Near To The Heart of God

There is a place of quiet rest,
near to the heart of God;
a place where sin cannot molest,
near to the heart of God.

Refrain:
O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
sent from the heart of God,
hold us who wait before thee
near to the heart of God.

There is a place of comfort sweet,
near to the heart of God;
a place where we our Savior meet,
near to the heart of God.

There is place a place of full release,
near to the heart of God;
a place where all is joy and peace,
near to the heart of God.

This particular hymn was written by Cleland McAfee.  Mr. McAfee was a pastor serving at First Presbyterian Church in Chicago, Illinois.  He found out that two of his nieces, his brother’s daughters, had died of diphtheria within 24 hours of each other.  He traveled to his brother’s home to be with the family, but was unable to meet with them face-to-face because their house had been quarantined.  So moved by the grief from this tragedy, he wrote the words and tune to this song.  It is told that he went to his brother’s home on the day of the funeral, stood outside, and with tears rolling down his face, sang the words to this song that he had pinned.  Can you imagine the pain and grief he was feeling for his brother’s loss?  But what about the tragedy that he could not even put his arms around his brother’s neck and tell him that he loved him?  In the midst of the pain and grief, he was able to do two important things.  He testified of God’s care and compassion.   And, he did what the Bible commands us all to do – “to weep with those who weep”  Romans 12:15

Couple of comments on the lyrics:

• “where sin cannot molest” – Although “molest” probably had a different meaning in Mr. McAfee’s time, this particular word has some extremely bad connotations in our society.  But this particular statement is no less true.  Sin destroys.  Sin ruins relationships.  Sin creates havoc in a life, and in the world.  Sin molests.  It has always been interesting to me that after Adam and Eve sinned, how quickly murder entered into the world too.  And not the murder of a random human being, but the murder of a brother.  Sin’s impact can multiply, and molest, but aren’t you grateful that there is a place where sin has no power or control over us – near to the heart of God?
• “Sent from the heart of God” – When I first had my son Tyler, I couldn’t even imagine giving him to someone else.  But then, to think about giving him away to someone that would mistreat him – No way!!!  But isn’t that what God did?  He loved the world so much that He sent His son.  He sent His son to a world that would mock Him, ridicule Him, and brutalize Him in the most inhumane manner.  He did this because of His great love.  He sent Jesus, the Blessed Redeemer, from His heart for you and me.

In Psalms 34:18 the Bible tells us “The Lord is nigh (or near) to the broken hearted.”  Do you want to be near to God?  If so, what breaks your heart?  Is it lost souls?  Is it orphaned children?  Is it the poor?  Are there lonely elderly people you know that have no family to support or love them?  I hope that there is something that breaks your heart.  Not because I have a sick sense of humor, or am I trying to be cruel.  But because it is an indicator that your heart’s desire is to be near to God’s heart, and to have Him draw near to you.  I hope that you can confidently testify during tough days in this life, like this hymn writer did, that there is a place of rest, of comfort, and of peace, and that you can tell others where to find it (or maybe you can sing it with tears running down your face).  That place is “Near to the heart of God.”

P.S.  I received the attached link to a 7 minute message from David Wilkerson after I wrote this Hymn of the week.  I believe it fits nicely with the message and theme of this hymn.  I would encourage you to listen to it.