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The hymn, “I Will Sing the Wondrous Story” Methodist hymn 380 (GBH 43) has deep Baptist roots. It was composed by Francis Harold Rowley, an ordained Baptist Minister.

There are different records on the chronology of events in Rowley’s life, but records show he was born in Hilton, New York, and graduated B.A. at the University of Rochester and B.D. at Rochester Theological Seminary; and was ordained into the Baptist ministry. He was a pastorate at Baptist churches in Titusville, Pennsylvania. Rowley was the pastor of the First Baptist Church of North Adams, Massachusetts and served the First Baptist Church in Boston. Rowley was a trustee of the University of Chicago Divinity School, and preached at Appleton Chapel of Harvard University.

He married Isa Amelia and they had four children.An honorary Doctor of Divinity was given to him by the University of Rochester and the Rowley School of Human Understanding at Oglethorpe University was established in his honour.

Rowley was a hymn writer best known for authoring the popular hymn I Will Sing the Wondrous Story. It was composed by Rowley’s associate Peter P. Bilhorn and was presented to Ira D. Sankey as a gift.Sankey was impressed with the song and published it in Gospel Hymns and Sacred Songs and Solos, in 1887.

Please find the three stanza’s of Rowleys “I Will Sing the Wondrous Story” below.

1. I will sing the wondrous story
Of the Christ who died for me.
How He left His home in glory
For the cross of Calvary.
I was lost, but Jesus found me,
Found the sheep that went astray,
Threw His loving arms around me,
Drew me back into His way.

2. I was bruised, but Jesus healed me;
Faint was I from many a fall;
Sight was gone, and fears possessed me,
But He freed me from them all.
Days of darkness still come o'er me,
Sorrow's paths I often tread,
But the Savior still is with me;
By His hand I'm safely led.

3. He will keep me till the river
Rolls its waters at my feet;
Then He'll bear me safely over,
Where the loved ones I shall meet.
Yes, I'll sing the wondrous story
Of the Christ who died for me,
Sing it with the saints in glory,
Gathered by the crystal sea.

One of the scriptures that inspired “I will sing the wondrous Story” is Psalm 13:6.

READ Psalm 13:6

I will sing to the LORD, because He has dealt bountifully with me.

(Psalm 13:6 NKJV)

In this Psalm, entitled “A trust in the salvation of the Lord” David starts with,

“How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever?
How long will You hide Your face from me?” (Psalm 13:1)

Then in the Verse 3, he wrote,

“Consider and hear me, O Lord my God;
Enlighten my eyes.”
(Psalm 13:3)

But then the tone changed in verse 5 where he wrote:

“But I have trusted in Your mercy;
My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.”
(Psalm 13:5)

The conclusion of this Psalm was the text we just read in Psalm 13:6.

In this Psalm, we see David trusting God, even though he was not happy with his circumstances. David could say these because he looked at how God dealt with him in the past, and knew the same God would come through for him; and even if — according to His perfect will — He doesn’t; David would still say,

“I will sing to the LORD, because He has dealt bountifully with me.”

Love and faith are NOT tested when everything is perfect. They are tested when circumstances are dire. Will yours stand?

Ponder over this relatively short Psalm of David (only 6 verses); and whatever your circumstances, sing with me,
“I Will Sing the Wondrous Story!”   

MEMORY VERSE

I will sing to the LORD, because He has dealt bountifully with me.
(Psalm 13:6)

QUESTIONS

• What are your circumstances?
• Do you know that whatever they are, Christ still died for you; the greatest gift ever?

PRAYER TIP

Gracious God, please help us 
to look beyond our current 
circumstances, to Your 
promises; beyond the 
temporal, to the eternal.

CREDITS

HYMNARY.ORG, ‘I will Sing the wondrous story’, www.hymnary.org

WIKIPEDIA, ‘Francis H. Rowley’, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_H._Rowley

URGENT CALL

By nature, we are all sinful, and alienated from God. We ultimately face the wrath of God!

But God in His mercy and love gives us a chance to reverse this trend, join His family, be part of His household, and become His children.

The first step to becoming a member of God’s household is for us to be saved. 

Salvation comes through accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Personal Savior.

It is a very personal decision. No one can make that decision for you.

If you make that decision today, there will be great singing and rejoicing in heaven; because one new member has joined the family and household of God!

Do you want to make that decision today?

Please visit “The Believer’s Prayer” 
for guidance to make this decision.

We will be happy to hear from you through the contact information on that page.

God richly bless you.

SPECIAL GRATITUDE

Thank you for visiting the Testimony Devotional Website. 

We would not have gotten here without your prayers, goodwill and overall support. We are grateful, and humbled.

We thank God for counting us worthy to share in His Great Commission; and we thank you for sticking with us through this journey.

God richly bless you.

The Testimony Devotional website addresses are:

https://testimonydevotional.org/

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