“Abide With Me,” ELW 629 and LBW 272
1 Abide with me! Fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me!
2 Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see.
O Thou, who changest not, abide with me!
3 Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word,
But as Thou dwell'st with Thy disciples, Lord,
Familiar, condescending, patient, free.
Come not to sojourn, but abide with me.
4 Come not in terror, as the King of kings,
But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings;
Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea.
Come, Friend of sinners, thus abide with me.
5 Thou on my head in every youth didst smile,
And though rebellious and perverse meanwhile,
Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee.
On to the close, O Lord, abide with me.
6 I need Thy presence every passing hour;
What but Thy grace can foil the Tempter's power?
Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, oh, abide with me!
7 I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight and tears no bitterness.
Where is death's sting? where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still if Thou abide with me.
8 Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes,
Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies.
Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me!
Devotion
Sometimes a hymn of faith speaks to us. Verse 2 confesses: “I need thy presence ev’ry passing hour … Through cloud and sunshine, oh, abide with me.”
Isn’t this the truth? We want – we need – to be surrounded by God’s grace, to nurture and sustain us, to keep us grounded in a faith that is beneficial to the people around us. We need to cultivate a sense of God’s presence so that we will accept any wisdom we have or any faithfulness we exhibit as wonderful gifts, passed generously to us, even sometimes through unpredictable circumstances. And when it is most difficult to sense God’s guidance, when the clouds are the heaviest, we listen closely to the songs we sing, to the Scriptures we hear and read, and to the encouragement of our friends in the faith for a glimpse of this sunshine on which we so depend.
Prayer
Holy God, keep us alert. Fill us with expectancy. Nurture us in your presence and love as we work to influence the affairs of our world and speak to the needs and hunger of your people. Amen.