Highlighting five songs this week, hymns we sang together at RENEW on Sunday. Having begun with Be Thou My Vision, we continue with In Tenderness, written in 1894 by W. Spencer Walton, entitled “In Tenderness He Sought Me.” This beautiful, melodious song reminds us Jesus is both tough and tender. He loves us, and will do whatever it takes to bring us back to Him, to His fold, as the Good Shepherd.

This song might be the key anthem of RENEW Church in this first year. Each of us have a life story that’s being re-written as we re-discover who God is, what He’s done, and who we are. Out of this new life flows new living. Yet before all of our attempts at a good and godly life, we come back to the truth: in tenderness He sought us, while we weary and sick with sin … He died for us while we were sinning…

O – o – oh the love that sought me!
O – o – oh the blood that bought me!
Oh the grace that brought me to the fold of God
Grace that brought me to the fold of God

I pray we never grow bored with the Gospel! As the light of the Gospel shines on us again and again, God renews us.

Sing along (and shout along) and join the party as The Citizens sing the rich Gospel anthem, In Tenderness:

In Tenderness

by The Citizens, from Already / Not Yet, track released 08 May 2012 (chords)

Verse 1
In tenderness He sought me
Weary and sick with sin
And on His shoulders brought me
Back to His fold again
While angels in His presence sang, until the courts of heaven rang

Chorus
O – o – oh the love that sought me!
O – o – oh the blood that bought me!
Oh the grace that brought me to the fold of God
Grace that brought me to the fold of God

Verse 2
He died for me while I was sinning..
Needy and poor and blind
He whispered to assure me…
“I’ve found thee; thou art Mine”
I never heard a sweeter voice, it made my aching heart rejoice

Verse 3
Upon His grace I’ll daily ponder
and sing anew His praise
With all adoring wonder,
His blessings I retrace.
It seems as if eternal days, are far too short to sing His praise.

Verse 4
To You I give my life in praise
Until in peaceful grave
When I will rise with all the saints
On that eternal day
When He will call us to His side, to be with Him, His spotless bride

Who was W. Spencer Walton?

Jameson Bratcher writes about the hymns author:

W. Spencer Walton lived his life in light of this truth. Although Walton grew up in the church, at the age of 22, he marked February 17 as his “new birthday.” The change is easily seen in his journal and he expressed his regret of 22 years of a “hypocritical and wasted life” of hoping works would save him.

With his conversion came immediate action to share the love Christ had shown him. Deeply compelled by the Bible, he spoke God’s word to the districts surrounding his home. However, his work as a broker left him longing for the day when he could broaden his mission and the “fetters of business should be broken.” He remembered, “Was not HE patient? And ought I not to be so too?” Walton proved faithful with what he had been given and his mission expanded, first to the British Isles and then to southern Africa.

Walton’s calling as a missionary found its focus in South Africa through invitation of a friend. Upon his first visit, the varied needs of the land convicted him to found the Cape General Mission, an interdenominational outpost dedicated to serving the needs of the African natives, European immigrants, and transient sailors of the region. The diverse and large area in which he ministered found him preaching everywhere from churches to mud huts, gardens to military tents made of excess canvas.

While with adoring wonder
His blessings I retrace

Although many missionaries sow a seed for another to harvest, Walton was continually blessed to meet many who his previous missions had blessed. These encounters further encouraged him to preach the evangelic message of the gospel in order to see the far corners of the globe come to know Jesus.

As the mission in South Africa grew, Walton’s role changed. His days were spent traveling among churches in America and Britain to gain further support and funding for the mission in Africa. He said, “My endeavours will be to foster a higher Christian life; for if the life is right with God, all things needful will follow.” Throughout his busy travels he was encouraged by the faithfulness God showed through his churches. Both large and small gave generously to the mission in Africa.

It seems as if eternal days
Are far too short to sing his praise!

Shortly after the tour, while on vacation with his family, Walton’s health plummeted in a span of a few days. He did not realize he was dying, so his wife felt he must be told the seriousness of his illness. She recounts his response in her diary: “Well, darling. He knows I’m ready. I’ve been ready for 34 years. Bless His Name!” He spent his remaining days blessing his children and having messages written to his friends and the missionaries he was leaving. He died at the age of 56.

W. Spencer Walton wrote, “Conversion without consecration is a death blow to progress. Consecration without faith is destitute of power.” The beauty of the gospel he portrayed in the hymn “In Tenderness He Sought Me” led him to a life dedicated to sharing Jesus’ love to the world: we were sought by Christ’s love and bought by his blood in order to share God’s love with others.

Below are the original lyrics by W. Spencer Walton (1894), which was accompanied by music composed by Adoniram Gordon (1836-1895):

In Tenderness He Sought Me

In tenderness He sought me, Weary and sick with sin,
And on His shoulders brought me into His fold again.
While angels in His presence sang until the courts of heaven rang.

Chorus:
Oh, the love that sought me! Oh, the blood that bought me!
Oh, the grace that brought me to the fold, Wondrous grace that brought me to the fold!

He washed the bleeding sin-wounds, And poured in oil and wine;
He whispered to assure me, ”I’ve found thee, thou art Mine:”
I never heard a sweeter voice, It made my aching heart rejoice.

He pointed to the nail-prints, For me His blood was shed;
A mocking crown so thorny, Was placed upon His head:
I wondered what He saw in me, To suffer such deep agony.

I’m sitting in His presence, The sunshine of His face,
While with adoring wonder His blessings I retrace.
It seems as if eternal days Are far too short to sound His praise.

So while the hours are passing, All now is perfect rest;
I’m waiting for the morning, The brightest and the best,
When He will call us to His side, To be with Him, His spotless Bride.