Lord’s Day, Vol. 6 No. 8
Nearer My God to Thee
Cradled in Sorrow and National Tragedy
The hymn “Nearer My God to Thee” was cradled in personal sorrow and had its maturing in an unusual history of both personal and national tragedy. The words express the heart’s deep yearning, especially in times of trial and trouble, to be drawn nearer to God.
This hymn has come to be invariably associated with the ill-fated luxury ocean liner, the Titanic, which in 1912 struck an iceberg some sixteen-hundred miles from New York City on its maiden voyage from England. As the few lifeboats pulled away carrying the six hundred passengers who were saved, all hope was lost for those left on deck.
In the final moments as the ship slowly sank beneath the icy waters of the Atlantic, sending fifteen hundred helpless souls into eternity, survivors heard the ship’s band playing the hymn’s strain with passengers on board singing the words of one who had written them for her own comfort.
Sarah Flower Adams, author of the hymn, was born in England in 1805. Her mother died when she was only five. Her dream was to be an actress, and she began a successful career on the London stage, starring as Shakespeare’s Lady Macbeth. But ill health forced her to give up her acting career, and she turned her talents to writing. Her health grew more and more fragile and she died at forty-three years of age.
The words of the hymn were inspired by the Scripture text of Genesis 28:11-17, the story of Jacob in distress, dreamed of a ladder reaching up to heaven.
Genesis 28:11-17 And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. 12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. 13 And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; 14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. 16 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. 17 And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.
The words of the hymn recall Jacob’s experience and the account’s symbolic meaning to the pilgrim of God. Sarah Adams expressed in the lyrics her faith that even in darkness and difficulty, we may be lifted nearer to God.
The hymn was the favourite of President William McKinley, who was assassinated in office.
As he lay dying, he is said to have whispered it’s comforting words. On September 19, 1901, in every city of a saddened nation, citizens paused in silent prayer for five minutes and as a memorial sang the martyred president’s favourite hymn.
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee;
E’en though it be a cross
That raiseth me;
Still all my song shall be,
Nearer, my God, to Thee.
Nearer to Thee.
Though like the wanderer,
The sun gone down,
Darkness be over me,
My rest a stone,
Yet in my dreams I’d be
Nearer, my God, to Thee.
Nearer to Thee.
There let the way appear,
Steps unto heaven;
All that Thou sendest me,
In mercy given;
Angels to beckon me,
Nearer, my God, to Thee.
Nearer to Thee.
Then, with my waking thoughts
Bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs
Bethel I’ll raise;
So by my woes to be
Nearer, my God, to Thee.
Nearer to Thee.
We too, when experiencing the losses and crosses of life, can know the comforting presence and nearness of our Lord who promised, “… and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” (Matt. 28:20). May the words of this great hymn be our prayer and experience.
[Extracted and edited from Songs in the Night by Henry Gariepy]
Yours lovingly,
Pastor Lek Aik Wee