January 31, 2005

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

Words and Music by Helen Howarth Lemmel, 1864-1961

      Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2.

    Lemmel’s family emigrated from England to America when she was 12 years old. They first settled in Mississippi, then moved to Wisconsin. A gifted singer, Helen studied in Germany for four years. Upon her return to America, she began giving concerts and traveling on the Chautauqua circuit. Eventually, she became a vocal music teacher at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois. After retirement, she moved to Seattle, Washington, where she was a member of the Ballard Baptist Church.
    Other hymns by Helen Lemmel:

He Abideth Faithful (1953?)
I Do Not Know How
Prisoner of the Lord, The (1953)
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

   Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus was first published in Glad Songs, by the British National Sunday School Union. Its lyrics were inspired by the Gospel tract Focused, by Lillian Trotter, which included these words:

So then, turn your eyes upon Him, look full into His face and you will find that the things of earth will acquire a strange new dimness.

    After reading the tract by Lillian Trotter, Helen Lemmel relates, "Suddenly, as if commanded to stop and listen, I stood still, and singing in my soul and spirit was the chorus of the hymn with not one conscious moment of putting word to word to make rhyme, or note to note to make melody. The verses were written the same week, after the usual  manner of composition, but none the less dedicated by the Holy Spirit.

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s a light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
Over us sin no more hath dominion—
For more than conquerors we are!

His Word shall not fail you—He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.