Psalms 59:16 But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.
David wrote this song (Psalm) when he was being hunted down by men who were seeking to kill him. Despite his circumstances, David sang those lyrics and remembered God’s power and mercy.
Lyrics from spiritual songs and the Psalms have the power to heal and to encourage your hearts. Many times when you sing or read lyrics that praise God and His power, He speaks to your hearts and connects with your spirits through those lyrics.
1 Chronicles 16:9 Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works.
Each Wednesday evening, our music director has been reading stories of hymn writers and the events of their lives that inspired them to write the hymns. Hearing these stories, I am encouraged even more when I sing or read the lyrics to those songs.
Here is a story I just read concerning the hymn Abide with Me.
In 1847, as Henry Lyte was dying of tuberculosis, he was inspired to write the hymn Abide with Me. He finished writing the lyrics on the Sunday that he gave his farewell sermon to his church. The next day, he left for Italy to regain his health, but he died three weeks later in Nice, France.
Abide with Me
Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.
Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.
Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word;
But as Thou dwell’st with Thy disciples, Lord,
Familiar, condescending, patient, free.
Come not to sojourn, but abide with me.
Come not in terrors, as the King of kings,
But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings,
Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea—
Come, Friend of sinners, and thus bide with me.
Thou on my head in early youth didst smile;
And, though rebellious and perverse meanwhile,
Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee,
On to the close, O Lord, abide with me.
I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.
I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.
Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.