“Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning” (All Creation Sings 949)
1 Keep your lamps trimmed and burning,
keep your lamps trimmed and burning,
keep your lamps trimmed and burning,
the day is drawing nigh.
Refrain:
Children, don’t get weary,
children, don’t get weary,
children, don’t get weary
till your work is done.
2 Darker midnight lies before us,
darker midnight lies before us,
darker midnight lies before us,
the day is drawing nigh. [Refrain]
3 For the morning soon is breaking,
for the morning soon is breaking,
for the morning soon is breaking,
the day is drawing nigh. [Refrain]
4 Christian journey soon be over,
Christian journey soon be over,
Christian journey soon be over,
the day is drawing nigh. [Refrain]
Text: African American spiritual; Music: African American spiritual; Public Domain
Devotion
I try to imagine this African American spiritual being sung by slaves in the heat of the day. Row by row, beat by beat, the lyrics work in rhythm with their work. Back breaking work, back and forth, from morn till night. This spiritual is not attributed to a single author. The earliest recording of the hymn was performed by a man known as Blind Willie Johnson, a gospel blues singer and slide guitarist sometime around 1927. His early recordings and style went on to influence generations of musicians.
In the verse “Children don’t grow weary,” I hear words speaking to us today in the church. We must continue to hear the call that speaks of our Savior Jesus who loves everyone and challenges the authorities who use God’s word for personal gain of wealth, power, and position.
Prayer
Savior of the World, we confess the sin of slavery of your precious children. We still witness the power of racism that is so deeply ingrained and rooted within our culture. Help us to recognize those things that separate your beloved children and work for the better good. Amen.