How the Hymn "He Hideth My Soul" Beautifully Reminds Us of God's Protection
- Britt Mooney Contributing Writer
- Updated Oct 22, 2024
I consider myself blessed to be raised in church during a time when we sang the old hymns, one of which was “He Hideth My Soul.” The deep theological meaning of these amazing songs helped lay a foundation of faith for me.
With the popularity of CCM and the rise of modern worship songs, many old hymns have been set aside or nearly forgotten. While I love new music and fully support singing God a new song, I know that, at the same time, history matters. The old hymns may use difficult language, almost foreign to us today, but when we truly engage with them, we can learn much from older saints of the faith who lived in a separate time but followed the same God.
The hymn “He Hideth My Soul” speaks to the universal experience and need of every believer. We can still learn from this song today.
What is the History of the Hymn “He Hideth My Soul”?
Frances Jane Crosby was born in New York in 1820. At just six weeks old, she became blind from medical malpractice, but her lack of sight didn’t keep her from growing spiritually or writing about it. She became one of the most prolific hymn writers in history, composing more than 8,000 hymns. Her blindness taught her to rely upon God’s grace, and she poetically wrote about his love. Some of her most famous hymns include “Blessed Assurance,” “To God Be the Glory,” and “Rescue the Perishing.” She could express deep theological truths in simple and accessible language, and this ability helped her hymns be embraced across many denominations.
In 1890, Fanny Crosby wrote “He Hideth My Soul,” which became one of her most popular hymns. Composer William J. Kirkpatrick set her lyrics to music. Kirkpatrick often worked with Crosby. “He Hideth My Soul” draws from Scripture and references God’s protection and salvation.
What are the Lyrics to “He Hideth My Soul”?
Take some time to read and reflect on the theological richness and encouraging words of the hymn:
Verse 1:
A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord,
A wonderful Savior to me;
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock,
Where rivers of pleasure I see.Chorus:
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock
That shadows a dry, thirsty land;
He hideth my life in the depths of His love,
And covers me there with His hand,
And covers me there with His hand.Verse 2:
A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord,
He taketh my burden away;
He holdeth me up, and I shall not be moved,
He giveth me strength as my day.(Chorus)
Verse 3:
With numberless blessings each moment He crowns,
And filled with His fullness divine,
I sing in my rapture, "Oh, glory to God
For such a Redeemer as mine!"(Chorus)
Verse 4:
When clothed in His brightness, transported I rise
To meet Him in clouds of the sky,
His perfect salvation, His wonderful love,
I'll shout with the millions on high.
What are the Key Themes of “He Hideth My Soul”?
The hymn’s central theme is God’s protection. In the first verse and the chorus, Crosby writes, “He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock,” a reference to Exodus 33 in which Moses converses with God after confronting the Israelites about their disobedience. God promises to personally accompany Moses on the journey to the Promised Land. In response, Moses asks the Lord to show him his glory. However, if Moses looked directly at God, he would die. God hid Moses “in the cleft of a rock” and shielded Moses with his hand so he wouldn’t die while Yahweh passed by.
Fanny Crosby used this moment as a metaphor for how God’s presence provides a safe shelter for his people, protecting them from danger. Psalm 91 talks about dwelling “in the shelter of the Most High” and resting “in the shadow of the Almighty.” The psalm continues with the surety of deliverance from attack. “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart." The theme of protection continues through the hymn’s chorus, including being hid in the cleft of the rock and God covering his people with his hand.
A second major theme is God’s grace. Crosby writes how “He taketh my burden away” and “He giveth me strength as my day,” underscoring God’s power to sustain the believer’s life. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, Paul records how God told him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Jesus followers find forgiveness, grace, and strength in relationship with the Father through the Son by the Spirit. The hymn's third verse continues this theme, where the soul is “filled with his fullness divine, mirroring Paul’s writing in Ephesians 3:19, speaking of being filled with “all the fullness of God.” The believer doesn’t face life’s challenges alone but is constantly strengthened and renewed by God.
Finally, Crosby weaves the theme of refuge throughout the hymn. She writes how Christ is the disciple’s only source of safety and salvation. In the last verse, she looks forward to the future hope of meeting Christ in the sky and shouting for joy in his “perfect salvation.”
How Does the Hymn Reflect Trust in God?
Christians can trust in God’s protection, and “He Hideth My Soul” encourages believers to lean on God’s presence, especially in times of trouble. Just as God hid Moses in the rock and shielded him with his hand, Crosby describes how a believer is secured by God and protected from any threats that may arise. As David declares in Psalm 18:2, “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.” Referring to this psalm, when God hides believers in the rock, it is himself. He hides us within his person.
The New Testament writers also emphasize how believers are hidden in Christ. Through being “in Christ,” Christians are new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17). Ephesians 1:3 reminds Jesus' followers they are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms through unity with Christ.
The hymn uses the imagery from Exodus 33, where God also shelters with his hand. God not only hides believers within himself (Christ) but also covers and shelters them with his hand. This active image suggests something personal. God isn’t distant but present and close, guiding his people as they walk through life.
With this in mind, believers can trust God’s presence and protection in trying times. God’s presence becomes a secure hiding place for those who seek him. Hidden in God and with his active guidance and protection, believers can rest assured and trust his protection. As the Bible also says, no weapon formed against God’s people will prosper (Isaiah 54:17). In the second verse, Crosby writes, “He holdeth me up, and I shall not be moved,” expressing her confidence in God to sustain. In Isaiah 41:10, God also assures Judah, “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Christians can trust the all-powerful and all-loving God to fulfill his promise to protect his people.
Why is “He Hideth My Soul” Popular in Christian Worship?
Everyone has difficult times in their lives. Whether grief, trials, or outright persecution, it becomes difficult to endure in faith during hard seasons. The Bible isn’t silent about this. Even Jesus promised how trouble would come for those who follow him, but he has already overcome the world (John 16:33). And he said this before his death and resurrection! Fanny Crosby’s hymn touches on these universal themes, and therefore people continue to return to it in Christian worship. From the outset, Crosby points the believer to Christ’s protection. God’s people find encouragement and peace singing the song.
The hymn also emphasizes God’s faithfulness and presence. During difficult times, people can feel that God is distant or absent. They even feel abandoned. The themes of this hymn remind believers that God’s presence is always near and that he is faithful. People need this message in times of uncertainty, oppression, illness, or the death of a loved one. The hymn brings our focus where it belongs: God’s faithfulness. “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust I you” (Isaiah 26:3).
“He Hideth My Soul” has been widely adopted in various church settings, from being included in traditional hymnals to more intimate devotional moments. The singable melody resonates with people and adds to the appeal. In personal devotion, Christians use the lyrics during times of prayer or meditation. The hymn helps people still their hearts and seek God’s peace and presence. The hymn’s promise of shelter can be used with scriptures like Psalm 46:1. “God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble.”
What Can Christians Learn from “He Hideth My Soul”?
“He Hideth My Soul” offers us valuable lessons today. Through its amazing lyrics and powerful music, the hymn points us to God’s faithfulness and protection. We can look through biblical examples to help learn these lessons.
When we feel threatened, we experience fear. And the three natural reactions to fear are flight, fight, or freeze. Yet God offers a fourth choice, only available through him. “Be still and know I am God.” (Psalm 46:10) Through the power of the Spirit, we can reject fear and choose to cling to the Prince of Peace, trusting him to personally help and protect us.
As one of the main messages, “He Hideth My Soul” communicates how God becomes a refuge for those facing hardship. David often sought refuge when fleeing from King Saul. In Psalm 57:1, David writes, “Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.” When we deal with hard situations, we often first seek out worldly organizations or powers for help. However, only God can save and help, and we must transform our minds to run to Christ first. He has the wisdom to show us the best path forward, often in ways we don’t expect.
Another example is Daniel, who relied on God during his time in the lion’s den. Even in such danger, Daniel trusted in God’s protection. Daniel 6:22 says, “My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me.” Just as God shielded Daniel from hungry lions, we can take courage during difficult and dangerous moments and find peace, trusting God hasn’t changed. He will continue to protect his people today.
Difficult trials also exhaust us. Even when we bear up under them and try to do what’s right, we grow tired. Pain and stress wear us down. "He Hideth My Soul" reminds us that God gives us strength in every situation. As Isaiah 40:29 says, “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” We all feel this weariness, and God specifically promises to assist those who feel weak. Paul tells us how God’s strength was made complete through the apostle’s weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). When we are weak, God reveals his strength through us to overcome and endure.
Crosby herself found strength in her disability. Being blind, many would have expected less from her. But with God as her help, Crosby excelled in writing and expressing deep truths about the God she loved.
Peace.
Photo Credit:©GettyImages/nathan4847
