Worship Arts Notes ♫♫

The Hymn “How Firm A Foundation” has been a favorite among Christians for centuries.   It was first published in 1787 in a hymnbook edited by John Rippon titled A Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors. Its beautiful lyrics exalting the Word of God has made it one of America’s best loved hymns.   

Surprisingly, the name of the author behind this classic hymn is a mystery. In the hymnbook, it was attributed only to “K—.” This is thought by many to be a reference to Robert Keene, who was a friend of John Rippon’s and was the leader of music at the Carter Lane Baptist Church in London when Rippon was the pastor. Even so, the true identity of the author remains a mystery. 

Despite the anonymity of its origins, for over 230 years How Firm a Foundation has brought comfort and encouragement to countless believers. It was sung at the death bead of President Andrew Jackson and at the funerals of Robert E. Lee and Theodore Roosevelt. 

Perhaps the most noteworthy and appreciated feature of this hymn is how closely it resembles the words of the Bible itself (which is fitting, given that its theme is the solidity of the word of God). 

Consider, for example, how stanza 2 compares to Philippians 4:12-13: 

In every condition, in sickness, in health; 

In poverty’s vale, or abounding in wealth; 

At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea, 

As thy days may demand, shall thy strength ever be. 

I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 

Or how stanza 3 echoes Isaiah 41:10: 

Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed, 

For I am thy God and will still give thee aid; 

I’ll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand 

Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand. 

Fear not, for I am with you; 

be not dismayed, for I am your God; 

I will strengthen you, I will help you, 

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 

(See also how stanzas 4 and 5 reflect Isaiah 43:2.) 

An interesting account of these lyrics bringing comfort – and unity – in times of uncertainty is found in an anecdote from the Spanish-American war. This conflict came about 30 years after the end of the US Civil War, and tensions between the North and the South were still high. 

On Christmas Eve, 1898, it was sung by an entire corps of the United States Army encamped near Havana, Cuba. Lieutenant-Colonel Curtis Guild, Jr. related the inspiring story to The Sunday-School Times back in  

1901. Guild wrote: 

On Christmas eve of 1898 I sat before my tent in the balmy  

tropical night [near Havana] chatting with a fellow-officer of  

Christmas and home.  Suddenly from the camp of the Forty- 

ninth Iowa rang a sentinel’s call, “Number ten; twelve o’clock,  

and all’s well!” It was Christmas morning. Scarcely had the cry of the sentinel died away, when from the bandsmen’s tents of that same regiment there rose the music of an old, familiar hymn, and one clear baritone voice led the chorus that quickly ran along those moonlit fields: ‘How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord!’ 

Another voice joined in, and another, and another, and in a moment the whole regiment was singing, and then the Sixth Missouri joined in, with the Fourth Virginia, and all the rest, till there, on the long ridges above the great city whence Spanish tyranny once went forth to enslave the New World, a whole American army corps was singing – 

Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed; 

For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid; 

I’ll strengthen thee, help thee and cause thee to stand, 

Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand. 

The Northern soldier knew the hymn as one he had learned beside his mother’s knee. To the Southern soldier it was that and something more; it was the favorite hymn of General Robert E. Lee, and was sung at that great commander’s funeral. 

Protestant and Catholic, North and South were singing together on Christmas day.