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Break Thou the |
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BREAK Thou the Bread of Life, |
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This hymn was originally written by Mary A Lathbury in 1880. She was an American born in 1841 in Manchester in New York state to a Methodist minister and his wife. She penned over 60 hymns but this is one of two well‑known ones. The hymn often appears in hymnals in three or four stanzas, but the earlier hymnals come with only two verses as it appears above. The main focus of this hymn was a desire to focus and learn from God's word, The Bible. She is reckoned to have called it a 'study song'. There are two tunes for this hymn called 'Lathbury', sometimes called 'Bread of Life' and 'Manna'. The following verses are thought to have inspired the writer; Matthew 14:13‑21 (NKJV) He departed by boat to a deserted place...But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot...And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them... When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, "This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food." But Jesus said to them, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat." And they said, "We have here only five loaves and two fish." He said, "Bring them here to Me." And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples....Now those who had eaten were about five thousand. Deuteronomy 8:3 (NKJV) He...fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD. (Matthew 4:4) Psalm 42:1‑2 (NKJV) As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. 2 Timothy 3:15‑16 The holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. Isaiah 26:9 (NKJV) With my soul I have desired You in the night, Yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early; For when Your judgments are in the earth, The inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. John 8:36 (NKJV) If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. John 16:13 When...the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth. Rom.8:15 Ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but...the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer. Ephesians 2:14‑17 He is our peace,...and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances;...so making peace; and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: and came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 1 Corinthians 15:28 When all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. |
