Eternal Father, Strong To Save
The stirring tune of John Dykes, who composed the music for Whiting’s poem, has sealed the hymn as one of the all time favorites. “Eternal Father, Strong To Save” continues to inspire those who sail the oceans of the world.
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Eternal Father, Strong To Save
William Whiting lived in England near the sea in the middle of the 19th century. As a clergyman, he often found time to venture out on the waters in one of his parishioners boats. It was during one of those passages that his faith was so greatly tested.
The ship began to experience a turbulent storm as the weather quickly turned. Soon, the boat was tossed about to such an extent that the sailors lost control and all aboard feared for their lives. William was able to make it safely back to shore, alive, but trembling and greatly shaken.
The storm changed something in William. He experienced the full scale of God’s powerful world and he had a new appreciation for His sovereignty and grace. He knew that God saved him that day. He felt that death was certain but that he had been spared.
Years later, serving as a schoolmaster, he learned that one of his students was terrified of an upcoming ocean voyage. He and his family were going to make the journey to America to begin a new life. That was a dangerous endeavor in the 19th century and the young boy was afraid and uncertain.
To calm his nerves, William told him he would write something for him to carry with him. He drew from his own experiences, borrowing from Psalms 107, and comforted his student with his new hymn.
The hymn quickly spread and soon became a favorite of mariners across the world. It has helped countless sailors face the dangers of the sea. The Royal Navy and the US Navy both adopted it for their own use and it has been played at the funerals of many heads of state, including FDR, JFK, Nixon, Reagan and Bush.
The stirring tune of John Dykes, who composed the music for Whiting’s poem, has sealed the hymn as one of the all time favorites. “Eternal Father, Strong To Save” continues to inspire those who sail the oceans of the world.
