Blessed Assurance

Scripture: But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful  assembly. Hebrews 12:22 (NIV)

 ...nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. 2 Timothy 1:12

The other day Pastor Melody talked about one of her favorite hymns-Blessed Assurance-and how it was composed by Phoebe P. Knapp. I always associated this wonderful hymn with Fanny Crosby. Frequently, I feel that certain hymns were meant to be written-that the Holy Spirit put the right people in the right place at the right time.

Phoebe Palmer Knapp belonged to the John Street Methodist Episcopal Church and was the composer of music for many hymns as well as a pianist and organist. According to "Then Sings My Soul", Phoebe lived in luxury in the Knapp Mansion, a palatial residence in Brooklyn, where she entertained lavishly. She was an extravagant dresser with a wardrobe full of elaborate gowns and diamond tiaras. Her music room contained one of the finest collections of instruments in the country.

Fanny Crosby was a blind woman who lived in the slums of Manhattan and worked in the rescue missions. While she wrote hundreds of poems and hymns, she received very little payment for them and remained in a constant state of utter poverty. Fanny also belonged to the John Street Methodist Episcopal Church and was a friend as well as a frequent house guest of Phoebe Palmer Knapp. One day Phoebe took Fannie into her music room and played a new composition of her own. Fannie listened and then clapped her hands and exclaimed, 'why that says, 'Blessed Assurance!' She quickly composed the words, and the great hymn was born.

This unlikely combination of a rich socialite and a poor, blind, mission worker produced the perfect music and verse of this hymn. You can view the hymn on page 839 of our hymnal, noting the references of the scriptures above.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, you continue to amaze us with unlikely pairings that create beautiful things. Thank you for your love and caring for us. Thank you for musicians and poets such as Phoebe and Fanny who expressed their joyful spirits in praise.

"This is my story; this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long."

Nancy Hall