Lord, I Have Shut the Door

Yesterday, I went to Dan Kreider’s graduate composition recital which was performed in partial fulfillment of his second principal for a Master degree in Church Music. I particularly enjoyed his cello suite entitled “Meditations on the Psalms.” The last piece of the recital was a choral piece entitled “Lord, I Have Shut the Door” – a very nice tune put to a very nice hymn text that I had never heard before. I thought I would post the lyrics here for your reading/meditating pleasure.

Lord, I have shut the door, Speak now the word
Which in the din and throng Could not be heard;
Hushed now my inner heart, Whisper Thy will,
While I have come apart, While all is still.

Lord, I have shut the door, Here do I bow;
Speak, for my soul attent Turns to Thee now.
Rebuke Thou what is vain, Counsel my soul,
Thy holy will reveal, My will control.

In this blest quietness Clamorings cease;
Here in Thy presence dwells Infinite peace;
Yonder, the strife and cry, Yonder, the sin:
Lord, I have shut the door, Thou art within!

Lord, I have shut the door, Strengthen my heart;
Yonder awaits the taskâ€” I share a part.
Only thro’ grace bestowed May I be true;
Here, while alone with Thee, My strength renew.

5 Comments

Mom | February 22, 2007 at 10:37 pm

Wow! Terrific hymn text! I would love to hear/see the music score as well.

Ernie | April 16, 2007 at 8:23 pm

I was just looking up the lyrics (again)to share with my sister and noticed that it made mention in the search inquiries. It’s a great hymn. I have it in a cappella version and couldn’t find much information on it. Thanks for the lyrics.

Teresa | October 20, 2007 at 9:49 pm

Absolutely beautiful- both the lyrics and the
music. I have a wonderful old recording of
a choral arrangement of the hymn with
accompaniment.
Wow!! What a blessing, great for meditation.

Robert | July 29, 2009 at 8:56 am

Thanks for posting the words of “Lord, I Have Shut the Door.” It was written by pastor and evangelist William Runyan. He died on this date in 1957. If you’d like to learn more about hymn-related events connected with today, check out my blog, Wordwise Hymns. God bless.

Nancy Klingensmith | September 14, 2011 at 11:28 am

I love this hymn, too. I was fortunate to have grown up in a church that had this hymn in the hymnal. We haven’t sung it in a congregation in years, but every now and then it comes back to my mind, especially in the morning when I first waken. I thought of it today at Aquarobics when I was able to ignore the “din” of noise around me and think of Jesus and me. How precious to be able to shut the door and be with God. Thanks for your post.