Both the words and the music of this song are done by Horatio R. Palmer. He was born on April 26, 1834 in New York, and died November 15, 1907.
The inspiration for this song came while studying the dry subject of music "Theory", both the words and music came to him immediately and putting aside his theoretical work, he wrote down the words and music as fast as he could. A friend suggested some slight changes on the third verse, and the tune was afterwards transposed from the key of A flat to B flat, otherwise it is exactly as it came that day from Palmer's pen.
A remarkable thing happened in a State Prison in Sing Sing, New York. On one occasion, the women were allowed to sit in the corridor to listen to as address from a lady, the prisoners rebelled one of the orders that was given by the matron, causing a terrible scene, during which screams, blasphemy and profanity filled the place, causing the matron to call for help. When a voice suddenly rose above the tumult singing,
Yield not to temptation,
for yielding is sin.
When the voice first started singing, it began to quiet down, then the women joined in the hymn, and finally marched quietly back to their cells. "Yield Not to Temptation" was the womens’ favorite hymn.
One of the hardest things for Christians to do is to not yield to temptation. There was one lady that said she was plagued till she was ashamed to even attend church. She was scared that the more mature Christians would be critical of her.
Temptation is something that comes to all Christians, young and old, mature or immature. Even though temptation can severely test our faith, it is something that can be overcome in the power of Christ, who has triumphed over it. Christ fasted and prayed for 40 days and nights and proved that steadfastness in God can withstand the brutal and twisted attacks of Satan himself, even when the body is emaciated and physically incapacitated through denial.
Sources:
Ernest K. Emurian. Living Stories of Famous Hymns (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1955), p. 83.
Dave Hoist. The Cyber Hymnal (1996) Horatio Palmer. www.cyberhymnal.com
Wilbur Konkel. Living Hymn Stories (Minneapolis, Minnesota: Bethany House Publishers, 1982), p. 111.
K.W. Osbeck. Amazing Grace (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications, 1990), p. 72.
W. J. Limmer Sheppard. Great Hymns and their Stories (London: The Religious Tract Society, N.D.) pp.120, 150, 151.
