Father, thank You for enabling me to be somewhat focused today. I’ve been easily distracted, but there has been work to do. I give You the credit for what I have been able to accomplish.

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Etymology is the study of the origin of words and how their meanings have changed throughout history. I am not a big student in this field, but I often find it interesting. For example, our closing hymn this Sunday is God Be with You till We Meet Again. I regularly use a wonderful website called Hymntime.com (it used to be called CyberHymnal). It provides lyrics, along with information on the author and composer. It will occasionally give a biographical or historical connection to the hymn itself.

The information on this hymn was taken from a prominent gospel singer and composer, Ira D. Sankey, of the late 19th century. In his book My Life and the Story of the Gospel Hymns, written in 1906, he wrote,

Written…as a Christian good-bye, it was called forth by no person or occasion, but was deliberately com­posed as a Christian hymn on the basis of the etymology of good-bye, which is God be with you.

I had never heard the etymology of the word good-bye before! Even an old dog can learn something new! The word first appeared in the 1590s and was derived from godbwye (1570s), a contraction of God be with ye (late 14c.) So, good-bye is a shortened form of God be with you!

For me, at least, the origin will pop into my head when I say good-bye to anyone. God be with you!

Written in 1880, God Be with You till We Meet Again, as noted by Sankey, was just a take-off from that simple phrase. Many churches have used it as a closing hymn for ages.

Good-byes are often difficult moments in our lives – family going off into the military, sons and daughters heading off to college or returning to their homes far away from our homes. It is exceptionally difficult when loved ones cross the threshold of death…good-byes seem so final. But God be with you gives us the proper perspective. Good-byes do not have to be eternal for those who have yielded themselves to God’s love. In God’s timing and in His love, we will meet once more.

I’ve included the lyrics here of a few of its eight stanzas and also attached a link of a group called Gentri that I specifically enjoy. Read and listen if you would like. (You may read all the stanzas by clicking on the hymn title.)

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 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.

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 meet again.

God be with you till we meet again;
Keep love’s ban­ner float­ing o’er you,
Strike death’s threat­en­ing wave be­fore you;
God be with you till we meet again.

Refrain

Apr 4th, 2024, Thurs, 12:31 pm