Abide with me

But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them (Luke 24:29).

On September 4th, 1847, Henry Francis Lyte preached a farewell sermon to his congregation. After serving God's children in other parishes, this man had devoted himself for a quarter of a century to the pastoral care of the people living in Brixham, South Devonshire, England. His congregation consisted mostly of unpolished but warm-hearted men of the sea, and over the years he had gained their love and confidence to a high degree. He visited the fishermen and sailors, both on their ships and in their huts. He provided every outgoing ship with a Bible.

But now the preacher’s health was in question, and so it was time to start saying goodbye. Toward evening of the day when he had preached his farewell sermon, he went down the garden path to view the setting of the sun over Brixham harbor. The pastor later told his family that while this lovely scene of nature was before his eyes, he said a long, fervent prayer, asking God for the ability to write a hymn that might comfort his survivors. Once the sun had finally set he returned to his study, and his children assumed that he had closed the door to get some rest.

But an hour later the door opened, and the pastor came forth with a manuscript, the text of the immortal hymn he had just written, a hymn that has been much loved ever since:

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.

The final verse is a concluding prayer:

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes, shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies; heav’ns morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee; in life, in death oh Lord, abide with me.