CHRISTIAN LIFE >> MEDITATION AND PRAYER
SDAH 491
In the hour of trial, Jesus, plead for me,
Lest by base denial I depart from Thee;
When Thou see’st me waver, with a look recall,
Nor, for fear or favor, suffer me to fall.
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For Worship Leaders
Make each hymn more meaningful with these helpful tools: Short, ready-to-use hymn introductions for church bulletins, multiple ways to introduce a hymn based on your worship theme and in-depth history and insights to enrich your song service.
Hymn Spotlight: In the Hour of Trial
Written by James Montgomery in 1834, this hymn offers a prayer for steadfast faith and moral courage when temptation or hardship strikes. Frances Annie Hutton later contributed the third stanza found in our hymnal. Its tune, PENITENCE, was composed in 1875 by Spencer Lane specifically for these words—reportedly between his church’s morning and evening services when he found the existing tune unsatisfactory. Lane’s melody, tender yet resolute, pairs beautifully with Montgomery’s plea for God’s sustaining grace. Together, they call the believer to hold fast to Christ’s strength and mercy, trusting Him to carry us through life’s most testing hours.
📖 Reference: Feel free to share but please cite hymnsforworship.org when reproducing.
Introductions for Sabbath School Song Service (based on specific lesson quarterlies):
James Montgomery (1771-1854) wrote this hymn of four stanzas on October 13, 1834, and sent copies of his manuscript to 22 of his friends. It was later printed in his Original Hymns, 1853. SDAH’s third stanza is by Frances Annie Hutton (1841- ?). Two of the original stanzas have been omitted.
PENITENCE was composed in 1875 by Spencer Lane especially for these words, and published in Charles Hutchins’ Church Hymnal, 1879. The hymn had been chosen for the evening service at his church, St. James, Woonsocket, Rhode Island, but the tune set for the words was not to his liking, so after the morning service, while his wife was preparing the Sunday midday meal, he composed this tune, which was sung in the evening service.
Lane was born on April 7, 1843, at Tilton, New Hampshire. He served in the Union Army during the Civil War, then he studied at the New England Conservatory of Music and became a teacher of vocal and instrumental music. He was organist and choir director at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Woonsocket, for 13 years. He moved to Monson, Massachusetts, where he was music director for the Congregational Church. Then he moved to Richmond, Virginia, and finally to Baltimore, Maryland, where he was organist and choir director at All Saints’ Church. He died suddenly at Reedville, Virginia, on August 10, 1903.
📖 Reference: Companion to the Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal by Wayne Hooper and Edward E. White. Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1988.
Text
1
In the hour of trial, Jesus, plead for me,
Lest by base denial I depart from Thee;
When Thou see’st me waver, with a look recall,
Nor, for fear or favor, suffer me to fall.
2
With forbidden pleasures would this vain world charm;
Or its sordid treasures spread to work me harm;
Bring to my remembrance sad Gethsemane,
Or, in darker semblance, cross-crowned Calvary.
3
Should Thy mercy send me sorrow, toil, and woe,
Or should pain attend me on my path below,
Grant that I may never fail Thy hand to see;
Grant that I may ever cast my care on Thee.
Hymn Info
Biblical Reference
(a) Luke 22:31, 32 (b) Mark 14:32, 15; Luke 23:33 (c) 1 Pet 5:7
Author
James Montgomery (1771-1854)
Year Published
1834
Hymn Tune
PENITENCE
Metrical Number
6.5.6.5.D.
Composer
Spencer Lane (1843-1903)
Year Composed
1879
