…Before your head hits the pillow… “I Will Sing of My Redeemer” - Philip Bliss No one knows for sure when Philip Bliss wrote this marvelous testament of God’s love. I will tell you why later in this post. Philip Bliss was born in 1838 and died tragically in 1876 at only 38 years of age. He was born into a loving Christian family. His father loved music and encouraged Philip in his love for singing. At age 10 Philip heard his first piano while selling vegetables to help support his family. It is hard to believe but at age 11 he left home to make his own living. At age 17 he finished the requirements necessary to begin teaching. At age 19 he took his first formal singing lesson. His voice teacher encouraged him to become a music teacher and the first composition he sold was for the flute. He married Lucy Young in 1958 and in 1874 after additional music education and teaching he decided he was called to the task of winning souls. Just after Christmas in 1876 he and his wife were traveling by train when the trestle bridge they were crossing collapsed. Although Bliss escaped his wife did not. He was warned not to go back for her, but his love compelled him to do so and both perished leaving behind two sons aged one and four. Found in the trunk of the remains were the words for “I Will Sing of My Redeemer.” Not long after, it was set to music by James McGranahan, the same individual who wrote the music for “It is Well with My South.” Later it became one of the first songs recorded by Thomas Edison’s new invention, the phonograph. Just prior to departing on the train Bliss spoke these words to the local congregation, “I may not pass this way again” afterward he sang what seemed to be the prophetic words of, “I’m Going Home Tomorrow.” Bliss also wrote, “Almost Persuaded,” “Hallelujah, What a Savior,” “Let the Lower Lights be Burning,” and “Wonderful Words of Life.” I will sing of my Redeemer, And His wondrous love to me; On the cruel cross He suffered, From the curse to set me free. Sing, oh, sing of my Redeemer, With His blood He purchased me, On the cross He sealed my pardon, Paid the debt, and made me free. I will tell the wondrous story, How my lost estate to save, In His boundless love and mercy, He the ransom freely gave. I will praise my dear Redeemer, His triumphant powr Ill tell, How the victory He giveth Over sin, and death, and hell. I will sing of my Redeemer, And His heavnly love to me; He from death to life hath brought me, Son of God with Him to be. Philip Bliss understood the wondrous act of love displayed by his Redeemer, Jesus Christ. He understood the cruel suffering that our Lord and Savior endured on the cross and that it was done for no other reason than to set us free! Jesus freely shed His blood and gave His life to pardon us, to pay our debt, and to set us free! Now it is up to us to tell His story to others. We must let others know how lost we were prior to our lives with Christ. We must tell others of His love and mercy and all that He has done for us. How often are you given a marvelous gift and you just can’t wait to get to work, or see your friends to tell them about this gift? Are we as excited to tell about the most amazing gift ever, Christ’s atonement for our sins? Yes, we were once dead and now we are alive! Christ has provided us the living water needed to bring us from death to life. We will never really die, for it is the fortune of those who know the Lord to spend eternity with Him. So let’s make sure that we SING of our Redeemer, and His wondrous love for us!
Posted on: Sat, 02 Nov 2013 03:20:00 +0000
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