Amidst the sorrows of the way
Lord Jesus, teach my soul to pray
Let me taste Thy special grace
And run to Christ, my hiding place
You know the vileness of my heart
So prone to act the rebel’s part
And when You veil Your lovely face
How can I find a hiding place
Hiding place, hiding place
Lord, guide my wandering feet
Draw me to Thy mercy seat
I’ve nought to trust but sovereign grace
Thou only art my hiding place
How unstable is my heart
Sometimes I take the tempter’s part
And slight the tokens of Thy grace
And seem to want no hiding place
Hiding place, hiding place
But when Thy spirit shines within
Makes me feel the plague of sin
And how I long to see Thy face
‘Tis then I want a hiding place
Lord Jesus, shine and then I can
Feel sweetness in salvation’s plan
And as a sinner plead for grace
Christ, the sinner’s hiding place
And as a sinner plead for grace
Christ, the sinner’s hiding place
traditional words by Daniel Herbert / music by Jars of Clay / © 2005 Bridge Building, a div. of Zomba Enterprises, Inc. (BMI) / Pogostick Music (BMI).
Behind the Song:From Gadsby’s Hymns, which first appeared in 1814, the intimate “Hiding Place” is a stark and honest hymn by Reformed Baptist pastor Daniel Herbert daring to ask, “How unstable is my heart?” It illustrates the gospel is true, even though our sinful spirits want to run from Jesus.
“The lyric draws out what we are capable of doing to God’s grace. We’re capable of walking away from it and rejecting the gifts he continues to give us. Yet, we come back to him and he accepts us. He becomes our hiding place,” Dan says. “We thought it was important to keep the song intimate by having a just a lead singer singing,” Charlie adds. “It’s not a big song. It’s a quiet song and that fits the vocal of one person, coming back to God.” (
Jars Of Clay)