This is one of my favorite hymns, probably because it was one of my Grandpa’s favorites. His children and wife sang it to him as he fell asleep in his faith and awoke in heaven to Jesus’ warm embrace. I would like it sung at my funeral one day as well. And I added it to my list of hymns to sing at my funeral one day.
While the hymn is not as upbeat as most would like it to be, it has a beautiful and wonderful message: Jesus Christ has conquered sin, death, and the devil; all so that we no longer have to fear them! I also love Kristyn Getty’s voice; she sang this hymn wonderfully! I hope you enjoyed listening to this version.
This hymn was written in 1847 by a Scotsman named Henry Francis Lyte. Lyte served nearly half his life (24 years) as a pastor, but his life sadly ended after only 54 years. As a child, Lyte had shown great promise as a poet; writing religious poetry and hymns. The hymn “Abide With Me” was written during the last years of his life while he suffered from tuberculosis. This disease would eventually take his life.
The idea for the hymn came from Luke 24:29: “But they urged Him strongly, saying, ‘Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.’ So He went in to stay with them.”
It seems pretty clear to me that the hymn “Abide With Me” was written with death on the mind of Lyte as he wrote it. But despite death’s best efforts to squash his beautifully penned words, Lyte produced a wonderful hymn with the help of the Holy Spirit.
Lyte clearly drew confidence from the verse above that Jesus was with him as he was dying. And now, this hymn helps to give many the comfort and peace that only God can provide and that surpasses all our understanding.
We sung this hymn before the sermon yesterday. Every time I sing this hymn, I think of all my loved ones that have preceded me to heaven. And every time that I sing it, tears come to my eyes. So, I’m sure I looked funny as I delivered my sermon yesterday, fittingly titled: “Abide With Me.” If you want to hear it, I record my sermons for the local radio station and also put it on our website on the “Sermons” page.
Jesus Christ – out of His abundant and everlasting love for us all – humbled Himself by stepping down from His throne in heaven and becoming one of us. He wanted to abide with us, not just spiritually, but physically as well.
Jesus – out of His abundant and everlasting love for us all – took all our sin onto Himself, and emptied the cup of God’s wrath, drinking every last drop of it. He took all our sin with Him to the cross where they died with Him.
Satan thought he had won the war. But, Jesus – out of His abundant and everlasting love for us all – rose from the dead! Through His death and resurrection, Jesus reigned victorious over all sin, all death, and the devil. He completed His work of salvation for us, once and for all.
Believe in Him. Believe what He has already done for you. Abide With Him! His loves never fails and never falters. And nothing can separate you from His love.
Soli Deo Gloria!
Philip Frank
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