Xanthe Hancox

The Lord said to Moses, “I have heard my people complain. Now tell them that each evening they will have meat and each morning they will have more than enough bread. ... The people had never seen anything like this, and they started asking each other, “What is it?” Moses answered, “This is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat.”   Exodus 16:11-12, 15

The Welsh have always loved to sing. However, in the 1700s, there weren’t many good Welsh hymns. William Williams changed that. He had intended to become a doctor, but in 1737 at the age of 21, Williams heard the evangelical reformer, Howell Harris, preaching in Talgarth and decide to dedicate his life to the ministry. Williams would become Wales’ most famous hymn writers.

Bread of Heaven was written in 1762. Peter Williams, no relation of the author but well known for his popular edition of the Welsh Bible, translated part of the hymn into English, with the title Prayer for Strength. This translation is the only Welsh hymn to have gained widespread circulation in the English-speaking world. It can be heard sung in Welsh in John Ford's Oscar-winning movie of 1941, How Green was my Valley. It was the last hymn sung at Princess Diana's funeral and the first at Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding. It’s also the unofficial Welsh rugby hymn, with crowds belting it out whenever Wales plays.

Williams' words have been much admired for their plain yet majestic dignity. This hymn retells the story of the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness and reminds us that we too are pilgrims in a barren land. The Israelites were tired, hungry, lost and they had had enough. God sent them food in the most unexpected way – manna from heaven.

Have you ever felt like that? Confused, wondering where to turn and in need of a strong helping hand? Let this hymn be your prayer this week. It admits, "I am weak," but it answers, "Thou art mighty!" It asks, "Hold me with Thy powerful hand." It prays, "Feed me till I want no more."  And then it promises, "Songs of praises, songs of praises, I will ever give to Thee."

Prayer: Lord, I despair so easily when life gets difficult and like the Israelites, I can’t see a way through. Help me to trust that you will provide and that you will be my strength and shield. Amen

Listen to Bread of Heaven: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1fLiDjLf5c