This hymn expresses the desire for a more profound spiritual life—one that continues on a level of communion with God that surpasses anything we have ever known
Scripture:
Psalms 61:2 – From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
Text: Johnson Oatman Jr. (1856–1922)
Tune: Charles H. Gabriel (1856–1932)
Born: April 21, 1856
Died: September 22, 1922
Hymn History:
Son of Johnson and Rachel Ann Oatman, Johnson Oatman, Jr. was born on April 21, 1856, near Medford, New Jersey. He enjoyed sitting by his father’s side and listening to him sing church hymns as he was a gifted vocalist.
Mr. Oatman received his education from Herbert’s Academy, Princetown, N. J., and the New Jersey Collegiate Institute, Bordentown, N. J. The Oatmans collaborated for a long time in Lumberton, New Jersey’s mercantile industry, operating under the name Johnson Oatman & Son. After his father passed away, Oatman Jr. started working for a Mt. Holly, New Jersey-based company in the life insurance industry.
In 1878, Mr. Oatman married a Lumberton native, Wilhelmina Reid. His interest in writing hymns began in 1892, the same year when his health forced him into early retirement. Mr. Oatman and Wilhelmina had two children and a boy. Wilhelmina passed away in 1909. On September 22, 1922, Oatman Jr. passed away at his older daughter’s Norman, Oklahoma, residence. He was laid to rest in Lumberton, New Jersey.
Johnson Oatman, Jr. was one of the most active gospel songwriters of his era (1856–1922) and is credited with writing almost 7000 songs. More than 1,150 songs are available in different collections on Hymnary.org. The song with the most publications was “There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus” (“No, Not One”), followed by “When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed” (“Count Your Blessings”). The song with the second-most publications is “Higher Ground.”
Mr. Oatman experienced a sense of disquiet, which he knew he could never fill on his own. So he penned some words, a technique he used repeatedly more than a thousand times.
Gabriel reported that the hymn “Higher Ground” was originally finished in 1892 and was sold to Philadelphia songbook compiler, J. Howard Entwisle, for five dollars. It was first published in 1898 Songs of Love and Praise, No. 5, which was compiled by John R Sweney and Frank M. Davis. Gabriel helped edit The New Christian Hymn Book in 1907 for the Gospel Advocate Co.
Lyrics:
(1) I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining every day;
Still praying as I’m onward bound,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”
Lord, lift me up and let me stand
By faith on heaven’s tableland,
A higher plane than I have found:
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
(2) My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Though some may dwell where these abound,
My prayer, my aim is higher ground.
Lord, lift me up and let me stand
By faith on heaven’s tableland,
A higher plane than I have found:
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
(3) I want to live above the world,
Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled;
For faith has caught the joyful sound,
The song of saints on higher ground.
Lord, lift me up and let me stand
By faith on heaven’s tableland,
A higher plane than I have found:
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
(4) I want to scale the utmost height
And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I’ll pray, ’til heaven I’ve found
“Lord, lead me on to higher ground.”
Lord, lift me up and let me stand
By faith on heaven’s tableland,
A higher plane than I have found:
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
Refrain:
Lord, lift me up, and let me stand
By faith, on heaven’s tableland;
A higher plane than I have found,
You can listen here:
References:
https://hymnary.org/text/im_pressing_on_the_upward_way
https://christianmusicandhymns.com/2015/06/higher-ground-lord-plant-my-feet-on.html
https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/articles/history-of-hymns-higher-ground
https://dianaleaghmatthews.com/lord-lift-feet-higher-ground/https://dianaleaghmatthews.com
