'Thy compassions, they fail not'

Thomas Obadiah Chisholm (1866-1960), author of one of the most beloved hymns of all time, "Great is Thy Faithfulness," was born in a log cabin and raised on a farm in Franklin, Ky., attending classes in a one-room schoolhouse.

"Being a bright child, he began teaching other young people at Lake Spring School when he was only 16," says a biography online. "At age 21, Chisholm transitioned from educator to associate editor for the local newspaper, the Franklin Favorite.

In covering a news story, he went to a camp-meeting revival and was won over by the preaching of noted evangelist Henry Clay Morrison, who founded Asbury College and Seminary in Kentucky.

Soon after becoming a Christian at age 27, Chisholm was ordained into the ministry and pastored a small congregation in Scottsville, Ky. But after only one year in the position, ill health forced Chisholm to give up the ministry and relocate to Winona Lake, Indiana to recover. There he got a job selling insurance.

Chisholm wrote: "Catherine and I were heartbroken, weren’t we, Lord. No sooner had we settled into the Scottsville ministry, than it was over. But you, O God, provided that little farm in Winona Lake, Indiana, and employment with an insurance agency. And just as the scripture says here in Lamentations, your compassions failed not. The Christian community of Winona Lake warmly welcomed us, and you blessed us with the births of our girls, Ruth and Dorothy."

According to the Independent Baptist: "Thomas' health was so fragile there were periods of time he was confined to bed, unable to work. Between bouts of illness he would have to push himself to put in extra hours at various jobs in order to make ends meet.

"Thomas found great comfort in the Scriptures, and in the fact that God was faithful to be his strength in time of illness and weakness, and to provide his needs. Lamentations 3:22-23 was one of his favorite scriptures: 'It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness.' "

Of his circumstances, including his inability to make money, Chisholm once noted, "God has given me many wonderful displays of his providing care, which have filled me with astonishing gratefulness."

In his lifetime, Chisholm wrote more than 1,200 poems and 800 songs. It was in 1917 that C. Harold Lowden, who composed a song for children, “Sunshine Song,” was preparing to publish a songbook and contacted Thomas, asking him to compose words.

"Chisolm protested that he had never written a text for an existing tune. Lowden insisted, saying he 'believed God had led me to select him' to provide a text to this music.

"Chisholm, who could not read music, asked his daughter to hum the melody over and over to him. He did so until the words came to him.

"Chisholm returned the tune with four stanzas and a refrain to Lowden. The hymn was Living for Jesus:

Living for Jesus, a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me.

Refrain

O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,
For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me.
I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne.
My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.

Living for Jesus Who died in my place,
Bearing on Calvary my sin and disgrace;
Such love constrains me to answer His call,
Follow His leading and give Him my all.

Refrain

Living for Jesus, wherever I am,
Doing each duty in His holy Name;
Willing to suffer affliction and loss,
Deeming each trial a part of my cross.

Refrain

Living for Jesus through earth’s little while,
My dearest treasure, the light of His smile;
Seeking the lost ones He died to redeem,
Bringing the weary to find rest in Him.

*****

"While away from home on a missions trip, Chisholm often wrote to one of his good friends, William Runyan, a relatively unknown musician. Several poems were exchanged in these letters. Runyan found one of Chisholm's poems so moving that he decided to compose a musical score to accompany the lyrics. Great is Thy Faithfulness was published in 1923.

"For several years, the hymn got very little recognition, until it was discovered by a Moody Bible Institute professor who loved it so much, and requested it sung so often at chapel services, that the song became the unofficial theme song of the college.

"It was not until 1945 when George Beverly Shea began to sing Great is Thy Faithfulness at the Billy Graham evangelistic crusades, that the hymn was heard around the world."

Here are the lyrics to another beloved hymn (a standard sung in churches) written by Chisholm, titled "Oh to Be Like Thee."

1. Oh! to be like Thee, blessed Redeemer,
   This is my constant longing and prayer;
   Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
   Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.
   • Refrain:
     Oh! to be like Thee, oh! to be like Thee,
     Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
     Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
     Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.
2. Oh! to be like Thee, full of compassion,
   Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
   Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
   Seeking the wand’ring sinner to find.
3. Oh! to be like Thee, lowly in spirit,
   Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
   Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
   Willing to suffer, others to save.
4. Oh! to be like Thee, Lord, I am coming,
   Now to receive th’ anointing divine;
   All that I am and have I am bringing,
   Lord, from this moment all shall be Thine.
5. Oh! to be like Thee, while I am pleading,
   Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love,
   Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
   Fit me for life and Heaven above.