Sunday, 10 August 2008
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Horatio Spafford: Penned Hymn In the Midst of Family Tragedy
from the_calverts
Last Sunday, my church started a series on the study of hymns. They began with "It Is Well With My Soul." Do you even know the story of that beautiful hymn? It makes it that much more beautiful.
According to Wikipedia:
This hymn was written after several traumatic events in Horatio Spafford’s life. The first was the death of his only son in 1871, shortly followed by the great Chicago Fire which ruined him financially (he had been a successful lawyer).Then in 1873, he had planned to travel to Europe with his family on the S.S. Ville du Havre, but sent the family ahead while he was delayed on business. While crossing the Atlantic, the ship sank rapidly after a collision with another ship, and all four of Spafford's daughters died. His wife Anna survived and sent him the now famous telegram, "Saved alone." Shortly afterwards, as Spafford traveled to meet his grieving wife, he was inspired to write these words as his ship passed near where his daughters had died.
He literally wrote the words as he was passing over the waters that had consumed his four daughters. Can you imagine that?
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.Refrain:
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.I challenge you to study the history behind your favorite hymns. I was moved, and am anticipating next week's hymn study!
What is your favorite hymn? Are there any hymn writers/composers that you admire?
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Comments (16)
I love a lot of old hymns. I like them a lot better than modern praise music. I think my favourites are "Praise Ye the Lord" and "Be Thou My Vision".
"He literally wrote the words as he was passing over the waters that had consumed his four daughters. Can you imagine that?"
I can, a bit. Not four daughters, though. Just one. And not by drowning.
A lot of great and annointed songs come from suffering. There in the midst of trials God mends and transforms us. I know Matt Redman wrote his song "Blessed be Your Name" after the death of his child. Jill McCloghry's song "Desert Song" was also born out of her own tribulations - the death of her babyboy.
It Is Well is one of my favorite hymns. Since learning about the meaning behind this song, I have cherished it even more. I also love Amazing Grace by John Newton. These two songs really speak to my heart, no matter how many times I sing or hear them.
That song really helps me. I love that song. I lost my 17yr old son to alcohol, drugs and death, and it was the deepest pain I have ever experienced yet. Yet, that experience changed my focus in life to realize that life truly can be short for some and we had better make the most of whatever time we have here.
Whenever that song is played, I can close my eyes and have a deeper worship of God. Some songs are like that. Worship vs entertainment.
I can barely whistle, let alone sing. I appreciate people with musical talent. I have none.
I like the hymns by Martin Luther... mostly because I know that he put spiritual lyrics to the tune of popular pub-songs.
I posted about Horatio Spafford some time ago. Here is the post if anyone is interested. Includes links to a more thorough story, and mp3 of the song in a contemporary form.
http://weblog.revelife.com/Tom/659860786/legacy.html
My favorites are Amazing Grace (read the history of John Newton!), Be Thou My Vision (although I don't know the history) and Come Thou Fount. I don't know the history to the last two, but, I was thinking of writing a bit about them, and teaching them to my Sunday school class sometime.
Be Thou My Vision would be up there, as would The Old Rugged Cross.
Blessed Assurance is one I treasure and Are You Washed in the Blood and lastly To God be the Glory.
There is just so much bible based theology contained in the hymns that seems to be lacking in some of the modern worship songs today.
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imho, It is Well is one of the most powerful and moving hymns.
They are called "Great Hymns of the Faith" for a reason.
Currently my favorite hymn is Abide With Me, written by Henry Francis Lyte. I've been alone for the past week, and this hymn is a wonderful comfort and reminder that I am not alone, and that whatever darkness, sickness, or anything else crosses my path, I have the assurances that my Saviour will be there at my side.
"O thou, who changest not, abide with me."
A little known hymn is Isaac Watt's
"How Sweet and Awful is the Place".
Other favorites are:
A Debtor to Mercy Alone
God Be Merciful to Me (Psalm 51)
Come Let us Sing Unto the Lord (Psalm 98)
I Will Remember Thee (a chillingly wondrous Communion Hymn)
"101 Hymn Stories" is a great book about the writers and circumstances behind the writing of many familiar hymns. My copy seems to have disappeared from my bookshelf...
My family is going through a very difficult time right now and we find ourselves looking to the Lord; His word and His promises as we are pressing through.
Today was an especially difficult day, and finishing with this very encouraging story is a gift from the Lord.
Spafford's hymn is incredible as it was forged in the fire of his own experience.