Hymns of the Church – Tempted and Tried – 30 June 2021, Anno Domini

 

T

RULY God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. 2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. 3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. 5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. 6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. 7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. 8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.          (Psalm 73:1-8)

 

            This is an old Country Gospel Hymn of uncertain authorship. It was a favorite of the African Church and may have been written by WB Stevens since it was published by him in 1911. The hymn is sad and of slow movement. It bears a special value to me in the memories of my childhood. A favorite of my grandmother, the hymn was sung at her funeral at an old country church. I was eight years old at the time and misunderstood the meaning of the hymn thinking that the opening words of the refrain were Father, Alone. But the tune bore strong memories of my grandmother whom I loved dearly, and the words, too, came to mean much to me. My maternal grandmother’s funeral was the only time I ever saw my father weep openly.

 

Tempted and Tried

 

Tempted and tried, we’re oft made to wonder

Why it should be thus all the day long;

While there are others living about us,

Never molested, though in the wrong.

Refrain:

Farther along we’ll know more about it,

Farther along we’ll understand why;

Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine,

We’ll understand it all by and by. 

 

Sometimes I wonder why I must suffer,

Go in the rain, the cold, and the snow,

When there are many living in comfort,

Giving no heed to all I can do.

Refrain:

 

 

 

 

 

Tempted and tried, how often we question

Why we must suffer year after year,

Being accused by those of our loved ones,

E’en though we’ve walked in God’s holy fear.

Refrain:

 

Often when death has taken our loved ones,

Leaving our home so lone and so drear,

Then do we wonder why others prosper,

Living so wicked year after year.

Refrain:

 

‘Faithful till death,’ saith our loving Master;

Short is our time to labor and wait;

Then will our toiling seem to be nothing,

When we shall pass the heavenly gate. 

Refrain:

 

Soon we will see our dear, loving Savior,

Hear the last trumpet sound through the sky;

Then we will meet those gone on before us,

Then we shall know and understand why.

Refrain:

 

            Tempted and tried, we’re oft made to wonder Why it should be thus all the day long; While there are others living about us, Never molested, though in the wrong. Envy is a terrible detriment to joy. We may have the finest living accommodations of our lives, yet, become jealous of a neighbor who has a larger pool. We may sacrifice and give bountifully to charities of all kinds while another spends only on self and luxury. We wonder why God prospers the wicked and keeps us under the tight ropes of austerity. Do you believe that God has a purpose for everything? If so, why question His providence? He has provided, and will provide, your every NEED – not necessarily your every WANT.

 

            Sometimes I wonder why I must suffer, Go in the rain, the cold, and the snow, When there are many living in comfort, Giving no heed to all I can do. Excesses comfort can become the albatross about the neck of the proud. It makes a person weak and unable to face hardship. That is why military basic training requires the greatest physical exertion and deprivations a trainee can bear – he or she will come out stronger for the challenges overcome. Remember the Rich man, who lived in luxury and not carting for those about him, and poor beggar Lazarus who had not a penny to his name – yet, Lazarus had a name written in the book of Life and the Rich man wound up with no name at all in Hell. 

 

            Tempted and tried, how often we question Why we must suffer year after year, Being accused by those of our loved ones, E’en though we’ve walked in God’s holy fear. Have you noticed that, in politics, it is the honest candidate who receives the ‘slings and arrows of outrageous fortune’ while the most corrupt sail through without a single wound? Mammon controls the news corporations and political machines. They are quite adept at character assassination since they have so much experience at it over the years. The righteous seemingly battle at a great disadvantage. What is it? The righteous are restrained in battle to the accepted rules of war while the wicked recognize no such rules. So, the wicked can lie, cheat, and steal with impunity while the righteous must adhere to truth. It is true in our daily lives as well. Ill-gotten wealth will profit nothing in the end.

 

            Often when death has taken our loved ones, Leaving our home so lone and so drear, Then do we wonder why others prosper, Living so wicked year after year. We must remind ourselves to focus on the road before us and stop glancing either side at the broad avenues of the wicked. It is enough that we take one step at a time in the direction our Lord has laid out before us – the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Satan may paint glitter and frills alongside with alternate routes, and alternate destinations; but these should have no appeal to those whose hearts are fixed on Jesus. We must play the hand the Lord has dealt us and not concern ourselves that others may have better cards. Such thoughts can profit us nothing in the end game of life. We also mourn the loss of a loved one for less reasons than we realize. We do not mourn for the departing Christian, but truly for ourselves. They are in far better hands than they have ever been, while we are left to face lives tragedies alone – except for a strong and loving Friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Why do we fret, then?

 

            Faithful till death, saith our loving Master; Short is our time to labor and wait; Then will our toiling seem to be nothing, When we shall pass the heavenly gate. There is a mountain overlooking the garrison at West Point called Bear Mountain. On a forced marched up its rugged trails, the trainee becomes nearly exhausted and out of hope of relief. But looking ahead at one point, the path levels and hope of a less strenuous march is kindled. But that level path only extends about one hundred yards and the previously unseen trail turns to a far steeper uphill grade. It is called Heartbreak Hill because it teaches the cadet to rely on an inner strength he did not realize he had. One is tempted to fall out, but pride keeps him on the march. Once the long march is completed, what a satisfaction we have that we did not relent in the march. The same is true of life. It is a basic training for God’s elect. Every struggle overcome makes us stronger.

 

            Soon we will see our dear, loving Savior, Hear the last trumpet sound through the sky; Then we will meet those gone on before us, Then we shall know and understand why. There are many events in my life that I consider great blessings, but I may not have considered them so at the time of their transpiring. Some seemed like great tragedies, but God turned them into the very best blessing that could have been imagined. Life is fleeting as the morning mist. Soon, and before you know it, the mist will clear and the trumpet will sound – perhaps Reveille to some, and Assembly to others! Looking up, we shall behold the Armies of Heaven descending and led by our Savior on a White Horse. Then all our sad memories will be as that morning mist.