Unless stated otherwise, my source for hymn texts and tunes is The Lutheran Service Book.

Wednesday, January 24, 2024

LSB #714 "Who Trusts in God a Strong Abode"

Biblical citations in the hymnal:  Psalm 73:25-26, Hebrews 12:2-3, Romans 8:38-39, Titus 3:5-7

Psalm 73:25-26:  "25 Whom have I in heaven but you?  And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.  26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."

Hebrews 12:2-3:  "2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

"3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted."

Romans 8:38-39:  "38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Titus 3:5-7:  "5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

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The text is public domain:
1 Who trusts in God
A strong abode
In heav'n and earth possesses;
Who looks in love
To Christ above,
No fear that heart oppresses.
In You alone,
Dear Lord, we own
Sweet hope and consolation.
Our shield from foes,
Our balm for woes,
Our great and sure salvation.

2 Though Satan's wrath
Beset our path
And worldly scorn assail us,
While You are near,
We shall not fear;
Your strength will never fail us.
Your rod and staff
Will keep us safe
And guide our steps forever;
Nor shades of death
Nor hell beneath
Our lives from You will sever.

3 In all the strife
Of mortal life
Our feet will stand securely;
Temptation's hour
Will lose its pow'r,
For you will guard us surely.
O God, renew
With heav'nly dew
Our body, soul, and spirit
Until we stand
At Your right hand
Through Jesus' saving merit.
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The verses from Psalm 73 appear in the first few lines of the hymn ("Who trusts in God / A strong abode / In heav'n and earth possesses").  These lines also bear some resemblance to Proverbs 18:10:  "The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe."

The verses from Hebrews 12 appear in the next few lines:  "Who looks in love / To Christ above, / No fear that heart oppresses."

The passage from Romans 8 appears at the end of the second verse:  "Nor shades of death / Nor hell beneath / Our lives from You will sever."

The passage from Titus 3 seems merely to be hinted at in the hymn, at the end of the first verse ("Our great and sure salvation") and at the end of the third verse ("Through Jesus' saving merit").

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The lines "Your rod and staff / Will keep us safe / And guide our steps forever" in the second verse are drawn from Psalm 23:4:  "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."

The line "Our feet will stand securely" near the beginning of the third verse may come from the first part of Psalm 121:3:  "He will not let your foot be moved."