Hymn: “Nearer, My God, to Thee” – Sarah F. Adams (1805-1848)
Tune: BETHANY
It is a real shame that this hymn is mostly remembered as
what the band was playing when the Titanic went down and is typically relegated
to memorial services and funerals. The haunting, usually-slowly-sung hymn has
some wonderful brief phrases worth recounting. It speaks of steps leading into
heaven, angels beckoning us homeward, thoughts brightened with praise… and references
to the Jacob’s ladder-dream (Genesis 28:12).
My outstanding word in this hymn-line for today is “still.”
It’s a great word we use when we mean “after all this time.” I suppose that’s
one of the reasons it is associated with funerals or end-of-life events.
Job uses this word many times in his defense against those
who encourage him to turn from his God, such as in chapter 13, verse 15: “Though
he take away my life, still will I hope in him.” (Some translations use the
word ‘yet,’ meaning the same as ‘still.’)
It is that kind of continuing steadfastness to which we all
aspire – those of us who seek to be faithful followers of the Lamb. It is our
intention to come to the end of our days, still using the word “still”! Of
course, you know that I’m going to love this line because it says that my song shall still be, “Let me be
nearer, my God, to thee.”
One of my top-ten favorite hymns is “Draw Me Nearer.” Many
of you know that one, and it will come up more than once on these blogs! I find
myself singing it many mornings while I’m getting ready – out loud if no one
else is in the house! It truly is my sincere prayer for every day – to edge a
bit closer to my blessed Lord and to the cross where he died.
This coming Sunday when you stand to sing in worship - whatever your
musical style - realize that your praises of the crucified, risen Christ are still genuine – after all these years.
May ALL our songs still continue to
draw us nearer to the One who is now on heaven’s throne at the top of those
steps where angels beckon us to come. May our thoughts and attitudes truly still be brightened with his praise.
Try your best to stop thinking of this as a hymn about a
mighty ship going down; rather consider a mighty church rising up in praise, still moving nearer to one another and
their Leader.
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