THY WORD HAVE I HID IN MY HEART

Psalm 119 is the longest psalm…with 176 verses.  The hymn, THY WORD HAVE I HID IN MY HEART, is a paraphrase of portions of this selection from Scripture…the majority of which speak pointedly regarding the importance of knowing and obeying the written word of God.

Ernest Sellers, the author and composer of this hymn, was born on October 29, 1869 in Hastings Michigan.  Following his education, he was eventually appointed city engineer and superintendent of public works in Lansing, Michigan.  After his conversion experience in the Lansing Y.M.C.A, he resigned from his work and enrolled as a student at Moody Bible Institute.  He first served with the YMCA movement as it’s secretary before returning to Moody as an assistant in the school’s music department.  After returning from his duties in the first world war, he accepted the position of Director of the Music Department for the…then known…Baptist Bible Institute in New Orleans.

Ernest wrote and composed THY WORD HAVE I HID IN MY HEART in 1908, and it continues to be one of the hymns most frequently used to remind believers of their relationship to the truth of Scripture.