Bible Verses for The Lord Will Provide by John Newton

Recently my mom gave me a box of old photos and family history documents to scan. In them was the guest book for the funeral of my grandfather, a godly preacher who died long before I was born. It also had a stack of old letters and cards written to my grandmother, a rather young widow at the time. I've always yearned to know more about my grandfather, so I read through the letters. I learned much of how my grandfather was a faithful servant of the Lord and mentor. I also found two hymns and a poem that were shared with my grandmother at the time of her bereavement. I found them very special and would like to share them with you as well.

The Lord Will Provide was written on the back of the funeral service program. "The Lord will provide" was also quoted several times in letters to my grandmother as something my grandfather said often during his two-year-long battle with leukemia. The hymn was written by John Newton. It is not in many hymnals anymore and even the older hymnals only include no more than four of the verses. However, I found it to be a treasure.

Here are a few different tunes for this song. First, a traditional tune:

Next, the more popular recent tune:

Also, the more modern worship version:

If you haven't found a tune you like yet, I encourage you to search on YouTube where there are many more versions.

The Lord Will Provide

by John Newton

Verse 1:
Though troubles assail us and dangers affright,
Though friends should all fail us, and foes all unite;

Psalm 88:18 You have removed lover and friend far from me; My acquaintances are in darkness.

Psalms 94:21 They band themselves together against the life of the righteous and condemn the innocent to death. 

Yet one thing secures us, whatever betide,
The promise assures us, The Lord will provide.

Genesis 22:14 Abraham called the name of that place The Lord Will Provide, as it is said to this day, “In the mount of the Lord it will be provided.”

Verse 2:
The birds without garner or storehouse are fed;
From them let us learn to trust God for our bread:

Matthew 6:26 Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?

His saints what is fitting shall ne'er be denied,
So long as it's written, The Lord will provide.

Matthew 7:11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!

Romans 8:32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 

Verse 3:
We may, like the ships, by tempests be tossed
On perilous deeps, but need not be lost:

Ephesians 4:14-15 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,

Though Satan enrages the wind and the tide,
Yet scripture engages, The Lord will provide.

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

Verse 4:
His call we'll obey, like Abra'm of old;

Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.

We know not the way, but faith makes us bold;
For tho' we are strangers, we have a sure guide,

Hebrews 11:13 All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

Psalms 31:3 For You are my rock and my fortress; For Your name’s sake You will lead me and guide me. 

And trust in all dangers, The Lord will provide.

2 Corinthians 5:7 for we walk by faith, not by sight—

Verse 5:
When Satan assails us to stop up our path,
And courage all fails us, we triumph by faith:

1 John 5:4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

He cannot take from us (though oft he has tried)
The heart-cheering promise, "The Lord will provide."

Philippians 4:19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Verse 6:
He tells us we're weak, our hope is in vain,
The good that we seek, we ne'er shall obtain;

John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

But when such suggestions our graces have tried
This answers all questions, The Lord will provide.

Ephesians 6:10-17 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Verse 7:
No strength of our own and no goodness we claim,

2 Chronicles 14:11 Then Asa called to the Lord his God and said, “Lord, there is no one besides You to help in the battle between the powerful and those who have no strength; so help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in You, and in Your name have come against this multitude. O Lord, You are our God; let not man prevail against You.”

Psalms 16:2 I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good besides You.” 

Yet, since we have known the Saviour's great Name,
In this our strong tower for safety we hide;

Proverbs 18:10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe.

The Lord is our power, The Lord will provide.

Psalms 28:7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart results, and with my song I shall thank Him.

Verse 8: 
When life sinks apace, and death is in view,
The word of his grace shall comfort us through;

Psalms 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Not fearing nor doubting with Christ on our side,

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.

Romans 4:19-21 Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. 

We hope to die shouting, The Lord will provide.

Romans 8:36-37 Just as it is written, “For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.

I'm sure there are more verses that fit with the lines of this hymn.  If you have any to add, please let me know!  I'd love to here about them.  Also, if you have any hymns or praise songs that you would like me to do, please let me know.