The Story Behind the Hymn

by Bill Dagle

At Calvary

The Moody Bible Institute is still graduating young men and women to serve the Lord today as it has done for over a hundred years.  It was D.L. Moody who realized the importance of raising up the next generation to carry the gospel and thus founded this school.  Moody chose his friend and co-worker, Dr. R.A. Torrey to be the first president of the Institute.  In 1905, Dr. Torrey shared a story about a rebellious teenager who eventually became the inspiration for the writing of that grand old hymn, At Calvary.

The story goes like this:

“When I was president of the Moody Bible Institute, I received a letter from a very concerned pastor who told me of a son who was causing himself and his family a great deal of trouble.  His life was really mixed and the father felt that attendance at Moody would help.  I advised the father that even though I sympathized with him, for I was a father; yet, because I was running a Bible school and not a reform school, I had to deny his request.  After many letters of pleading his cause, I finally gave in with the stipulation that the rebellious teen must see me each day and make every effort to abide by the rules and requirements of the Institute.

“Torrey went on to say that the boy faithfully visited his office each day; and with wisdom from God’s word, he answered the questions that had been keeping the boy from God.  Finally, after many months of counseling, the prayers of the boy’s father were answered when young William R. Newell received Jesus Christ as his personal Savior.

“Thirty years later, as a teacher at Moody, Mr. Newell was recounting those turbulent years as a rebellious teen; and as he was rejoicing in his salvation, the words of a poem flooded his mind.  His mind was filled with a word picture of what had happened in his life and also in the lives of all those who surrender to Christ.”  The new man in Christ could now write:

Years I spent in vanity and pride
Caring not my Lord was crucified
Knowing not it was for me He died
On Calvary
O the love that drew salvation’s plan 
O the grace that brought it down to man
O the mighty gulf that God did span 
At Calvary
Mercy there was great and grace was free
Pardon there was multiplied to me
There, my burdened soul found liberty
At Calvary

He Leadeth Me

Much ink has been used to answer the question, “How can I know God’s leading?”  All of us, in one way or another, would like to know the answer.  Somewhere along the way, I heard a Bible teacher say this about God’s leading:  “To know His leading, there are three things—the Bible, the Holy Spirit, and the circumstances of life.

God will use all of these to direct our paths into His will.” Because the Bible tells us to speak to one another (Eph. 5:10) and to encourage one another (Heb. 10:25), I’m thinking of a hymn that will do just that.

The song, He Leadeth Me, was written in 1861 at the First Baptist Church in Philadelphia, or to be more precise, the house next door.  John Henry Gilmore was the supply pastor and, following prayer meeting, was visiting Deacon Watson in the house next door.  The members of the church had gathered there and were discussing the pastor’s message on the 23rd Psalm.  As Pastor Gilmore listened, he started to write: and within a short time, had completed the hymn.  Giving the hymn to his wife, the good pastor soon forgot about it.  A few years later, while visiting a church in Rochester, New York, to his surprise, he found his song in a new hymnal the church was using.

Apparently, Mrs. Gilmore had sent the words to a Baptist publication.  William Bradbury, the Father of Gospel Music, had seen the words and added some music.  Thus, a new hymn was born.

It’s been said that music prepares the heart for the message.  This hymn does that.  In its verses, we are reminded that God’s Word, His Spirit and the ups and downs of life are used to lead His children—both in this life and even in the valley to the next (Psalm 23).

He leadeth me—Oh blessed thought!  Oh, words with heavenly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, wher-e’er I be, Still ‘tis God’s hand that leadeth me.
Sometimes ’mid scenes of deepest gloom, Sometimes where Eden’s bowers bloom,
By waters calm, o’er troubled sea, Still ‘tis His hand that leadeth me.
Lord, I would clasp thy hand in mine, Nor ever murmur or repine;
Content whatever lot I see, Since ‘tis my God that leadeth me.
And when my task on earth is done, When, by Thy grace, the victory’s won,
E’en death’s cold wave I will not flee, Since God through Jordan, leadeth me.

Chorus
He leadeth me, He leadeth me; By His own hand He leadeth me; His faithful follower I would be, For by His hand He leadeth me.

His Eye Is On The Sparrow

It was Mrs. Martin’s daughter who inspired her to write God Will Take Care of You with the simple reminder that God does during times of illness.  The year was 1904, and the Martin’s were living at Practical Bible Training School in Johnson City, New York, at the time.  Born in Canada, Civilla Martin had taught school for a number of years, but was now traveling with her husband, William, in evangelistic work.  It was William who put her poem to music; and the hymn, God Will Take Care of You, was born.  God had used the words of a little girl the first time to move Civilla’s heart, and now He would do it again with the words of an invalid woman.

It was a bright, clean morning when Mrs. Martin set out on her journey to Elmira, New York.  The Erie train would take some time to cover the 50-mile distance from Binghamton to Elmira, but she felt that every bump in the rails was worth it for the Lord was leading again. Years later, she would say that it was the most important trip she had ever taken.  In her own words, she tells us what happened that day in Elmira:

I wrote the song, His Eye Is on the Sparrow in the company of a bedridden saint in the city of Elmira, New York.  I was reading and singing to her; and during our conversation, I chanced to ask her if she did not sometimes get discouraged.  She answered, “Mrs. Martin, how can I be discouraged when my heavenly Father watches over each little sparrow, and I know He loves and cares for me”?  My husband tried his hand at writing the music for it, but was not satisfied with the results so a short time later, he mailed it to Mr. Charles H. Gabriel who wrote the present music and sent it to Mr. Charles Alexander in England.  The song was first sung in Royal Albert Hall during the great Torrey Alexander revival in 1905.  From there, it has gone all over the world.

From the words of a child to the wisdom of an elderly saint, we are reminded in song that nothing is too little or too great for our Lord.  Since He has numbered the very hairs on our heads and counted the sparrows as they fall, in the words of Mrs. Martin, “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.”

Why should I feel discouraged, Why should the shadows come, Why should my heart be lonely. And long for Heav’n and home, When Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He: His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me; His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me.

“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear, And resting on his goodness, I lose my doubts and fears; Tho’ by the path He leadeth But one step I may see: His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me; His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me.

When-ev-er I am tempted, When-ev-er clouds arise, When songs give place to sighing, When hope within me dies, I draw the closer to Him, From care He sets me free; His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He cares for me; His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He cares for me.

Chorus

I sing because I’m happy (I’m happy), I sing because I’m free (I’m free), For His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me.