Hymns With A Message: GOD BE WITH YOU

Sunday, October 5, 2014

GOD BE WITH YOU

Goodbyes can be difficult. Leaving good friends and Christian brothers and sisters can sometimes be very hard emotionally, especially if you may not see them again for a long time. I have an aunt and uncle who I love dearly but they live over 1,000 miles away. They are both in their mid 90's and when we recently left them it was so hard knowing that it might be the last time we would be with them here on earth. We just never know what a day may bring and whether or not we will meet again on this earth. And as we separate from our friends, we do so with the desire that God will go with us and with our friends. And He does. He has promised never to leave us or forsake His children and He never has. This week's hymn, a benediction hymn, was written and published in 1882, by the Reverend Jeremiah Eames Rankin, who was, at the time, pastor of the First Congregational Church of Washington D.C. The poem that Rankin originally wrote had eight stanzas, but today the first, second, fourth and seventh stanzas are all that are commonly sung. Mr. Rankin wrote the following account regarding his writing of "God Be With You": "Written as a Christian good-bye, it was called forth by no person or occasion, but was deliberately composed as a Christian hymn on the basis of the etymology of "good-bye," which is "God be with you." I consulted the dictionary for the definition of the word 'good-bye', and found it to be a contraction of 'God be with ye'. Very soon the first verse was completed. The first stanza was written and sent to two composers, one of unusual note, the other wholly unknown and not thoroughly educated in music. I selected the composition of the latter, submitted it to J. W. Bischoff, the musical director of a little book we were preparing, who approved of it, but made some criticisms, which were adopted. It was sung for the first time one evening in the First Congregational Church in Washington, of which I was then the pastor and Mr. Bischoff the organist. I attributed its popularity in no little part to music to which it was set. It was a wedding of words and music, at which it was my function to preside; but Mr. Tomer should have his full share of the family honor." William Gould Tomer severed in the Union Army during the Civil War and then became a public school teacher in New Jersey where he composed the music for this text upon Dr. Rankin's request. "God Be With You" was widely used in the Moody and Sankey meetings throughout North America and England. A few years before his death, when the late President Theodore Roosevelt was making a farewell visit in Memphis, Tenn., a great audience of three thousand people sang in his honor the well-loved strain, "God be with you till we meet again." It is a wonderful prayer that has helped and encouraged multitudes over the years. In fact it is a great prayer and testimony for your friends anytime, not just when you are parting. Maybe this week you could consider "praying" this for those whom you love. The chorus includes that powerful truth that those in God's family will be reunited again, if not here on earth, then definitely in heaven. "Till we meet, till we meet, Till we meet at Jesus' feet. God be with you till we meet again."

1. God be with you till we meet again,

By His counsels guide, uphold you,

With His sheep securely fold you,

God be with you till we meet again.

Till we meet, till we meet,

Till we meet at Jesus' feet;

Till we meet, till we meet,

God be with you till we meet again.

2. God be with you till we meet again,

'Neath His wings securely hide you,

Daily manna still provide you,

God be with you till we meet again.