Abide with Me: the Call of the Kinsman Redeemer

by Chuck Cordon

From the story of Ruth we learn of Boaz, a type of kinsman redeemer and a foreshadowing of redemption perfected in Jesus Christ. In the lovely hymn by Henry F. Lyte (1847), the

lyrics capture the hopeful petitioner’s supplication to their faithful Redeemer: “Abide with me; fast falls the eventide; The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide; When other helpers fail and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me.”

To “abide,” in biblical context, most often refers to living or dwelling in a state of faith and obedience to God. A state of faith is a state of being, a call not to a stranger, but to one’s kindred, not of a momentary or transitory nature, but a state of enduring comfort and rest. How becoming that Lyte captures the true Light of the trusted hope in a gracious God.

The word “abide” has a sense of reverence and formality: It is found neither in modern nor casual usage. Dictionaries classify it as archaic and replace it by more common words such as “dwell, remain, stay, live with, etc.” It certainly has its place in poetry and majestic prose, such as the Word of God. It appears most often in the Psalms and abundantly in the apostle John’s writings. David asks that eternally weighty question: “LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?” (Psa. 15:1).

Let us turn from the petitioner’s plea to the desire of our Redeemer and our gracious God’s supplication to His Beloved. The Lord Jesus Christ, with every emphasis He could impart, uses the word to strike at the heart of the matter: “If anyone loves Me, he will follow My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our (abode) dwelling with him.” (John 14:23). Longer passages that invoke the Savior’s call can be found overflowing in John 15 (I Am the True Vine) and 1 John 2-4. Isn’t that something, that God will come to us (Luke 15:11-32; Acts 2:39; Rom. 10:13)?

This state of faith, or being, includes the complimentary article of obedience. We can naturally understand the necessity of conforming to “house rules” that provide for occupancy as in these passages: “Stay close…remain here” (Ruth 2:8, 1 John 2:6). “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, 'If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.'" (John 8:31-32; 1 John 4:16; 2 John 2:6). David’s question was surely answered as the Lord would have it clearly understood. It is the word of God which, “liveth and abideth forever.” (1 Pet. 1:23). Hence, it is he who abides in it who abides with Him.