Posts in the Hymns series
- Hymns: Be Still My Soul
Pastor Doug started a series of sermons based on the text of hymns. I thought I’d post them here each week, for reflection and comment. There first hymn up is “Be Still My Soul”.
Be still my soul
The Lord is on thy side
Bear patiently the cross
Of grief or pain
Leave to thy God
To order and provide
In every change
He faithful will remain
Be still my soul
Thy best thy heavenly Friend
Thro’ thorny ways
Leads to a joyful end
Be still my soul
Thy God doth undertake
To guide the future
As He has the past
Thy hope thy confidence
Let nothing shake
All now mysterious
Shall be bright at last
Be still my soul
The waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them
While He dwelt below
Be still my soul
The hour is hast’ning on
When we shall be forever
With the Lord
When disappointment grief
And fear are gone
Sorrow forgot
Love’s purest joys restored
Be still my soul
When change and tears are past
All safe and blessed
We shall meet at last
If you’re not familiar with the melody on this one, it’s a beautiful setting by Sibelius (the composer, not the software.)
They used to do an old timey radio show about lives that were changed by God and this was the theme song… It always reminds me that nothing is impossible for God. Does your church podcast, I would love to hear his take on some of these songs.
Yep, there is indeed a podcast:
http://cccbp.org
Link is on the left.
This is an old fav of mine…do you know the story of it’s author?…it’s very moving.
Katharine von Schlegal wrote the words about 1752. She was an important figure in the Pietist movement that sought to bring renewal to the Lutheran church in Germany. It is interesting to me the number of female hymn writers there were in an era when women did not have much influence in the church. Perhaps it was the only way for them to use their gifts and call.
hmmm. That’s not the story I know…I must be mistaken…ya know how women get so easily confused and all.
June, Just for the record I am a strong advocate for women in ministry and believe they should be welcomed into all levels of leadership including pastor, bishop or whatever. I hope you didn’t see my previous comment as in anyway diminishing the contributions of women.
Also, I am interested in the story of this hymn that you know. I got my information from a book called “The Complete Book of Hymns.” Maybe it is not so complete.
Doug,
No worries…just making fun of myself! I am glad to hear, however, of your strong advocacy for women in ministry leadership. I believe likewise and from what I’ve been able to find in the Bible there’s nothing Scriptural that should have me thinking or believing otherwise. Recently, while having a lovely lunch with my sister and her three teenaged kids, the topic of politics came up and my seventeen-year-old nephew mentioned that he didn’t think women were “made” for presidential leadership, “biblically” and all. Hilary makes my eyelids shiver, but so did this comment. I momentarily considered unleashing a lot, or a little, on me dear nephew, but since we were all having such a lovely lunch and my sister has been to hell and back this year, I decided against it. I have no doubt that someone, somewhere, will set the young one straight. (It might well be his loving aunt or uncle.)
And your story about the hymn is, according to the tubes, right on. Apparently I was thinking of another hymn.