The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2 (NASB)

Edith G. Cherry 1872–1897

Edith Cherry was born in Plymouth, United Kingdom. She was disabled from the age of 16 months by polio and walked with crutches. The death of her only sister at age 4, when Edith herself was only age 6, devastated her. She had a gift for writing and wrote many poems before the age of 15. Due to continuing health issues, she had two strokes in early life and a 3rd when she was 25, which did eventually take her life. Before dying, she commented to her mother that she wished she had done even more for Christ; her mother assured her that her work would live on through her poems. To this Edith responded, “They were given to me just ready, and all I had to do was write them down.”

1 We rest on thee, our Shield and our Defender!

We go not forth alone against the foe;

strong in thy strength, safe in thy keeping tender,

we rest on thee, and in thy name we go;

strong in thy strength, safe in thy keeping tender,

we rest on thee, and in thy name we go.

2 Yea, in thy name, O Captain of salvation!

In thy dear name, all other names above:

Jesus our righteousness, our sure foundation,

our Prince of glory and our King of love,

Jesus our righteousness, our sure foundation,

our Prince of glory and our King of love.

3 We go in faith, our own great weakness feeling,

and needing more each day thy grace to know:

yet from our hearts a song of triumph pealing,

“We rest on thee, and in thy name we go”;

yet from our hearts a song of triumph pealing,

“We rest on thee, and in thy name we go.”

4 We rest on thee, our Shield and our Defender!

Thine is the battle, thine shall be the praise;

when passing through the gates of pearly splendor,

victors, we rest with thee, through endless days;

when passing through the gates of pearly splendor,

victors, we rest with thee, through endless days.

This hymn has a sad sto­ry linked with it. In Jan­u­a­ry 1956, five mis­sion­ar­ies sang it be­fore en­ter­ing the jun­gles of East­ernEcua­dorto bring the Gos­pel to the Wao­ra­ni In­di­ans. The mis­sion­ar­ies were Nate Saint, Ed Mc­Cul­ly, Jim El­li­ott, Ro­ger Yo­der­i­an, & Pe­ter Flem­ing. The men reached the Wao­ra­ni but were mur­dered by the Indians on the Cu­ra­ray Ri­ver. However, years lat­er con­tact with the Wao­ra­ni was re-es­tab­lished, and ma­ny came to Christ, including the kill­ers.

Dear Reader, I was deeply affected by the words of this beautiful hymn as we sang it at church yesterday. It speaks clearly of the unshakeable desire to serve God despite the limitations of life, be it circumstances or in health. I can indeed relate to that. May the sanctified words of Edith Cherry touch your heart, encouraging you to serve your Father God more each day.