In Tenderness

We introduced a hymn today from 1894 entitled, “In Tenderness.”  Working at Fuge this summer, I heard Yeshua’s Brand cover the Citizens version of it but they had a lady sing lead.  It just soared.  Such great truths to such a driving arrangement.

Richenda did a great job singing it for us today.  Here is some information on the hymn, lyrics, and a copy for you to sing along.

Author

Spencer Walton was a missionary and evangelist, working with the South Africa General Mission in the latter part of the nineteenth century. About 1889, W. Spencer Walton founded The Sailor’s Rest, in the city of Durban, Natal (a region in South Africa). He ministered to the spiritual needs of seaman there. During the Boer War, he distributed Bibles to the English soldiers. Spencer Walton’s missionary work is known mainly through the books and pamphlets he wrote.

He is also credited with one hymn, In Tenderness He Sought Me, published in 1894.

The first stanza of the hymn draws upon a parable the Lord Jesus told about a shepherd seeking his lost sheep (Lk. 15:3-7). The second stanza echoes the loving actions of the good Samaritan in another parable (Lk. 10:30-37). Walton applied both of these images to Christ.

Lyrics

In tenderness he sought me, weary and sick with sin
And on His shoulders brought me, back to His fold again
While angels in His presence sang, until the courts of heaven rang.

Oh, the love that sought me!
Oh, the blood that bought me!
Oh, the grace that brought me to the fold of God
Grace that brought me to the fold of God.

He died for me while I was sinning, needy and poor and blind
He whispered to assure me: “I’ve found thee; thou art Mine”
I never heard a sweeter voice, it made my aching heart rejoice.

Upon His grace I’ll daily ponder, and sing anew His praise
With all adoring wonder, His blessings I retrace
It seems as if eternal days, are far too short to sing His praise.