“I will lift up my eyes to the hills”; With a song in my heart; thoughts from our music director, Rick Roberts.
Here it is, Terrific Tuesday! It’s the day we learn about another hymn writer. Today, it is Henry Francis Lyte (1793-1847), the author of many hymns.
His doctor advised him to move to Italy where the climate would be less severe.
This would be his last Sunday in England, his last chance to bid farewell to his loved ones and friends.
“I stand here before you today, as alive from the dead, if I may hope to impress upon you and get you to prepare for that solemn hour which must come to all. I plead with you to become acquainted with the changeless Christ and His death.”
He then closed the service by administering communion to his weeping church family. That evening, he put on paper a poem expressing his confidence in an unchanging Christ and gave it to an adopted daughter that very night.
Setting out the next day for Italy, he reached Nice, France, where he had a seizure and died. The poem Henry wrote was “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 and all around I see: Oh thou who changest not, abide with me!
Hold thy cross before my closing eyes; Shine thro’ the gloom, and point me to the skies: Heav’n’s morning breaks and earth’s vain shadows flee; In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me!”
What a beautiful “painting” Henry penned. His words were a prayer asking God to be with him during his final hours.
A scripture comes to mind when I meditate on Henry’s poem. Jo Anne referenced it in her sermon this past Sunday: Psalm 121. It begins with the words “I will lift up my eyes to the hills—from whence comes my help”. Take a few moments today and read the Psalm. It will fill you with encouragement and hope, like Henry’s poem.
Blessings.
With a song in my heart, Rick
