A story of the hymn, "A Charge to Keep I Have..." by William Petersen

If we wanted to write a hymn, most of us would not turn to the book of Leviticus for inspiration. But Charles Wesley wrote sixteen hymns derived from that Old Testament book. This hymn was composed after he had been reading Matthew Henry’s commentary on Leviticus 8:35.

In that verse, the Hebrew priests were commanded to be faithful in their duties in the tabernacle. “Keep the charge of the LORD, that ye die not,” Moses had said (KJV). Matthew Henry commented: “We have every one of us a charge to keep, an eternal God to glorify, an immortal soul to provide for, a needful duty to be done, our generation to serve, and it must be our daily care to keep this charge, for it is the charge of the Lord our Master, who will shortly call us to an account about it, and it is our utmost peril if we neglect it.”

Scriptures: Leviticus 8:35; 2 Timothy 4:1-5; 1 Peter 4:10-11
Themes: Service, Christian Living, Holiness

Lyrics of the Hymn:
A charge to keep I have, A God to glorify,
A never-dying soul to save,
And fit it for the sky.

To serve the present age,
My calling to fulfill;
O may it all my powers engage
To do my Master’s will!

Arm me with jealous care,
As in Thy sight to live,
And O, Thy servant, Lord, prepare
A strict account to give!

Help me to watch and pray,
And on Thyself rely,
Assured, if I my trust betray,
I shall forever die.
By CHARLES WESLEY (1707–1788)

Reference for the Hymn:
Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (p. 166). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

A story of the hymn, “God Will Take Care of You,” by William Petersen

W. Stillman Martin had accepted an invitation to preach at a church a few hours away from his home. When his wife became ill that Sunday morning, he thought he should cancel the engagement. But then his young son spoke up: “Father, don’t you think that if God wants you to preach today, he will take care of Mother while you are away?” 

Because of his son’s question, he kept the engagement and preached at the church. When he returned that night, his wife was feeling better and had written this hymn, inspired by their son’s words. Later that evening, Martin composed the music for his wife’s text. God will take care of you. It’s a lesson we all need to learn. 

Scriptures: Job 23:10; Psalm 57:1; Psalm 91:1-4; Philippians 4:6; 1 Peter 5:7 
Themes: Trust, God’s Protection, Providence 

Lyrics of the Hymn:
Be not dismayed whate’er betide, 
God will take care of you;
Beneath His wings of love abide, 
God will take care of you. 

God will take care of you, 
Through every day, o’er all the way; 
He will take care of you, God will take care of you.

Through days of toil when heart doth fail, 
God will take care of you;
When dangers fierce your path assail, 
God will take care of you. 

All you may need He will provide, 
God will take care of you; 
Nothing you ask will be denied, 
God will take care of you.

No matter what may be the test, 
God will take care of you; 
Lean, weary one, upon His breast, 
God will take care of you. 
By CIVILLA DURFEE MARTIN (1866–1948)

Reference for the Hymn:
Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (pp. 299-300). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

Grace upon Grace!

In 1Timothy 1:16, the apostle Paul characterizes himself as the “chief of sinners,” because he realizes the depth from which God’s grace has rescued him. However, the impact of the grace of God in his life is powerful and noteworthy: It transforms him from a persecutor of the church to its preacher. He gives this testimony:

But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace (1 Corinthians 15:10, NLT)

When tempted to be critical of someone or to have a ‘holier-than-thou’ attitude, it is advisable to think of how much of God’s grace we have received. Were it not for God’s grace, the apostle Paul’s life would not have been transformed and certainly would not have touched many lives. Similarly, without the grace of God, you and I would not be who we are today. 

We have indeed received “grace upon grace” from the Lord Jesus Christ. The apostle John reminds us of this important reality: “For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” (John 1:16, ESV). Let us, therefore, use our God-given gifts so that others may also experience the grace of God (1 Peter 4:10-11).

A story of the hymn, “Be Thou My Vision,” by William Petersen!

Between A.D. 500 and 700 the Irish church was synonymous with missionary fervor. One historian commented that their missionary effort was “the one all-absorbing national thought and passion.” Irish missionaries labored from Scotland to Switzerland. One of these missionaries was Columba of County Donegal. His biographer wrote, “Certain spiritual songs, which had never been heard before, he was heard to sing.” He was known as one of the poets of the Irish church. 

“Be Thou My Vision” is anonymous, but it comes from the seventh or eighth century, shortly after the time of Columba of Donegal. It is filled with various titles for God. The word vision is used to indicate not only what we focus on but also what we strive for. As we strive for a goal, we gain a long-range perspective that helps us see today’s disappointments as trivial when compared to the heavenly vision. 

Scriptures: Psalm 16:2-11; Philippians 3:12; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 12:1 
Themes: Jesus Christ, Vision, Presence of God 

Lyrics of the Hymn:
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Nought be all else to me, save that Thou art—
Thou my best thought, by day or by night, 
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light. 

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, and I Thy true son, 
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one. 

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always;
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art. 

High King of heaven, my victory won,
May I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s Sun! 
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all. 

–IRISH HYMN (8TH CENTURY) Translated by Mary Elizabeth Byrne (1880–1931) Versified by Eleanor Henrietta Hull (1860–1935) WORDS USED BY PERMISSION OF THE EDITOR’S LITERARY ESTATE, AND CHATTO & WINDUS, LTD.

Reference for the Hymn:
Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (p. 557). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

A story of the hymn/chorus, “The King is Coming,” by William Petersen

For Bill and Gloria Gaither, this is a different kind of song. Many of their songs are sing-along types, but this one is more of an anthem expressing praise and gladness about Christ’s return. Bill and Gloria loved to write songs of personal testimony and happy songs that brought together the family of God. 

Gloria had heard an evangelist speak on the joy of the second coming of Christ. “Previously,” she said, “I had tended to think of the end of the world as a time of judgment.” But after hearing the sermon, she began to think “of Jesus as the Master of Restoration—of marriages He had put back together, relationships His hand had mended, and generation gaps His Spirit had bridged. I saw an image of the coronation of a King, who walked down the corridor of history; I could see lining the corridor throngs of witnesses to His redeeming grace.” 

She wrote the words for “The King Is Coming” and gave them to her husband to supply the music. The result is a hymn combining simplicity and power, looking ahead to a time of rejoicing with the King of glory.

Scriptures: 1 Thessalonians 3:16-17; Revelation 5:9-13; Revelation 22:20 
Themes: Second Coming, Victory, Assurance 

Lyrics of the Hymn/Chorus:
O the King is coming, the King is coming!
I just heard the trumpets sounding, and now His face I see;
O the King is coming, the King is coming!
[Praise God] He’s coming for me!
By CHARLES MILLHUFF (B. 1942) © 1970 William J. Gaither, Inc. All rights controlled by Gaither Copyright Management. Used by permission.

Reference for the Hymn/Chorus: 
Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (pp. 456-457). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

A story of the hymn, “My Jesus, I Love Thee,” by William Petersen

Sixteen-year-old William Featherston of Montreal wrote this simple hymn shortly after his conversion in 1862. He died before his twenty-seventh birthday, and this is apparently the only hymn he wrote. 

Young Featherston sent the poem to his aunt in Los Angeles, who then sent it to England, where it appeared in The London Hymnbook in 1864. Back in Boston, Massachusetts, a Baptist minister, A. J. Gordon, was preparing a hymnal for Baptist congregations when he saw “My Jesus, I Love Thee” in the British hymnal. He didn’t like the music the words were set to, and he later wrote that “in a moment of inspiration, a beautiful new air sang itself to me.” The simple tune he wrote perfectly complemented the simple words, and soon the hymn was being sung across America. 

A. J. Gordon had a remarkable ministry in New England. He wrote several books and started a college and seminary. But putting music to this hymn written by a teenage boy may be the accomplishment in A. J. Gordon’s life that has touched the most lives of all. 

Scriptures: Ephesians 2:4-5; 1 Peter 1:8; 1 John 4:9-11, 19 
Themes: Love, Devotion, Commitment 

Lyrics of the Hymn:
My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine—
For Thee all the follies of sin I resign;
My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou:
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now. 

I love Thee because Thou hast first loved me
And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree;
I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow:
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

I’ll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death,
And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath;
And say when the death-dew lies cold on my brow,
“If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.” 

In mansions of glory and endless delight,
I’ll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright;
I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow,
“If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.”
By WILLIAM RALPH FEATHERSTON (1846–1873)

Reference for the Hymn:
Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (pp. 350-351). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

A story on the Hymn, “More About Jesus,” by William Petersen

Eliza Hewitt wrote this hymn as she was studying the promises of God that had been fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The more she studied, the more excited she became as she saw Scripture fulfilled in every aspect of Christ’s life. All Scripture, she discovered, focused on Jesus Christ.

It is especially significant that Hewitt was so faithfully seeking God at this point in her life. At the time, she was recovering from a severe spinal injury. A Philadelphia schoolteacher, Hewitt had been struck with a heavy slate by one of her students.

Hewitt was never again able to teach in the public schools, but she continued to be involved with Sunday school. There she was able to combine the two great loves of her life: children and Jesus.

Scriptures: Ephesians 3:16-19; Philippians 3:10; 2 Peter 1:2-4
Themes: Jesus, Salvation, Word of God

Lyrics of the Hymn:
More about Jesus would I know,
More of His grace to others show,
More of His saving fullness see,
More of His love who died for me.

Chorus:
More, more about Jesus,
More, more about Jesus;
More of His saving fullness see,
More of His love who died for me!

More about Jesus let me learn,
More of His holy will discern;
Spirit of God, my teacher be,
Showing the things of Christ to me.

More about Jesus; in His Word,
Holding communion with my Lord,
Hearing His voice in ev’ry line,
Making each faithful saying mine.

More about Jesus on His throne,
Riches in glory all His own,
More of His kingdom’s sure increase,
More of His coming—Prince of Peace.
By ELIZA EDMUNDS HEWITT (1851–1920)

Reference for the Hymn:
Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (pp. 495-496). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.