I Will Sing Of My Redeemer

• Psalm 10:14
  (hymns)
• Psalm 19:14
  (hymns)
• Psalm 64:7
  (hymns)
• Psalm 89:1
  (hymns)
• Psalm 146:2
  (hymns)
• Isaiah 49:26
  (hymns)
• Isaiah 59:20
  (hymns)
• Matthew 12:20
  (hymns)
• Luke 23:46
  (hymns)
• John 5:24
  (hymns)
• Acts 20:28
  (hymns)
• Romans 6:4
  (hymns)
• Romans 15:9-10
  (hymns)
• 1 Corinthians 15:57
  (hymns)
• 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
  (hymns)
• Galatians 2:13
  (hymns)
• Galatians 2:20
  (hymns)
• Galatians 3:13
  (hymns)
• Ephesians 1:7
  (hymns)
• Ephesians 2:4-6
  (hymns)
• Ephesians 5:19-20
  (hymns)
• Colossians 2:12
  (hymns)
• Titus 2:13-14
  (hymns)
• 1 Peter 1:18-19
  (hymns)
• 1 John 1:7
  (hymns)
• 1 John 3:14
  (hymns)
• Revelation 5:9
  (hymns)

In December, 1876, the great gospel hymn writer, Philip Bliss, and his wife boarded a train home to Pennsylvania after attending an evangelistic meeting in Chicago. As their train crossed over a river in Ashtabula, Ohio, the bridge collapsed and the train fell into the icy river below. Bliss escaped, but when he realized his wife was still in the burning wreck, he went back into the melee to find her. Neither Bliss nor his wife survived. Some of Bliss’ possessions, however, in the front carriages that made it across the bridge unharmed, were later retrieved. Inside one of his trunks, his friends found a new text Bliss had just written, entitled, “I Will Sing of My Redeemer.” It’s said that at the meeting in Chicago, he told the crowd, “I may not pass this way again.” Did he have some inclination that he would soon be meeting his Redeemer? When he penned the words, “he from death to life has brought me, Son of God, with him to be,” did he know he would be making that journey soon? This text is a beautiful parting gift from this well-loved hymn writer, to encourage us one last time to sing unto Him who makes us free.

Text:

Jerry Jenkins writes this about Bliss’ text: “’My Redeemer’ is no theological tome, but it is profound in its simplicity, telling the story of redemption in straightforward language’” (Hymns for Personal Devotions, 86). It does indeed remind us very simply of Christ’s atonement and pardon made for us, and invites us to tell others of that same story. The original structure of four verses and a refrain can be found in most hymnals. The Psalter Hymnal revision committee changed the text into three verses to fit the tune HYFRYDOL. Otherwise, the text remains the same across the board.

Tune:

There are two common tunes sung with Bliss’ text. The first, and most common, is MY REDEEMER, written by Bliss’ friend James McGranaham after Bliss’ death. The second is HYFRYDOL, a pairing made in more recent years. This tune gives Bliss’ text a weightier meaning, but it is a hymn tune that is easily overused, so try mixing it up by using the original. If you use McGranaham’s tune, give the musician the freedom to expand off of what is written. Greg Scheer suggests double octave down beats in the left hand to begin this energetic waltz style hymn.

You could also try pairing this text with a tune Scheer wrote for the text “May the Mind of Christ my Savior,” an arrangement that can be found in the hymn book, Sing With Me. Or try singing this text with the tune of Selah’s version of the hymn. The words are different, but the tune works really well with Bliss’ text, and is a lively alternative for a worship team. James Koerts has a very exciting choral anthem arrangement of the hymn, with uplifting piano and violin accompaniment.

When/Why/How:

This hymn could be sung throughout the liturgical year, as a glorious opening hymn of praise, a song of response to the assurance of pardon, or a song of response to a sermon on our redemption through Christ. You could pair this with the hymn, “I Love to Tell the Story,” later in the service, which would act as our response to Bliss’ invitation to “Sing” and “tell the wondrous story.”

Alternative Harmonization for Organ:

• Burkhardt, Michael. As Though the Whole Creation Cried. vol. 2. HYRFRYDOL
• If I Be Lifted Up (Organ Settings Of Hymns About Jesus) MY REDEEMER
Alternative Harmonization for Piano:
• Hallelujah, What a Savior! Vol 2 (Extraordinary Settings of Hymns, Spirituals, and Chants) MY REDEEMER, for Piano
• Hopson, Hal H. The Creative Use of the Piano in Worship.
Choral:
• McDonald, Mary. He Keeps Me Singingpairs "I Will Sing of My Redeemer" with "There's within my heart a melody"
• Raney, Joel. I Will Sing! a medley of gospel hymns
• Larson, Lloyd. Near the Cross a suite of hymns for Lent or Holy Week

Laura de Jong,
Hymnary.org

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