Hymn Story: He Is So Precious To Me

 

He is So Precious to Me first appeared in the collection Joyful Praise, in 1902.  It was written by the prolific hymn writer Charles H. Gabriel. It is set to the tune PRECIOUS TO ME, written for the text by the author.

Originally the first stanza was as follows:
I’m happy in Jesus, my Savior, my King,
And all the day long of His goodness I sing
To Him in my weakness I lovingly cling
For He is so precious to me.

In 1907, E. O. Excell, purchased the rights to the song from Gabriel.  It was at this time that the alterations to the stanzas were made.

Charles H. Gabriel was born in 1856, in Iowa, and spent the first seventeen years of his life on the family farm. His parents were able to purchase a home reed organ(pump organ) and Gabriel soon taught himself to play. By the age of sixteen, he was teaching singing schools.  He soon became widely known as a teacher and composer.  After spending some years in California, he moved to Chicago, where he became a part of the Homer Rodeheaver, publishing company a position he held until his death in 1932.

During his lifetime he edited/composed thirty-five gospel songbooks, eight Sunday School songbooks, seven books for men’s groups, six books for ladies groups, ten children’s books, nineteen collections of anthems, and twenty-three cantatas.

Other songs found in our hymnals include:  I Stand Amazed in the Presence, In Loving Kindness Jesus Came, Send the Light, O That will be Glory, and Higher Ground to name a few.

He Is So Precious To Me

Verse 1

So precious is Jesus my Saviour my King
His praise all the day long with joy do I sing
To Him in my weakness for strength I can cling
For He is so precious to me

Verse 2

He stood at my heart's door in sunshine and rain
And patiently waited an entrance to gain
What shame that so long He called to me in vain
For He is so precious to me

Verse 3

I stand on the mountain of blessing at last
No cloud in the heavens a shadow to cast
His smile is upon me the valley is past
For He is so precious to me

Verse 4

I praise Him because He appointed a place
Where someday through faith
In His wonderful grace
I know I shall see Him shall look on His face
For He is so precious to me

Chorus

For He is so precious to me
For He is so precious to me
‘Tis Heaven below
My Redeemer to know
For He is so precious to me

 

Charles Hutchinson Gabriel
Resource:  Companion to Baptist Hymnal (1975),William J. Reynolds

 

(Sam Stack)  

This article previously appeared in the October 2022 Advisor.