A Meditation on the Hymn “How Can I Keep from Singing”

The first time I listened to the hymn “How Can I Keep from Singing” by Robert Lowry (1826-1899), an American Baptist pastor and hymn writer, my innermost being was stirred. Its haunting melody and divine lyrics captured me, awakened me from my stupor, and transported me, so to speak, to heavenly realms. I replayed the song several times to listen to the hymn with a rapt soul. This article is a meditation on this divine hymn and a tribute to it at the same time. Readers who are not familiar with the song can easily find videos of the song being sung by different singers in Youtube. Allow me to meditate on the hymn stanza by stanza.

The first stanza and refrain are shown below:

My life flows on in endless song,
above earth’s lamentation.
I hear the clear, though faroff hymn
That hails a new creation.

Refrain:
No storm can shake my inmost calm
While to that Rock I’m clinging
Since Love is Lord of heaven and earth,
How can I keep from singing?

Our lives flow on unceasingly. The life of a faithful and loving Christian, in particular, flows on in endless song, as if to join the heavenly choruses that sing endless praises and songs of worship, love, praise, and thanksgiving to the Triune God. There is much suffering and crying in every part of this world since human history has begun until now, but we can hear the sure yet far-off hymn that hails a new creation, the culminating part of the plan of God for the earth. God will create a new heaven and a new earth where there will be no more night, no more pain, no more tears, and no more crying for the old order of things has passed away (Rev. 21:4). We can hear the hymn hailing this new creation though it may still be a distant happening.

The refrain shows that the hymn writer or any faithful, loving Christian clings to the Rock of Ages who is none other than Jesus, the Alpha and Omega, the Word made flesh, the Son of God and Son of Man who gave His life as a ransom for all, the Good Shepherd who will never leave His sheep, the Refuge and Hiding Place of weary pilgrim souls on earth. And this Christ who is in the Father and in the Spirit is Love Himself and is the Lord of heaven and earth. He is the fairest of all, Lord of all nature, our beautiful Savior. If He who is Love is Lord of heaven and earth, then heaven and earth must be in very good and loving hands! How can we keep from singing when Love Himself is the Lord of heaven and earth, the Ruler of all nature and Lord of all nations?

The next and last three stanzas are shown below:

Through all the tumult and the strife,
I hear that music ringing
It finds an echo in my soul.
How can I keep from singing?
(Refrain)

What though my joys and comforts die?
I know my Savior liveth.
What though the darkness gather round?
Songs in the night he giveth.
(Refrain)

The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart,
A fountain ever springing!
All things are mine since I am his!
How can I keep from singing?
(Refrain)

There is much news of conflict between peoples and nations, dissension and war between nations or between different political and religious groups and much suffering and trouble ensues from all these strife, conflict, war, and dissension going on the world. But a faithful and loving Christian hears that music hailing a new creation and that heavenly music that sings praise and love to the Risen Lamb of God ringing through all these unpleasant realities on earth. That music finds an echo in his/her believing, trusting soul.

Though joys and comforts die, the faithful and loving Christian knows that his/her Savior lives. Jesus lives and reigns at the right hand of the Father. He knows everything that is going on in this world and in the life of each human being. Since He is one with the Father, He is also all-knowing, all-powerful, and His spirit is present everywhere. And even if darkness gathers round which implies pain, suffering, difficulties, hardships, and uncertainties, Christ who is everything for a faithful and loving soul gives songs in the night for He is faithful. He is perfect and sinless, gentle and humble, and His love is strong, constant, and everlasting. As He said, “Come to me all you who are weary and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11: 28-29; New International Version).

The final stanza speaks of the peace of Christ that springs like a fountain and which refreshes the heart, soul, and spirit of a faithful and loving Christian. As Jesus said in John 7:38: “He who believes into me, as the Scripture said, out of his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water”. Christ also gives peace that surpasses knowledge. It is the peace that the world cannot understand and the world cannot give. Only Christ, the Prince of Peace, can give such peace. The person who belongs to Christ enjoys all His riches and abundant life, and shares in the glorious inheritance of the saints in the heavenly kingdom of God. Then such a person cannot keep from singing an endless song of faith, trust, praise, love, adoration, and thanksgiving to the Triune God, to Jesus, the peerless, sinless Lamb of God who has risen from the dead and reigns victoriously in heaven. He is coming to make things right on earth and to judge the living and the dead. He is interceding for His creatures on earth for He is the gentle and humble One who shed His blood as a ransom for all sinners.

Indeed, how can I keep from singing though life now may be difficult and we are not yet really in our true, eternal home? How can I keep from singing even through the bleak occurrences and troubles of this world? My life flows on in endless song in unison with the choirs of angels and saints in heaven and in union with the songs of the faithful and loving saints who are my co-pilgrims on earth.

About the author: Belinda F. Espiritu is a faculty member of the University of the Philippines Cebu. She holds a Master’s degree in Comparative Literature and a PhD degree in Communication. She would like to hear from the readers about their feedback or comments on her articles through her email address: belinda.espiritu@gmail.com to set a conversation going even after her articles have been published.