Xanthe Hancox

You are holding firmly to the truth that you were given. But I am still going to remind you of these things. In fact, I think I should keep on reminding you until I leave this body  2 Peter 1:12-13

Like so many other hymns, "Tell me the old, old story" started life as poem. It doesn’t have a dramatic story behind it, except to say that it was written by English evangelist, Miss Katherine Hankey, in 1866 when she was recovering from a serious illness in London. It was set to music by Bishop GW Doane who heard the poem recited at an international convention of the YMCA in Montreal a year later.

Tell me the old, old story is a simple hymn, but it’s packed full of gospel truth. Here’s the second verse:

Tell me the story slowly, that I may take it in,

That wonderful redemption, God’s remedy for sin.

Tell me the story often, for I forget so soon;

The early dew of morning has passed away at noon.

Tell me the old, old story, tell me the old, old story,

Tell me the old, old story, of Jesus and His love.

We don’t know if Katherine had any particular passage of Scripture in mind when she wrote, but it wouldn’t be surprised if it was these words in 2 Peter. Peter was dying when he wrote his second epistle, and yet he acknowledges that he is not going to say anything new. He’s not going to tell his readers anything they don’t already know. Instead, he uses his last letter to remind them of the essential truths of the gospel and to instruct come back to these truths again and again, even after he is gone.

Why is it, do you think, that we need this constant reinforcement and reminding of the truth? Peter tells us that it’s quite possible to hear the truth, believe the truth, but not be stirred by the truth. As the hymn puts it, “the early dew of morning has passed away at noon.”

That’s dangerous because it’s easy to slip into spiritual complacency. We need to remember the importance of what we believe and let it impact our lives. How does the old, old story impact your life this morning? It may be that you need to go back to the Lord again and ask him to remind of the truth you have been given.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your wonderful Word of truth and life. May I never tire of hearing the old, old story of your love and faithfulness to me. Amen.

You can listen to Tell me the old, old story here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmDo-qVXFrI