He Hideth My Soul

I am warmed by the glow of the church's precious hymns. Many today fuss over types of music; this is not that debate. I am delighted to hear of the circumstances where God's people penned wonderful hymns through time. One such story was the ocassion of the circumstances of Mr. Horatio Spafford who suffered several back-to-back great tragedies, the loss of his business in the great Chicago fire, the loss of his four daughters in a heart-rending accident at sea. One could sense the astounding paradox of his most noted hymn in the ensuing days after his learning of the loss of his closest and dearest loves. Upon learning of the tragedy from his wife's telegram from England, he sailed to meet her. At sea he pondered the events and penned this familiar hymn..."When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll....whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say; It is well, it is well with my soul!". You hear that? Whew, that preaches! You know only God gives the peace which passes all understanding. When God takes us through the fire, there are ornaments left over for others to visibly see; the beauty that is revealed in the shedding of the dross. The sweet smell of the fragrance of God's Grace pervades the area and people are moved by the presence of the Master.



I am touched at Spafford's story and the beautiful hymn he left us. One of my favorites is "He Hideth My Soul"; dont know much about the circumstances surrounding this one, but there is a familiar Biblical passage. Moses wanted to see God, but God would disallow such, for no one had looked upon Him and lived. He helped Moses see the reality of His Being......He hid him in the cleft of the rock and as He passed by, Moses was protected. What a picture! Like the Blood on the door pillar, like Christ's precious blood covering you and me....Selah.



With kindest affection; in Christ