The History of Great Hymns

Stepping out of someone’s shadow can take years, even decades. The hymn writer Johnston Oatman experienced this back in the late 1800’s. Johnston grew up in Lumberton, New Jersey. His father was a successful local merchant and was a highly regarded and popular man, renowned for his amazing singing voice. Johnston’s father held a faith in Christ Jesus, and on hearing his father sing hymns powerfully, along with his successful business life, the young boy understandably wanted to make his father proud. And so, Johnston became a junior member of the family firm; yet this didn’t satisfy his deeply seated religious ambitions. So, Johnston studied to become a Methodist preacher and was duly ordained years later.

Looking to emulate his father’s success and reputation, along with a desire to serve the Lord in ministry, Johnston soon found that he felt constrained in one pulpit. So, Johnston set about to become a travelling preacher. Johnston was taking every opportunity that seemed to present itself to become a successful man, and yet still there was a deep sense that he hadn’t found his calling for Christ. 

It wasn’t until he reached the age of 36, that Johnston found his true talent and calling in life. After years of trying to sing like his father, Johnston finally concluded that as much as he wanted to be like his father, he was not him. Yet the longing to serve Christ remained, along with an affection for music that his father had unknowingly instilled. So, Johnston began to write hymns for others blessed with better voices to sing. Whilst he may not have been blessed with a wonderful singing voice to move others like his father, Johnston hoped that his hymns would act as a form of preaching those he’d never see in his lifetime.

It was in 1892 that Johnston began to write hymns, and it wasn’t long before thousands across the world were singing his pieces unto the receiving ear of the Lord God. Hymns such as ‘Count your blessings’, ‘There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus’ and ‘Lord, plant my feet on higher ground’, are still known to many across the world today.

The hymn ‘Count your blessings’ was written by Johnston in 1897, with many regarding it as his masterpiece. It was set to music composed by E.O Excell, with its beauty of message and melody caused the great evangelist Gypsy Smith to note “men sing it, boys whistle it…and women rock their babies to sleep to it.” Johnston had written a hymn that brought all ages together in thankful song unto the goodness of the Lord. What a glory unto God!

Johnston was a prolific writer, penning some 200 hymns every year, with his total output exceeding the 5000 mark. When publishers approached Johnston asking him to name his price for his work, such was the power and popularity of his writing, it is said that he refused to accept any more than 1 dollar a song. His desire was for untold millions to have access to the songs he had written using the gifts given to him by His dear Lord and Saviour.

Johnston died at Mount Pleasant, New Jersey in 1936. After many, many years of searching for his life’s work, he had found his calling. After stepping out of his father’s shadow, he was released to utilise his God given talents for His glory, as millions across the globe sang his humble hymns of praise.

It is incredible to consider what can be realised when we live for Christ and no other. So many of us place great limitations on what we can do with our lives. Sometimes this is because of a great shadow we live under, yet we are to remember we are a unique creation blessed with different talents and skills distinct from others. This rich variety of giftings comes from our dear Lord and God, all so that we might live purposeful and fulfilled lives by bringing Him glory with our labours. After decades of living in shadows, I am only just beginning to see what God can do with a single life when it’s lived for Him alone. It is so exciting, and I pray many of you will find that same excitement for life. Then, each day we can greet the rising sun with childlike wonder as we think, ‘What glories will the Lord perform today?!’