This is part five in a series on the song “Abide with Me.” Read part one, part two, part three, and part four first.
I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.
Henry Francis Lyte, 1847
So far in this discussion of the song “Abide with Me,” we’ve learned that God is a help to the helpless, He never changes, and He is our guide and stay. Today we’ll discuss that God is victorious and we can be too when we abide with God.
I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Many lines in this song remind me of Psalm 23. Like a shepherd, God is our guide and stay — he leads us and never leaves us. And in this verse, “I fear no foe” is reminiscent of verse four of the 23rd Psalm:
Yea, 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.
Psalm 23:4
With God by our sides, who is their to fear? He takes care of His sheep, not by removing them from the dark valley, but by walking through it with them. With God’s presence, negative emotions carry less weight.
Letting “ills have no weight” is very challenging, isn’t it? I don’t think our troubles should have no impact on us at all, but we we don’t let them burden us. We don’t carry the weight around on our shoulders.
I think of Paul, who “learned in whatever state. . .to be content” (Philippians 4:11). And then in verse 13, he says how he does that:
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13
When we have hope that there is something better to come, then we can be “rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer” (Romans 12:12). Hope, patience, and prayer — those are what get us through the trying times. The complaining and grumbling that is so often our default does not relieve us.
In the Word of God, we find rest (Psalm 19:7).
In Jesus, we find rest (Matthew 11:28).
In prayer, we can find rest (Philippians 4:6).
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.
But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
I Corinthians 15:51-58 (NLT)
God is victorious. And His people are victorious. Victorious even over death! Christ died and was raised just as our physical bodies will die, and our spiritual bodies will be raised. Victorious even over death!
The fear of death, the sting of sin, those no longer have power over us when we put our hope in God. We invite God to dwell with us in this life, so that we can live with Him in the next life.
REFELCTION QUESTIONS
What fears or discomforts have taken your eyes off of God?
Do you feel bitter when you see someone else rejoicing while you are experiencing sadness?
What does victory over death mean to you? And how can knowing that God’s people will triumph over death help you today?
PRAYER
Dear kind and heavenly Father, You are our refuge and strength, our helper in times of trouble, and a gracious giver of love and mercy. You are always with us, allowing us to come to you in prayer when we are fearful and anxious. Thank you for guiding us through the valleys where they way is dark and we cannot see. Thank you for removing the weights of sin and sickness, and giving us hope that one day there will be no more sin or sickness. Please guide us, give us ears that hear and eyes that see your path. So that one day we will rejoice and triumph over death with you by our side! We can’t wait to see your heavenly home! In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Read next: Abide with Me, In Life, In Death
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