When I was a kid one of my favorite hymns was “The Lily of the Valley.” Maybe because that is my birth month flower. Maybe because it has a catchy tune. In fact, one of the most common cowboy songs, “Little Joe the Wrangler,” is to the same tune. But I became more mature as I aged, and began to pay more attention to the words. The author is unknown, but there is real meaning behind them.
“I have found a friend in Jesus, He’s ev’rything to me,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul;
The Lily of the Valley, in Him alone I see
All I need to cleanse and make me fully whole.
In sorrow He’s my comfort, in trouble He’s my stay,
He tells me ev’ry care on Him to roll.
He’s the Lily of the Valley, the bright and Morning Star,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.”
In looking at this hymn for this note this morning I can see that it is loaded with doctrine. No wonder it was so popular in earlier years. So many of the great truths of God’s Word are seen here in just a few phrases. He is our friend and He should be everything. He is the One who cleanses us and makes us whole. He is the One who brings comfort and holds us steady through life. He has taken our grief and sorrow upon Himself and when we are tempted He provides the way to escape or to overcome. No matter what happens in life, because of Jesus we can reach that eternal goal of heaven.
“He all my grief has taken, and all my sorrows borne;
In temptation He’s my strong and mighty tow’r;
I have all for Him forsaken, and all my idols torn
From my heart, and now He keeps me by His pow’r.
Though all the world forsake me, and Satan tempts me sore,
Through Jesus I shall safely reach the goal;
He’s the Lily of the Valley, the bright and Morning Star,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.”
The concept of obedience to His will is seen and with that He promises never to leave us. He will protect us, He will fill us, He will feed us, He will quench our thirsty soul. Then one day, when He has kept His promise to us He will bring us unto Himself in that glory. My mercy–this almost wants to get my ol’ feet to clogging.
“He will never, never leave me, nor yet forsake me here,
While I live by faith and do His blessed will;
A wall of fire about me, I’ve nothing now to fear,
With His manna He my hungry soul shall fill.
Then sweeping up to glory, to see His blessed face,
Where rivers of delight shall ever roll!
He’s the Lily of the Valley, the bright and Morning Star,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.”