The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, Is Ended

The Story Behind "The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, Is Ended"

Sometimes we have no information about why a hymn was written, or we get a detailed story about its inspiration. “The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, Is Ended,” is one time where we get something between those categories.

John Ellerton (1826-1893) was an Anglican priest who served as the vicar at six churches between 1850 and 1886. John Julian reports in a profile of Ellerton for The Dictionary of Hymnology that Ellerton published several sermon collections, but is better known for writing 50 original hymns and translating 10 Latin hymns into English. He also collected hymns into the 1881 book Notes and Illustrations of Church Hymns, a book that Julian sees as helpful to everyday readers, not consistently detailed enough to help experts get the full history of each included hymn.

Julian also gives some details about how “The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, Is Ended” came to be. Ellerton wrote the hymn in 1870 for A Liturgy for Missionary Meetings, then revised the hymn a year later for a collection titled Church Hymns. The revised version appears to be the version most people sing today, since it was the version republished in other books.
 

Scripture References in "The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, Is Ended"

Many hymns quote Bible verses directly, often from the King James Version (the most common translation available at the time). “The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, Is Ended” may not quote many verses directly, but it paraphrases ideas mentioned in many parts of the Bible.

The references to thanking God at night for his blessings fit verses like Psalm 42:8, encouraging us to thank God as we rest from the day’s work.

“By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me—a prayer to the God of my life.” (NIV)

The hymn goes beyond commanding us to praise God at night, calling us in fact to offer unending praise to God. Bible verses like Hebrews 13:15 tell us to never stop offering praise.

“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.” (NIV)

The references to the church as a never-resting force fits Jesus’ famous description of the church in Matthew 16:18, when Jesus designates Peter as one of its key founders.

“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” (NIV)

The hymn also refers to God’s kingdom being an everlasting institution, which is affirmed in verses like Daniel 4:3.

“How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation.” (NIV)
 

Scripture Lessons in "The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, Is Ended"

Ellerton’s hymn has been connected with important historic periods ending, probably because its title (day giving way to night) suggests the passing of one thing into a new time.

The hymn is certainly concerned with time passing. Day becomes night. The dawn comes and brings a new day forth.

But a key reason the hymn works so well at ceremonies like funerals or administration changes is how it offers hope amid change. Every reference to time passing in the hymn is tied to a promise that some things do not change.

Praise continues day and night, because God’s nature is unchanging, which means his blessings continue no matter what is happening in the world.

Prayer continues day and night, because God’s protection and presence are present all the time.

The church keeps moving day and night, undergoing changes but always spreading the gospel to new people groups, its message being translated into new languages (Matthew 28:19-20).

The fact that “The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, Is Ended” was first published in a book of liturgies for missionary services is very appropriate, given how concerned the hymn is with describing God as an unchanging force, and the church as an ever-moving group that keeps spreading God’s message to the corners of the earth.

Whatever changes we experience, we remember that God gives us the day and the night, rest and activity, his presence and mission staying the same all the while.
 

Popular Hymn Lyrics with Story and Meaning

Day by Day and With Each Passing Moment
Jesus Loves Me
What a Friend We Have in Jesus
Blessed Assurance
Nearer My God to Thee
Abide with Me
His Eye Is On the Sparrow
Be Thou My Vision
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God Almighty
Amazing Grace
And more!