Just a Closer Walk with Thee, author unknown.

Verse 1

I am weak but Thou art strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I’ll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.

Refrain:
Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

Observe: This song became popular in the 1930s in the southern U.S. but where and when it was written is unknown. It has a southern spiritual feel to the melody, and the tempo is adaptable to a variety of music genres. I like a ‘western swing.’ The beauty lies in its simple statement of our inability to live righteously, and the grace of God in the gift of his Spirit to give us strength in our daily walk.  

Verse 2

Thro’ this world of toil and snares,
If I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.

[Refrain]

Solomon writes, Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind. I saw vanity under the sun: one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy business. (Ecclesiastes 4:6–8, ESV).

Thomas Hobbs said, “Life is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short,” a pessimistic but true statement about a world that cares nothing for any individual. But this is not the reality for the Christian. Jesus said, Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28–30).

This promise is what we need daily in our lives. “Learn from me” is a complex, and simple statement. What we learn from Jesus is to trust in our heavenly Father, to be satisfied that he will give us all we need, and to humbly serve others, knowing that we will have treasures in heaven. As Solomon discovered, every other way to live is “striving after the wind” and “vanity.”

Verse 3

When my feeble life is o’er,
Time for me will be no more;
Guide me gently, safely o’er
To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.

[Refrain]

This life on earth will soon be over, but, in the deepest recesses of our hearts, we know that physical death is not the end. The real rest for our souls, of which Jesus speaks is to know that he will be there to guide us gently and safely over “the Jordan” to the Promised Land of God’s eternal kingdom. Then our walk will be as close as possible as we are united with our Savior. Our plea will be granted, and we’ll walk in intimate fellowship with our God for an unending series of days of pure bliss and joy in a creation redeemed to final perfection.

Take heart and be encouraged. His promises are “yes and amen” in Jesus. Have a blessed weekend, and be sure to tune in to our YouTube channel for Pastor Steve’s sermon. I’ll be back with you on Monday with another Song for Today.

Blessings, Pastor Don.