Elisha Albright Hoffman was doing what might seem to be a
natural, expected thing for a minister to do one day, when a reverse-ministry
circumstance – a kind of boomerang – happened to him in Lebanon, Pennsylvania
(see location on map here). Was it the first time that he talked with some spiritually
needy individual, and the person almost immediately absorbed his help, and gave
back some words that stuck in his brain? “I Must Tell Jesus”, he had first
uttered, but perhaps little knowing at that moment that this assertion would
endure beyond a few hours. Or, on the other hand, maybe Hoffman had grown
accustomed to unexpected musical encounters. See what you think.
Elisha had been a minister for some time by his mid-50s, as
the end of the 19th Century approached in 1894, but the episode that
led him to “I Must Tell Jesus” may have had some elements that were different from
the rest of his ministry life. Although he was a native Pennsylvanian, he ministered
for the vast majority of his career in several churches in Ohio, Illinois, and Michigan
between 1880 and 1922. So when he visited a discouraged believer in 1894 in a southeast
Pennsylvania community, this was evidently a pretty small dot on the map of his
life’s work. Whatever had brought him there was brief, yet meaningful. Hoffman’s
own memory indicates he had visited a woman on multiple occasions, including
one day when she was so depressed about her many struggles and listened
intently as he read various bible passages to lift her. What would these have
been – words of Peter (1 Peter 5:6-7), Paul (Philippians 4:6-7; Ephesians
3:14-20), James (5: 13-16), and even Jesus (John 14:27)? Elisha must have been
very familiar with sharing God’s word with people, but had others responded as
this woman apparently did, with the title of a song he’d compose later that
day? Her apparently brimming confidence had struck him. The Lord is alert to
reply, if I am bold enough to admit my weaknesses, Hoffman says in his prose.
Newfound poise is a moment to remember, the composer must have thought to
himself. God hasn’t forgotten. He’s just waiting for me to depend on Him. Even a minister in his mid-50s
can use a reminder, right?
Hoffman must have been thinking many thoughts as he left the
woman whose words and demeanor still echoed in his mind. Is life here too distant
from what I can read in my bible? Is it relevant? One wonders if Elisha may
have pondered initially just how much he could really say to assuage this woman’s
spirit. His account of the incident indicates she expressed desperation at one
point in their discussion. Is that when she and the composer really rediscovered
God’s ear still listens – when I have run out of options? How quickly desperation
evaporates, when I am convinced He’s there – that’s another lesson to underscore
here. Try it out, OK?
See more information on the song discussed above in 101 More
Hymn Stories by Kenneth W. Osbeck, Kregel Publications, 1985; Then Sings
My Soul – 150 of the World’s Greatest Hymn Stories, Robert J. Morgan,
Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2003; Amazing Grace
– 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions, by Kenneth W. Osbeck, 1990, Kregel Publications; and
The Complete Book of Hymns – Inspiring Stories About 600 Hymns and Praise
Songs, by William J. and Ardythe Petersen, 2006, Tyndale House Publishers,
Inc.
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