Prisoners Of Hope

Come to the place of safety, all you prisoners, for there is yet hope! I promise right now, I will repay you two mercies for each of your woes! Zechariah 9:12 TLB

I love the newer praise music. Even though I am of an older generation, there is something so refreshing (and hopeful!) about these newer songs. But, I also love the old hymns that have kept us as prisoners of hope in every generation!

When I am really struggling, I will often remember a line from a hymn that I heard in my childhood, and how that song made me “a prisoner” to His hope! The words float back to me across the years—and once again, my discouraged heart is lifted back to where all my hope comes from.

For instance, as I was contemplating this post, and what I would write, these beautiful lines returned from long ago…

1 My faith has found a resting place,
from guilt my soul is freed;
I trust the ever-living One,
his wounds for me shall plead.

Refrain:
I need no other argument,
I need no other plea,
it is enough that Jesus died,
and that he died for me.

This wonderful old hymn, My Faith Has Found a Resting Place is by Eliza Edmunds Hewitt, who was:

“… born in Philadelphia 28 June 1851. She was educated in the public schools and after graduation from high school became a teacher. However, she developed a spinal malady which cut short her career and made her a shut-in for many years. During her convalescence, she studied English literature. She felt a need to be useful to her church and began writing poems for the primary department. She went on to teach Sunday school, take an active part in the Philadelphia Elementary Union and become Superintendent of the primary department of Calvin Presbyterian Church.” —Hymnary.org

How often the old hymns sprang from the hearts of other “Priceless Someone’s” who were suffering just as we do.

They, too, needed the hope we desperately search for. And even though I could not find this hymn sung exactly as it is written, isn’t it enough just to know that we are all…

Prisoners In A Fortress of Hope?

Because the message of this old hymn continues,

2 Enough for me that Jesus saves,
this ends my fear and doubt;
a sinful soul, I come to him,
he’ll never cast me out.

Refrain:
I need no other argument,
I need no other plea,
it is enough that Jesus died,
and that he died for me.

Do you see what I mean?

How these beautiful old words drift back to remind me of whose I am—and of how safely I am held in the hollow of His side?

It is Jesus who is our fortress. People may betray us. Our enemies may lie about us. So-called “friends” may forsake us. But, when we return to the Love who has always been our Fortress? We shall find our hope was not lost after all—merely misplaced.

Hope has always been found in Him—whether we sing our praise in its original way?

Or, we prefer it in a new fresh format…

Our Fortress holds!

Listen to the message in the next few lines please,

3 My heart is leaning on the Word,
the written Word of God,
salvation by my Savior’s name,
salvation thro’ his blood.

Refrain:
I need no other argument,
I need no other plea,
it is enough that Jesus died,
and that he died for me.

Eliza was born one hundred years before me, but oh my, how her song has encouraged me in some of my darkest hours!

She reminds me over and over…

4 My great Physician heals the sick,
the lost he came to save;
for me his precious blood he shed,
for me his life he gave.

Refrain:
I need no other argument,
I need no other plea,
it is enough that Jesus died,
and that he died for me.

Yes, He is our fortress in every storm.

We are His purchased possession, and yes, that makes us prisoners of His Hope.

It is the message that is most important, is it not?

Whether it comes to us in the old, old, ways—or whether it comes to us in a lovely fresh format—it is Christ’s hope that these messengers bring.