Thursday Hymn Reflection: “Higher Ground”

[Each Thursday, we “reflect” on a hymn suggested by our readers. If you would like to add your favorites to our list, please leave your list–up to three–in the comments, and we’ll get to it.]

A song that is often sung with great excitement, “Higher Ground” has become a great song of faith. Christianmusic.com begins a short article on the song with these words:

The hymn “Higher Ground” has a secure place in the American hymnology. The scripture reference is found in Philippians 3:14 of The Bible’s New Testament: “I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus.” (NIV) According to J. H. Hall, Biographies of Gospel Song and Hymn Writers, “Nothing can bring forth more shouts at a camp meeting of “Glory,” “Hallelujah,” than the singing of “Higher Ground.”

They are right. The song takes a look at heaven, but in a way that other songs do not. Instead of just singing about the beauty and glory of heaven, “Higher Ground” speaks of the great contrast between where we live now and heaven. It expresses the depths of our desire to be on that “higher plane.”

Johnson Oatman, the writer of the poem, expressed what he was thinking as he had a great desire to be with the Lord, which, as Paul stated, is far better. My favorite line of the song is “My heart has no desire to stay where doubts arise and fears dismay.” When we think of the beauty of heaven, even the things on this earth seem like nothing more than tears! John said that, in heaven, “The former things will be done away with.” He was speaking of tears, death, and other terrible things.

But we cannot do it alone, so “Higher Ground” expresses the prayer of our heart that God will help us. “But still I’ll pray ’til heaven I’ve found, ‘Lord, lead me on to higher ground’.” God has laid out the pathway for us and has paid the price for our salvation. Aren’t we thankful that he also accompanies us on that pathway!

Maybe the hardest line to sing (and really mean) is “I want to live above the world, Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled.” Sometimes we like the things this world has to offer, and we are drawn to them. We must continue to sing that we want to be better than the things this world offers. We need to have that song in our heart, because the things of this world simply do not last.

Here are all the lyrics to this grand hymn:

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.”

My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Though some may dwell where those abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.

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.

I want to scale the utmost height
And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I’ll pray till heav’n I’ve found,
“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.

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What are your reflections on this hymn?

Enjoy this great recording of the hymn in 4/4 time (instead of 3/4 as it is in many of our song books).