Musical Notes

Hello OCBC family,

Last Sunday we sang the familiar hymn “’Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus” as our closing hymn, and I have to tell you that this hymn is one of my favorites.  This is one of the few hymns that you can sing in any season of the year.  It doesn’t matter if it is Easter time, you can sing this hymn; it doesn’t matter if it is Christmas time, you can sing this hymn; it doesn’t matter if you are happy or sad, you can sing this hymn.

The author of this jewel of the hymnody was Louisa M. R. Stead.  We know too little about Mrs. Stead.  She has born in Do­ver, Eng­land, circa 1850. When she was very young she felt the Lord call her to be a missionary and she came to America.  Here she had a burning heart for China and her desire was to go there and do mission work, but sadly her health was not strong.  She got married and tra­gic­al­ly, her hus­band died off of Long Is­land, New York while try­ing to res­cue a drowning boy.  It was during this mourning time that she wrote this hymn.

Around 1880, Stead went to South Af­ri­ca, and served as a mis­sion­ary some 15 years. She re­mar­ried, to Rob­ert Wode­house of that count­ry. She re­turned to Amer­i­ca in 1895 to re­cov­er her health, but once again went into mis­sions in Rho­de­sia in 1901.  She died on Jan­u­a­ry 18, 1917, in Penk­ridge (about 50 miles from Um­ta­li), Zim­ba­bwe, and she is buried there.  She gave her life for her Lord on the mission field.

William J. Kirkpatrick composed the melody that everyone loves.  It is very interesting that this melody is very singable, with one octave range (if you have questions about this, I will be glad to explain it to you). The musical ideas make it a very easy hymn to memorize and this was the goal of William J. Kirkpatrick.

Isaiah 12:2 said, “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”

The next time that you are happy, or sad, or afraid, please, sing these lyrics and the Lord will bless you and help you.

’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
And to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
And to know, “Thus says the Lord!”

Refrain

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more!

O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood;
And in simple faith to plunge me
’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!

Refrain

Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace.

Refrain

I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.

Refrain

In His service,

Israel

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