No one knows who wrote this hymn. It first appeared in John Rippon's A Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors (London, 1787), signed only "K." Later editions expanded the initial to "Kirkham"; other books named "Keen," probably Richard Keen, precentor of the London Baptist congregation that Rippon served; still others have proposed George Keith. Rippon placed it under "Scripture Promises" with the heading "Exceeding great and precious promises" (2 Peter 1:4). Stanzas 2 through 5 are set in quotation marks for good reason: they are God's own words, drawn nearly verbatim from Isaiah 41:10, Isaiah 43:1-7 and Deuteronomy 31:6-8. The deep waters, the fiery trials that refine faith like gold, and the lambs carried in His bosom are all promises from Scripture. The tune FOUNDATION is an American folk melody first printed in Joseph Funk's shape-note tunebook A Compilation of Genuine Church Music (Winchester, Virginia, 1832), where it was called PROTECTION and had its melody in the middle voice.
Sung at Our Saviour
2026