Poor and Afflicted

Thomas Kelly captured a thought from Zephaniah 3:12 in his blessed hymn “Poor and Afflicted.” Kelly (1769–1855) was a Church of Ireland cleric from his ordination in 1792 to 1803, when he broke with this church. His evangelical views were influenced by Rowland Hill, William Romaine, John Walker, and the Haldane brothers. Kelly was a prolific hymnist, writing over 700 hymns. These were published in A Collection of Psalms and Hymns (1802), Hymns on Various Passages of Scripture (1804), Hymns of Thomas Kelly, Never Before Published (1815), and other places. “Look, ye saints, the sight is glorious” is possibly his best-known hymn.

Hymn CXVIII, p. 109. L. M.
I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord. Zeph. iii. 12.

1. “Poor and afflicted,” Lord, are thine,
Among the great unfit to shine;
But tho’ the world may think it strange,
They would not with the world exchange.

2. “Poor and afflicted,” Yes, they are;
They’re not exempt from grief and care;
But he who sav’d them by his blood,
Makes ev’ry sorrow yield them good.

3. “Poor and afflicted,” Tis their lot;
They know it, and they murmur not;
’Twould ill become them to refuse
The state their Master deign’d to choose.

4. “Poor and afflicted,” Yet they sing,
For Jesus is their glorious King;
“Through sufferings perfect,” now he reigns,
And shares in all their griefs and pains.

5. “Poor and afflicted,” But ere long,
They’ll join the bright, celestial throng;
Their sufferings then will reach a close,
And heav’n afford them sweet repose.

6. And while they walk the thorny way,
They’re often heard to sigh and say—
“Dear Saviour, come, O quickly come!
“And take thy mourning pilgrims home.”

From Hymns on Various Passages of Scripture, Fifth Edition, Thomas Kelly, Dublin: Martin Keene, 1820. I enjoy this hymn sung to the tune Devotion (as printed in The Sacred Harp, but especially in drawn out “old-time” church way of singing).

Other stanzas and variations that have been added to this hymn are:

Poor and afflicted, yet they trust
In God, the gracious, wise and just;
For them He deigns this lot to choose,
Nor would they dare His will refuse.

Poor and afflicted, oft they are
Sorely oppressed with want and care;
Yet He who saves them by His blood,
Makes every sorrow yield them good.

Poor and afflicted—yet they sing,
For Christ, their glorious, conquering King,
Through sufferings perfect, reigns on high,
And does their every need supply.

Poor and afflicted, filled with grief—
O Lord, afford us kind relief,
To cheer the heart that heaves a sigh,
And wipe the tears from every eye.

For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in his presence. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29

Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? James 2:5