I Am His, and He Is Mine - George W. Robinson

This hymn of assurance and testimony was written by George W. Robinson and first published in 1876, one year before his death at the young age of 39. He was born in Cork, Ireland, and was educated at Dublin’s Trinity College and New College in London. He served as a Congregational Minister in churches in Ireland and England. Though he published several volumes of poems, he is known in hymnody for only this one hymn. 

It has been said that Robinson became ill and resigned as pastor. The expressions of this hymn indicate that the author knew the Lord and was confident of his eternal destiny. The opening words of the first stanza point immediately to the scripture: The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. (Jeremiah 31:3) Knowing Christ as personal Saviour is more than a ticket to heaven; the Christian is blessed with joy, beauty, and contentment that the world is not able to experience. The song expresses a picture of how the believer sees God’s creation through eyes of faith that “Christless eyes have never seen.” The author gives a mental image of the child of God being sheltered in the everlasting arms of the Father. The final stanza reminding that the believer is “His forever, only his,” is especially moving, knowing that Robinson was close to death. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39) 

James Mountain, an English pastor and revivalist, put Robinson’s words to a tune and published it in 1876. He is also known for the tunes for “Jesus I am Resting, Resting” and “Like a River Glorious.” Being greatly influenced by D.L. Moody and Ira Sankey during their meetings in England in the 1870s, Mountain went on a seven-year evangelistic tour around the world. 

Not every hymn is to be sung in a militant or majestic manner. By prayerfully singing these rich words to the gentle melody and harmony, the song is a comforting and confident testimony of the believer’s assurance. God’s love is an “everlasting love.” Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:10) 

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