BE STILL MY SOUL Psalm 46:10: Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. A hymn teaching us that though we may encounter loss, sadness, and grief; we can find joy through Jesus Christ who is the Savior and Healer in all our troubles. The text was written by Katharina Amalia Dorothea von Schlegel was born on October 22, 1697 in Germany and passed from this life in 1768. Her name suggests that she came from an aristocratic family. She was a member of the small court of the duke of Anhalt-Köthen; a court where Johann Sebastian Bach was musical director from 1717 until 1723. She was shaped by a movement in the church known as Pietism which was founded by a 17th Century German Lutheran named Philipp Spener. She passed from this life in 1768. Miss von Schlegel wrote 29 hymns. The hymn, Be still my soul” first appeared in a publication in 1752 as Stille, meine wille, dein Jesus hilft siegen in a collection of hymns of hymns for clergy. This hymn was the favorite of Eric Liddell, the athlete who became famous in the 1924 Olympics for refusing to run on the Sabbath (see the mo¬vie Chariots of Fire). Mr. Liddell later became a missionary in China, and was imprisoned during World War II. He is said to have taught this hymn to others in the prison camp where he eventually died of a brain tumor. As we consider the words of this hymn, there is a sense in the writer’s lyrics of a profound sadness in her life and of having come through very dark times. In the first verse, she wrote: Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain; Leave to thy God to order and provide; In every change, he faithful will remain. The second verse expressed the sadness, grief and disappointment that life can bring and these challenge our faith. Life may be dark now; there is coming a day when things will become clear. Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake; All now mysterious shall be bright at last. In verse three, there is a sense of bereavement which had seemed to have deepened her relationship with the Lord. Miss Von Schlegel lived a time when people commonly died young. Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart, And all is darkened in the vale of tears, Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart, Who comes to sooth thy sorrow and thy fears. Be still my soul, thy Jesus can repay. In the fourth verse, she writes of the Lord’s return and the great Day of the Resurrection. The day when the Lord takes his people home and all the sorrows of this present world is forgotten. Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on When we shall be forever with the Lord. When disappointment, grief and fear are gone, Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored. This hymn was translated from the German to English by Jane Borthwick, a member of the Free Church of Scotland. Miss Borthwick certainly provided a beautiful rendition with which we have become familiar. The music was written by the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius who originally wrote the music for a piece that would become a national favorite in his native land. The translated poem matched with the tune “Finlandia” first appeared in 1933. Kind Readers, this hymn has always been a favorite of mine since I first heard it years ago. The haunting melody and inspiring text has blessed me so much and gives me strength to endure. When I encounter trouble, how sweet it is that my soul can be still from lifes agitation by the sweet assurance of my Savior. I can be happy with a peace which passes all understanding and a joy that the world can never know. Yes, we can STAND still and see the salvation of the Lord and our soul can BE still under the sweet influence of our Lord and Master.
Posted on: Wed, 10 Sep 2014 12:53:45 +0000
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