Precious Lord, Take My Hand

The meaning of the word "hymn?


Old French, ymne and Old English ymen, both from the Latin hymnus “song of praise”. 

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Why it's important to sing or read psalms and hymns?

Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. 
(Ephesians 5:19)

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.  And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (Colossians 3:16-17)

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Thomas Dorsey (1899-1993) in 1921, at the age of 22, Thomas gave his life to Jesus. Almost immediately he left the jazz clubs were he was playing and began writing Gospel music. He took great effort to circulate his musical scores, but it was three long years before anyone started to notice. Little by little his reputation grew, not only as a songwriter but as a church music director.

In 1932 while the now Reverend Dorsey was leading a church service, a man came on to the platform to hand him a telegram - his wife had just died in childbirth. Within 24 hours his newborn baby died also. Thomas quickly spiraled downward into the depths of despair, doubting the goodness of God and determining never to write another hymn.

A week after that horrible, life changing day, Thomas was deep into his grief, sitting alone at a piano, in a friend's music room. Into the room came a heavy peace such as he had never known before. As that peace enveloped him, Thomas felt the urge to play the piano. His fingers found a familiar melody and the words to Precious Lord, Take My Hand began to well up from his heart and to spill out of his mouth. God had given him a song that would not only lift him from despair, but would also change the course of his music career. (Source: Story behind the song)


Precious Lord, Take My Hand

Precious Lord, take my hand,
Lead me on, let me stand,
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;
Through the storm, through the night,
Lead me on to the light:

Refrain:
Take my hand, precious Lord,
Lead me home.
When my way grows drear,
Precious Lord, linger near,
When my life is almost gone,
Hear my cry, hear my call,
Hold my hand lest I fall:

Refrain

When the darkness appears
And the night draws near,
And the day is past and gone,
At the river I stand,
Guide my feet, hold my hand:


Refrain 


Whilst most of us can't write beautiful hymns in our time of despair as Thomas Dorsay did, he and many others have left us with a wealth of precious hymns to read or sing in our times of troubles or just when we want to be uplifted and to sing praise to our Heavenly Father. And this particular hymn has some wonderful words we can all relate too: I am tired, I am weak, I am worn, how often do you feel like this, especially if you are a young mum with a busy life. But what a comfort to know that the Lord Jesus Christ is there to guide our feet and hold our hands and we have no fear. As you move through this week, don't forget these words as they will give you comfort during those difficult moments: "Precious Lord, linger near . . . hear my cry, hear my call . . . hold my hand lest I fall"


“I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, 'Fear not; I will help thee.” (Isaiah 41:13)

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Comments

  1. Beautiful hymn with an amazing story. Very encouraging, Jo - thank you.

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    1. Its a favourite of mine and there are some lovely versions of it on youtube.

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  2. What a lovely story and a beautiful hymn. I love hearing the background to the hymns. So many were forged in life's trials as God "gives us beauty for ashes."
    Thanks for sharing this story.

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    1. Some of these hymn writers have gone through such terrible trials - perhaps without them we would have never got hymns like this.

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  3. Thanks for sharing this it is just beautiful. It is wonderful to hear the story behind the hymn and the author. Thanks from good morning mondays. blessings

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    1. Hoping your week has been joyful:)) This certainly is a lovely hymn.

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  4. Wow. The words to that song are just beautiful. I haven't heard the story behind the words. I can see why he wrote such a moving song, a beautiful plea to his Lord. I will think of that story the next time I sing it. Thanks for sharing the story.

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    1. Once you hear the story it all makes sense - often these beautiful hymns are written in grief and through the author's pain, we have words that mean so much to us.

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