Lord’s Day, Vol. 7 No. 12
Hymn Stories
(1) A Wonderful Savior
- A Light out of Darkness
Fanny Crosby (1820-1915), America’s most prolific hymn writer, authored more than six thousand hymns, blessing millions worldwide. Embarrassed by the volume of credits to her name, she used over two hundred pseudonyms. Fanny Crosby did her composing in a dark room – total darkness – for she was blinded in infancy by a doctor’s mistake.
Her father died when she was a year old, requiring her mother to hire herself out to a wealthy family. When her grandmother heard that the little child was incurably blind, she said, “Then I will be her eyes.” She took long walks with Fanny and graphically described the sunsets, clouds, trees, flowers, birds, and beauties of nature. Her grandmother’s word pictures were so vivid that Fanny even had a favourite flower – the violet. She learned the sweet communion of prayer together with her grandmother as she knelt by her side.
Her grandmother also patiently taught her the Bible. With her phenomenal memory, Fanny committed to memory the first four books of the Old Testament, the four Gospels, the book of Proverbs, many of the Psalms, and favourite individual chapters, giving her a sound scriptural basis for her hymns.
Although she had no formal schooling, at the age of fifteen Fanny left home to enrol in the New York Institution for the Blind. There she became something of a celebrity, as she recited her poetry for famous visitors. She came to know every president in her time, except for Washington. She remained at the school for twenty-three years, eight as a student and fifteen as a teacher. She later became the first woman to address a joint session of Congress.
In her physical darkness, God gave a light that radiated around the world through her beloved hymns. She expressed her testimony in one of her most popular songs, which includes, as do many of lyrics, the word see.
A wonderful Savior is Jesus, my Lord,
A wonderful Savior to me;
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock,
Where rivers of pleasure I see.
A wonderful Savior is Jesus, my Lord,
He taketh my burden away;
He holdeth me up and I shall not be moved,
He giveth me strength as my day.
With numberless blessings each moment he crowns,
And filled with His goodness divine,
I sing in my rapture; O glory to God
For such a Redeemer as mine.
This song reminds us that even though we may lose something we still have reason to rejoice in Christ and in his salvation for us. If Fanny Crosby, who never had earthly sight, could sing of a wonderful Savior and numberless blessings, how much more should we see the beauty of the world and life around us praise God for his bounty and blessing!
(2) To God Be the Glory
- From the Night Watches
In her autography, Fanny Crosby revealed, “Most of my poems have been written during the long night watches.” At about ten o’clock she would retire to her room, close the door and quiet her thoughts. Then the inspired words would come, tumbling into her mind, sparkling with rhythm and images.
She would memorize her “songs in the night” until she could dictate them the next day. Her incredible memory enabled her to retain up to forty complete poems until they would be put on paper.
To God be the glory, great things he hath done!
So loved he the world that he gave us His Son;
Who yielded his life an atonement for sin,
And opened the life gate that all may go in.
Great things he hath taught us,
Great things He hath done,
And great out rejoicing through Jesus the Son;
But purer and higher and greater will be
Our wonder, our rapture, when Jesus we see.
Do you also know something of “long night watches,” when sleep will not come and darkness surrounds? If so, you too can contemplate the great things that God has done, has taught, and will yet do. That will awaken in your heart a song of praise in the night watches that will carry over to brighten the day. Amen. [Extracted and edited from Song in the Night by Henry Gariepy.]
Yours lovingly,
Pastor Lek Aik Wee