By H. E. Singley, organist

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.“(John 14:27, NLT)

According to several sources, Wye Valley is one of the most scenic locations in all of Great Britain. It is located between England and Wales and surrounds the River Wye, the fifth-longest river in the U.K.

I mention Wye Valley because it is the name of a hymn-tune well known to us in College Church and associated in our minds with a very meaningful text, one that offers encouragement in uncertain times.

These words were written by Frances Havergal, the daughter of a British pastor and a contemporary–and admirer–of Fanny Crosby of the USA. (She also wrote “Take My Life and Let It Be Consecrated” and other hymns in our hymnal.) The hymn-tune was composed by Englishman James Mountain specifically for “Like a River Glorious.”

Please take a few moments to read the hymn in its poetic form, then reflect over each phrase.

Like a river glorious is God’s perfect peace,

Over all victorious in its bright increase;

Perfect, yet it floweth fuller every day,

Perfect, yet it groweth deeper all the way.

Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand,

Never foe can follow, never traitor stand;

Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care,

Not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there.

Every joy or trial falleth from above,

Traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love.

We may trust Him fully all for us to do;

They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true.

Refrain:

Stayed upon Jehovah, Hearts are fully blest;

Finding, as He promised, Perfect peace and rest.

From stanza 1, think of the great rivers in our country, the way they seem to inexplicably maintain their flow, as if there were no end to the moving water. Think about how God’s peace eclipses any turmoil we face in life (“over all victorious”). Then, think about how his peace is perfect, but that it nonetheless increasingly manifests itself.
From stanza 2, consider that, in the face of foe, traitor, worry, care or the pressures of time or task, we are hidden in Christ, completely secure. (Cf. Psalm 27:5; John 10:28,29.)
From stanza 3, ponder that (1) God is good, (2) He is absolutely sovereign and (3) nothing comes into our lives that He doesn’t ordain (“Every joy, every trial . . . .”). Recognize that we can completely trust Him for everything and find Him to be comprehensively trustworthy and true.
From the refrain, we are reminded of the overarching theme of the hymn (after each of the three stanzas). As we keep ourselves centered–“stayed”–on the Triune God (cf. Hebrews 12:2), we apprehend this perfect peace.

Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful. (I Thessalonians 5:23, 24, NLT)

IDEAS FOR LISTENING

Listen for the melody of the hymn-tune throughout.
Listen for the right hand and the sense it portrays of a “flowing” river.
Listen for the three stanzas, the first and the last of which are almost identical musically.
(This creates what musicians call a ternary form.)
Sing the hymn–words and music–even if you’re by yourself!