GOSPEL >> Salvation & Redemption
SDAH 339
God is my strong salvation,
What foe have I to fear?
In darkness and temptation,
My Light, my Help, is near:
Text
1
God is my strong salvation,
What foe have I to fear?
In darkness and temptation,
My Light, my Help, is near:
Though hosts encamp around me,
Firm in the fight I stand;
What terror can confound me,
With God at my right hand?
2
Place on the reliance;
My soul with courage wait;
His truth be thine affiance,
When faint and desolate.
His might thy heart shall strengthen,
His love thy joy increase;
Mercy thy days shall lengthen;
The Lord will give thee peace.
Hymn Info
Biblical Reference
(a) Ps 27:1-3 (b) Ps 27:14
Author
James Montgomery (1771-1854)
Hymn Tune
WIE LIEBLICH IST DER MAIEN
Metrical Number
7.6.7.6.D.
Composer
J. Steurlein (1546-1613)
Year Composed
1575
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Notes
Get to know the hymns a little deeper with the SDA Hymnal Companion. Use our song leader’s notes to engage your congregation in singing with understanding. Even better, involve kids in learning this hymn with our homeschooling materials.
The heavenly court scene of Daniel 7:9–14 depicts the central event of the chapter. The books; the Ancient of Days on the throne; and the Son of man, surrounded by heavenly clouds (Dan. 7:13) as He comes into the presence of the Ancient of Days, portray a scene of judgment in heaven. For the saints, who have been persecuted by the little horn, the judgment means vindication, salvation, and restoration. We should bear in mind that the judgment of the living will take place only when the time of probation closes and the seven last plagues begin to be poured on Babylon (Revelation 15, Revelation 16). But most important, we must not fear the judgment because the “Son of Man” is our representative in the heavenly tribunal. Thus, rather than condemnation, the heavenly judgment will bring us vindication and deliverance. (Lesson 8, 1st Quarter 2020 – Tuesday, The Court Was Seated, 2/17/2020)
In our lesson, Hezekiah’s example can be our inspiration to keep our faith in Jesus alone. Rather that giving up himself, he then appeal to God to demonstrate who He really is so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that He alone is God. (Lesson 7, 1st Quarter 2021 -Tuesday, Shaken But Not Forsaken, 2/09/2021)
El Shaddai, our God, is the Almighty. Indeed, If God be for us, who can be against us? (Lesson 4, 2nd Quarter 2021 -Monday, El Shaddai, 4/19/2021)
God knows that we are weak. That’s why He wants us to depend on Him because He is strong. And He is willing to help us and give us strength to be able to do what He bids us to do. Then we can say based on experience, God is My Strong Salvation: His biddings and His enabling. (Lesson 7, 2nd Quarter 2021 -Sunday, On Eagle’s Wings, 5/09/2021)
This free paraphrase of part of Psalm 27 appears in James Montgomery’s (1771-1854; see Biographies) Imitations of Psalms, 1822. He actually wrote two paraphrases, the first in seven stanzas of four lines each, beginning “One thing, with all my souls’ desire” (Ps. 27:4), and this one in two stanzas of eight lines each. In Montgomery’s later publication, Original Hymns, 1853, he gave it the title “Trust in the Lord.”
WEI LIEBLICH IST DER MAIEN (How Lovely Is the May) was a secular song to the words “Mit Lieb bin ich umfangen” (With Love I Am surrounded) and appears in Johann Steurlein’s Gesitliche Lieder (Spiritual Songs), 1575. Steurlein was born in 1546 in the town of Schmalkalden in the Thuringian Forest area. He studied law and was appointed town clerk of nearby Wasungen, where he knew and encouraged the talented Melchior Vulpius (see SDAH 173). In 1589 he moved to Meiningen, where he was a notary public and later mayor of the city. Steurlein was a notable poet and rhymed the Old and New Testaments in German, for which he was honored by Emperor Rudolph II. He was also a composer and produced melodies and four-part harmonies; three of his hymn texts appear in his volume of 27 four-part spiritual songs, published in 1588. He died at Meiningen in 1613. Healy Willan’s best-selling anthem using this tune was published in 1954 by concord is Publishing House, with the Thanksgiving text “Sing to the Lord of Harvest.”
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