviour

I come to you

ROCK OF AGES

We all know about storms living in the South Western Cape. The strong winds and driving rain make us very appreciative of shelter during these periods. So we can image how Augustus M Toplady, in 1762, must have felt whilst traveling in England, when he was caught in a fierce storm. He took shelter in a gap in a gorge where he wrote the words to this very moving hymn. Today the rock is marked with a plaque that reads “Rock of Ages”

Rock of Ages, cleft for me                                         Nothing in my hand I bring

Let me hide myself in Thee                                        Simply to Thy cross I cling

Let the water and the blood                                       Naked, come to Thee for dress

From Thy riven side which flowed                             Helpless, look to Thee for grace

Be of sin and double doubt cure                                Foul, I to the fountain fly

Cleanse me from its guilt and power                          Wash me, Saviour, or I die

Not the labours of my hands                                      While I draw this fleeting breath

Can fulfil Thy law’s demands                                                When my eyelids close in death

Could my zeal no respite know                                  When I soar to worlds unknown

Could my tears for ever flow                                      See Thee on Thy judgement throne

All for sin could not atone                                          Rock of Ages, cleft for me

Thou must save and Thou alone                                 Let me hide myself in Thee.

PASS ME NOT O GENTLE SAVIOUR

In 1868 Fanny Crosby, who was blind since infancy, and who wrote over 8000 hymns, was visiting a prison. Whilst she was walking down a long aisle between cells, reciting Bible verses she knew by heart, she heard a man call out, “Remember me. O Lord, please don’t pass me by” and this was the inspiration for the words to this great hymn.

Pass me not, O gentle Saviour                                    Trusting only in Thy merit

Hear my humble cry                                                    Would I seek Thy face

While others Thou art calling                                      Heal my wounded, broken spirit

Do not pass me by.                                                     Save me by Thy grace

Let me at Thy throne of mercy                                   Thou the spring of all my comfort

Find a sweet relief                                                      More than life to me

Kneeling there in deep contribution                           Whom have I on earth beside Thee

Help my unbelief                                                        Whom in heaven but Thee;

Saviour Saviour

Hear my humble cry

And while others Thou art calling

Do not pass me by.

WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS

In 1844 a young Irishman, Joseph Scriven, had completed his college education and was returning home to marry his sweetheart. As he was traveling to meet her on the day before the planned wedding, he came upon a horrible scene – his beautiful fiancée tragically lying under the water in a creek bed after falling off her horse.

Later Scriven moved to Canada and eventually fell in love again, only this time to experience devastation once more when she became ill and died just weeks before their marriage. For the second time, this humble Christian felt the loss of the woman he loved.

The following year, he wrote this poem to his mother in Ireland that described the deep friendship with Jesus he had cultivated in prayer through the hardships of his life

What a friend we have in Jesus                      Have we trials and temptations

All our sins and griefs to bear                         Is there trouble anywhere

What a privilege to carry                                 We should never be discouraged

Everything to God in prayer.                          Take it to the Lord in prayer

O what peace we often forfeit                                    Can we find a friend so faithful

O what needless pain we bear                                    Who will all our sorrows share

All because we do not carry                           Jesus knows our every weakness

Everything to God in prayer                           Take it to the Lord in prayer

Are we weak and heavy laden

Cumbered with a load of care

Precious Saviour, still our refuge

Take it to the Lord in prayer

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee

Take it to the Lord in prayer

In His arms He’ll take and shield thee

Thou wilt find a solace there.