CHRISTIAN LIFE >> Humility
SDAH 568
Make me a captive, Lord, and then I shall be free;
Force me to render up my sword, and I shall conqueror be.
I sink in life’s alarms when by myself I stand;
Imprison me within Thine arms, and strong shall be my hand.
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For Worship Leaders
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Introductions for Sabbath School Song Service (based on specific lesson quarterlies):
George Matheson (1842-1906; see SDAH 76) wrote these words at Songs, 1890, under the title “Christian Freedom. Paul the prisoner of Jesus Christ.” The apostle Paul describes himself as “I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ” (Eph. 3:1), whereas he was really the prisoner of Nero, the Roman emperor. This serves to emphasize the many remarkable paradoxes and contrasts in the hymn, for example: captive-free; render up Sword-conqueror; sink-stand; imprison-strong; weak-master; sure- varies; freely-chain; enslave-reign; my throne-crown resign; stands-leant. All these contrasts show the spiritual freedom of the Christian when he has become the slave of Jesus Christ.
The tune LEOMINSTER comes from “The Pilgrim Song,” composed in 1862 by George W. Martin. Martin was born in London on March 8, 1828. He popularized good music, and trained children’s choirs. He was a chorister at St. Paul’s Cathedral and taught music to trainees in Battersea. He was church organist and also director of the National Choral Society. He Composed glees, madrigals, and part songs. Unfortunately, he became an alcoholic, and died in a hospital at Wandsworth, London, on April 16, 1881. The tune was arranged by Arthur Seymour Sullivan (1842-1900; see SDAH 169).
📖 Reference: Companion to the Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal by Wayne Hooper and Edward E. White. Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1988.
Text
1
Make me a captive, Lord, and then I shall be free;
Force me to render up my sword, and I shall conqueror be.
I sink in life’s alarms when by myself I stand;
Imprison me within Thine arms, and strong shall be my hand.
2
My heart is weak and poor until it a master find;
It has no spring of action sure, it varies with the wind.
It cannot freely move till Thou has wrought its chain;
Enslave it with Thy matchless love, and deathless it shall reign.
3
My will is not my own till Thou hast made it Thine;
If it would reach a monarch’s throne, it must its crown resign;
It only stands unbent, amid the clashing strife,
When on Thy bosom it has leant, and found in Thee its life.
Hymn Info
Biblical Reference
(a) 2 Cor 12:9, 10
Author
George Matheson (1842-1906)
Year Published
1890
Hymn Tune
LEOMINSTER
Metrical Number
S.M.D.
Composer
George W. Martin (1828-1881)
Arranged
Arthur S. Sullivan, 1874 (1842-1900)
