The story behind the hymn
Sarah Flower Adams wrote this hymn in 1841 for her minister, who needed a song to match a sermon on Jacob's dream at Bethel. She took Genesis 28 — the stone pillow, the ladder to heaven, the promise to the fleeing deceiver — and made it every believer's night: even though the way be a cross that raiseth me, still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.
The genius of the hymn is that nearness comes through hardship, not around it. The stones of the wilderness become Bethel's pillar; the sun goes down, darkness comes, and the traveller lies down to rest — yet in my dreams I'd be nearer, my God, to Thee. Sorrow is the ladder's lowest rung.
By tradition — and it is only tradition — the ship's band played this hymn as the Titanic sank in 1912. True or not, the story stuck because the hymn fits: it is a song for the far edge of the deck, when the lights are going out and the only direction left is up. Then, with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise... nearer, my God, to Thee.
The lyrics
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me;Still all my song shall be,Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,Darkness be over me, my rest a stone;Yet in my dreams I'd beNearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
There let the way appear, steps unto heaven;All that Thou sendest me, in mercy given;Angels to beckon meNearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
Then, with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise,Out of my stony griefs Bethel I'll raise;So by my woes to beNearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
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The Scripture behind it
And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.
Jacob's ladder — the dream the whole hymn is built on.
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you — the hymn's plea and its promise.