Abide With Us

In the King James Version of the Bible, the invitation of the two travelers reads, Abide with us; for it is toward evening and the day is far spent (Luke 4:29, KJV), words which were the inspiration for that beloved hymn, "Abide with me/Fast falls the eventide." The hymn was written by Henry Francis Lyte, for 25 years the vicar of the parish at Devonshire, England. He was 54 years old, broken in health and saddened by dissensions in his congregation. On Sunday, September 4, 1847 he preached his farewell sermon and went home to rest. After tea in the afternoon, he retired to his study. In an hour or two, he rejoined his family, holding in his hand the manuscript of his immortal hymn.

Despite what most think, Lyte's "eventide" has nothing to do with the end of the natural day but rather the end of life. "Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day/Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away." The words are about the faith that face life and death fearlessly and triumphantly in the light of the cross and the empty tomb....East of Easter. Thus Lyte could conclude, "Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee/In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me." Vicar Lyte died three months later.

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!

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!

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!

Not a brief glance I long, a passing word,

But as thou dwell’st with thy disciples, Lord,

Familiar, condescending, patient, free,

Come, not to sojourn, but abide, with me!

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.

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.

Source: David E. Leininger, East of Easter, quoted in an email sent by eSermons.com