By H. E. Singley, organist

O Lord, I give my life to you.

I trust in you, my God!

“If you love me, obey my commandments.”

(Psalm 25:1, 2a; John 14:15, NLT)

Like so many things in life, language continually recasts itself. The usage, even the intent of words, can change. An example is the word “happy.” It seems that many Christians avoid saying “happy,” preferring “joyful” instead, particularly when talking about their spiritual or emotional state-of-mind. (I tend to do the same.)

Thus, when I come to these words, . . . .

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way

To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

. . . . I need to reorient myself regarding “happy.”

I note in a typical dictionary that, yes, “happy” can connote “a dazed irresponsible state” or “enthusiastic about something to the point of obsession.” However, those definitions are not at the beginning of the entry for “happy.” Instead, we see “fortunate,” “felicitous,” or “enjoying or characterized by well-being and contentment.” It is that final lexical analysis which I wish to emphasize as we consider “Trust and Obey,” a hymn (a Gospel song) known by many believers.

The text is by John Sammis who, in pursuit of a second career, became a Presbyterian pastor and ultimately a member of the faculty of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles (now Biola University). The music is by Daniel B. Towner, director of the music department of Moody Bible Institute from 1893 to 1919.

The punch line–the crux of the matter–is really encapsulated in the refrain above and maybe just the two compelling words, “trust” and “obey.” These words represent marching orders for followers of Christ, resulting in well-being and contentment. (Cf. Deuteronomy 13:4; Proverbs 3:5,6).

In addition to the refrain, the hymn has five stanzas as seen in some hymnals, four in others. The stanzas serve to underscore the central emphasis of trusting and obeying, even looking ahead to eternity. I’d like to focus only on the first stanza.

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,

What a glory He sheds on our way!

While we do His good will, He abides with us still,

And with all who will trust and obey.

Notice “walk with the Lord”–walking on the pilgrimage of life–indispensably illuminated by His Word. Maybe another way to think of “what a glory He sheds on our way” is to appeal again to the dictionary for a fresh perspective regarding a key word in that phrase, “glory.” As components of the definition for “glory,” I notice “a distinguished quality or asset”; and I see “great beauty and splendor.” Think of that! As we walk with God, the Supreme Being over all creation and the one who “knit us together in our mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13b), we are blessed with the asset, the beauty, the splendor of His inestimable reality in our lives!

The joy of doing His will (cf. Psalm 40:8) is conjoined with His abiding, ceaseless presence which itself enables us to joyfully do His will!

I think there’s a “bottom line” for us in “Trust and Obey.” Trust! Obey!

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace

because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope

through the power of the Holy Spirit.

(Romans 15:3, NLT)

IDEAS FOR LISTENING

Listen for the melody of the hymn-tune throughout.
The music begins with the refrain.
Two different interpretations accompany the melody of the “verse part” of the hymn. (You might think of the first and final stanzas.)
Another presentation of the refrain follows the music of the stanzas, beginning with an emphatic “Trust and obey!”
Note how that the final refrain is incomplete, leaving the listener in a bit of suspended animation at “...for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus…” This omission is to emphasize, in a sense, the element of “trust”–not knowing what’s ahead–as we “obey.”
Finally, the arrangement returns to the initial idea, based once again on the melody of the refrain.
Sing the hymn–words and music–even if you’re by yourself!