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God Be with You Till We Meet Again
Acts 20:32
FAREWELL | Hymn History | Bible Passage
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Author: |  |
Jeremiah E. Rankin, 1828-1904 |
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Musician: | |
William G. Tomer, 1833-1896 |
 |  Play MP3 • Click to listen to the music for this hymn.
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God be with you till we meet again;
By His counsels guide, uphold you,
With His sheep securely fold you;
God be with you till we we meet again.
Refrain:
Till we meet, till we meet,
Till we meet at Jesus' feet;
Till we meet, till we meet,
God be with you till we we meet again.
God be with you till we meet again;
'Neath His wings protecting hide you,
Daily manna still provide you;
God be with you till we we meet again.
God be with you till we meet again;
When life's perils thick confound you,
Put His arms unfailing round you;
God be with you till we we meet again.
God be with you till we meet again;
Keep love's banner floating o'er you,
Smite death's threat'ning wave before you;
God be with you till we we meet again.
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HYMN HISTORY:
Dr. Jeremiah Rankin minister of the First Congregational Church in Washington D.C., wanted to write a song especially for the conclusion of Christian gatherings.
He consulted the dictionary for the definition of the word 'good-bye', and found it to be a contraction of 'God be with ye'. Very soon the first verse was completed.
Dr. Rankin stated 'the hymn was called forth by no particular person or occasion.' It was just written for a purpose.
After completing the first verse Rankin sent the words to organist William G. Tomer of Grace Methodist Episcopal Church.
Tomer one-time school teacher, writer and clerk in the US Treasury Department, set the single verse to music and sent it back to Rankin who added a further seven verses and a chorus.
The hymn was published in the songbook 'Gospel Bells' and taken up by the gospel singer Ira D. Sankey who introduced it on both sides of the Atlantic.
Those who can remember the famous Ulster evangelist W. P. Nicholson will recall that he always concluded his campaigns with "God Be With You", getting the congregation to stand and wave their pocket handkerchiefs in time with the music. It's a tremendous and moving experience.
Despite its unquestionable popularity critics have torn the hymn to shreds. They point out that the line 'Till we meet,' is repeated some forty times during a single singing.
However, it would appear that this was the intention of the author. Certainly "God Be With You", has been a part of Christian worship all around the world for more than a century.
God be with you till we meet again,
By His counsels guide, uphold you,
With His sheep securely fold you;
Gad be with you till we meet again.
God be with you till we meet again,
'Neath His wings protecting hide you,
Daily manna still provide you;
God be with you till we meet again.
God be with you till we meet again,
When life's perils thick confound you;
Put His arms unfailing round you;
God be with you till we meet again.
God be with you till we meet again,
Keep love's banner floating o'er you;
Smite death's threat'ning wave before you;
God be with you till we meet again.
Till we meet, till we meet,
Till we meet at Jesus' feet
Till we meet, till we meet,
God be with you till we meet again.
BIBLE PASSAGE:
32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
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