This year I want to expand on my biographical study from last year. It is my intention to find practical applications for Biblical scriptures. I hope we all find this venture to be enlightening.
With that, let me begin with the origins of "Send Forth, O God, Thy Light and Truth". This was a late 19th century setting of Psalms 43. It was quite common during that time for Psalms to be turned into hymns. What makes this one uncommon was that it was written in hymn form by our sixth president, John Quincy Adams.
In fact, he wrote many hymns based on the Psalms. He placed a high priority on reading God's Word. He also had a great love of music and poetry. This, of course, led to his hymn writing. His most famous hymn was "The Hour Glass", but he was partial to "Send Forth...".
The lesson he drew from this passage was that of hope in the face of opposition from one's enemies. As Christians, we face similar opposition today. Society calls us intolerant bigots and narrow minded. We know that the light of God's truth will defeat this deception. We can rest in that hope. Not hope as the world defines it, but true hope. It is confidence in the future God has planned.
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