He Set Me Free

by Macy Johnson

“When Jesus saw her,

He called her forward and said to her,

’Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.’”

(Luke 13:12 NIV)

 

Beverly played the introduction to a peppy hymn on the rickety spinet piano in the nursing home’s gathering hall. Kathleen picked up her tambourine and kept the beat. The group of sixteen singers in folding chairs looked up from their hymnals in delight. We would sing one of our favorite songs.

 

“He Set Me Free” was written by Albert Edward Brumley. Mr. Brumley was born in Oklahoma in 1905 and spent most of his early life picking cotton on his family’s farm. He studied music in Arkansas and raised six children with his wife in Missouri.

 

Albert Brumley has been inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame. He wrote over 800 songs, including “I’ll Fly Away.” After his death in 1977, his son, Tom, became a respected steel guitarist in country music.

 

“He Set Me Free” played over and over in my head long after I left the nursing home that Wednesday afternoon. I hummed the tune while cleaning the bathroom and dusting furniture. Perhaps I secretly wanted to be set free from those menial tasks. Every time I opened my mouth to sing the words, I felt a closer presence to the One I was singing about.

 

Once like a bird in prison I dwelt

No freedom from sorrow I felt

But Jesus came and listened to me

And Glory to God, He set me free!

 

He set me free, yes, He set me free

He broke the bonds of prison for me

I’m Glory bound, my Jesus to see

For Glory to God, He set me free!

 

I will sing and praise God for setting me free. I hope you will, too!