Lord’s Day, Vol. 9 No. 38
(1) Deeper and Deeper – Hymn Story
Psalm 40:8 (KJV) I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
This hymn is from the pen of one of the great evangelist preachers and missionary statesmen of our day, Oswald J. Smith. For many years now this name has been associated with the Peoples Church of Toronto, Canada, a church that contributes more than a quarter of a million dollars annually toward the support of over 300 missionaries. Dr Smith is presently the minister of Missions while his son, Paul is pastor of the church.
In addition to his preaching and promoting of missionary activities, Dr Smith has authored a number of books and has composed more than 1200 hymns and religious verses. Several of his other well-known gospel songs include “God Understands”, “Joy in Serving Jesus”, “The Glory of His Presence”, “The Song of the Soul Set Free”, “The Saviour Can Solve Every Problem” and “Then Jesus Came”.
Dr Smith gives the following account of the writing of “Deeper and Deeper” in his book, The Story of My Hymns: “I was travelling secretary of the Pocket Testament League, founded by Mrs Charles M. Alexander. Arriving in Woodstock, Ontario, one day in the year 1911, I was invited to preach one Sunday morning in the largest Methodist in that city.
“As I walked along street on my way to the church, the melody of this hymn sang itself into my heart and with it the words, “Into the heart of Jesus, deeper and deeper I go.” I can still recall the joy of buoyancy of youth, the bright sunshine overhead, and the thrill with which I looked forward to my service that Sunday morning, as again and again I hummed over the words. I wondered if I could retain the music in my mind until the service was over. I was then just twenty-one years of age.”
“After preaching, I returned to the rented room, and the first thing I did was to write out the melody as God had given to me. I had been able to remember it, and it has never changed from that day to this.”
“The verses were much more difficult. I worked on them at Belwood, Ontario, but it was three years later, in the First Presbyterian Church of South Chicago, of which I was pastor, that I completed them. It was then 1914, and I was twenty-four years of age.”
“The writing of the hymn afforded me much joy, nor has it ever grown old. I still love it and always will, for it was the child of my youth. It proves conclusively that God can impart His deepest truths to the hearts of
the young, for I doubt if I have ever written anything more profound since.”
“There are five steps portrayed in “Deeper and Deeper” – the heart, the will, the cross, joy and love. What an experience! But it is the note of triumph in the last verse that transports the soul to heights sublime.”
“In his book, The Story of My Life, Dr Smith relates many heart-breaking experiences, especially in the early years of his ministry. Out of such experiences and disappointments flowed many of his deeper life songs. He emphasizes continually the importance of spending time alone with God each day, a time he calls his “morning watch”:
For half a century now I have walked the floor morning by morning with God. It was when I walked alone with God that I learned the lessons He would teach. I set aside time and a place to meet Him, and I have never been disappointed.”
“Alone, dear Lord, ah, yes! alone with Thee!
My aching heart at rest, my spirit free;
My sorrow gone, my burdens all forgotten,
When far away I soar alone with Thee.”
- Owsald J. Smith
- Into the heart of Jesus
Deeper and deeper I go,
Seeking to know the reason
Why He should love me so—
Why He should stoop to lift me
Up from the miry clay,
Saving my soul, making me whole,
Though I had wandered away. - Into the will of Jesus
Deeper and deeper I go,
Praying for grace to follow,
Seeking His way to know;
Bowing in full surrender
Low at His blessed feet,
Bidding Him take, break me and make,
Till I am molded and meet. - Into the cross of Jesus
Deeper and deeper I go,
Following through the garden,
Facing the dreaded foe;
Drinking the cup of sorrow,
Sobbing with broken heart,
“O Savior, help! dear Savior, help!
Grace for my weakness impart.” - Into the joy of Jesus
Deeper and deeper I go,
Rising, with soul enraptured,
Far from the world below;
Joy in the place of sorrow,
Peace in the midst of pain,
Jesus will give, Jesus will give,
He will uphold and sustain. - Into the love of Jesus
Deeper and deeper I go,
Praising the One who brought me
Out of my sin and woe;
And through eternal ages
Gratefully I shall sing,
“Oh, how He loved! Oh, how He loved!
Jesus, my Lord and my King!”
[Extracted and edited from 101 Hymn Stories by Kenneth W. Osbeck]
(2) Home-going of Mdm. Lim Li Ching
Sister Faith Wong called on Monday morning 13 September 2021 to request for help to support the family of her youngest brother Mr. Joshua Wong whose wife was critically ill. Gladly agreed to it. On Wednesday morning, Mdm. Lim Li Ching went home to be with the Lord leaving behind her husband, Brother Joshua Wong and 5 children – Esther, Joseph, Hannah, Timotheus and Lydia. A vigil service was held on Thursday night and the funeral service and burial at the Choa Chu Kang Christian Lawn Cemetery at 12.30pm. May God’s comfort be upon the family. Amen.
Yours lovingly,
Pastor Lek Aik Wee