In sacrament meeting Sunday we sang as our opening hymn #85, "How Firm a Foundation," which is one of my favorite hymns. But every time we sing this hymn in a meeting I am disappointed that we only sing the first three verses, when, in reality, the best stuff is found in the four additional verses listed on the second page. Today I want to explore these verses a bit.
First, however, I want to look at Isaiah 43:1-2. Here the Lord speaks to his people, saying "Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." These words of comfort and hope are echoed then in the words of the hymn.
Let's start with verse 4: "When through the deep waters I call thee to go, the rivers of sorrow shall not thee o'erflow, for I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless, and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress." The imagery of the water, reminiscent of Lehi's dream and the river of filthiness, is powerful. We often feel in this life like we are drowning, over our heads in the things we face.
But there is also a connection to the symbolism of baptism here, an image that comes up again in the next verse of the hymn. Here we read, "When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie, my grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply, the flame shall not hurt thee; I only design thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine."
Here the idea of baptism continues with the baptism of fire, which burns away the old self, leaving a renewed one. And the promise again is that of Isaiah, that the flame shall not kindle upon us. We are not drowned by the water, nor consumed by the fire, but renewed by each.
The next verse of the hymn speaks of enduring faithfully to the end: "E'en down to old age, my people shall prove my sov'reign, eternal, unchangeable love; and then, when gray hair shall their temples adorn, like lambs shall they still in my bosom be borne." Few other passages in prose or poetry speak such comfort and peace to me as this promise.
Finally, we come to the last verse: "The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose I will not, no cannot, desert to his foes; That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, I'll never, no never, no never forsake."
A note on pronouns. This hymn employs the first person frequently to serve as voice for the Savior, with the second person "you" referring to each of us. But I find a shift in this verse, as the "I" becomes faithful disciples and the third person referring to both Deity and one's fellow saints.
I am reminded here of the emphasis we hear at every priesthood meeting to rescue. In my mind, the idea of leaning on the Savior for repose applies to all who have made sacred covenants, and even when the world would crush them with sin, despair, and hopelessness, we are called on to succor, to never abandon.
The line "I will not, no cannot, desert" speaks to me, both as a priesthood leader and as a parent. No matter what those I love may do, my obligation is to serve and, if possible, help save.
5 comments:
I am hoping to someday be put in charge of recreating our hymnal. I have a list of hymns that I'll cut and I'm sure there are songs that are not yet included that will make it. And some hymns that will require the singing of every verse, How Firm a Foundation, A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief, and If You Could Hie to Kolob, to name a few.
This became a favorite hymn of mine when I was in Zimbabwe and we sang it in a sacrament meeting without hymnals and the members all knew every verse. Even the children. This was in a rented out building with a sheet hanging in the window painted with the name of the church on it. I could go on about this place but I'll leave it at that.
I don't think of the last verse as a shift in the use of pronouns, I just think it's so powerful to sing that the Lord will never, no never, no never forsake us. You are the English professional though, so technically you are probably correct.
Let me link it this time.
I love "Put your shoulder to the wheel." it's the ultimate example of "Mormon Socialism".
Becky, I don't think you're reading it wrong. Both approaches are valid, but I find inspiration in reading the call to never abandon anyone especially compelling if it's something meant for me. I know the Lord won't give up on someone, but I shouldn't either. Thanks for sharing the experience with this hymn--I have this image of you and the saints in Zimbabwe singing this together--wonderful.
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