This week's hymn, also called "Zion, or the City of God", is an 18th-century English hymn written by John Newton (1725-1807), who also wrote the hymn "Amazing Grace".
"Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah." Psalm 87:1
The hymn was written by Newton after he had asked for assistance from his friend and neighbor, classical writer William Cowper, while he was the Church of England parish priest of Olney Church. With Cowper's assistance, Newton was able to publish the Olney Hymns Hymnal, which included "Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken", in 1779. The hymn is based upon Psalm 87:3 and Isaiah 33:20–21. Cowper is said to have written sixty-six, while Newton wrote the rest of the three hundred and forty-nine hymns. But more of Cowper's hymns than of Newton's have become famous.
Newton uses a great deal of scripture as influence for his writing and often focuses upon images that are not lofty, intended more "for public worship, and for the use of plain people," This reflects his history of service to the poor and the people of the parish.
Zion, the city of God, is the center of this hymn. The site of the Jebusite fortress taken by King David in 2 Samuel 5, it has long been an important symbol of the strength and identity of Jerusalem. One of the richest images that comes from this location is the life-giving water from the Gihon Spring, an intermittent spring that promised fresh water for ancient settlers of Jerusalem. From the beginning of its history within Judeo-Christian traditions to the hope of the glory of the new Jerusalem, Zion has been a place of promise and has found its way into many songs and liturgical practices of the church, thus it plays a very notable role as a dwelling place for God.
The stanzas of this hymn focus on a different image of strength - rock of ages (2 Samuel 22), streams of living waters (Revelation 22), cloud and fire (Exodus 13 and Isaiah 4), and the "Redeemer's blood" (Revelation 1) - reflecting the different ways God's strength is displayed. God provides a firm foundation, a source of necessary means of survival, a source of protection and food, and love.
The hymn was a favorite of Confederate General Stonewall Jackson. He is said to have once awakened his soldiers in 1862 while they were in the Shenandoah Valley by singing "Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken", out of tune.
"Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah." Psalm 87:1
The hymn was written by Newton after he had asked for assistance from his friend and neighbor, classical writer William Cowper, while he was the Church of England parish priest of Olney Church. With Cowper's assistance, Newton was able to publish the Olney Hymns Hymnal, which included "Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken", in 1779. The hymn is based upon Psalm 87:3 and Isaiah 33:20–21. Cowper is said to have written sixty-six, while Newton wrote the rest of the three hundred and forty-nine hymns. But more of Cowper's hymns than of Newton's have become famous.
Newton uses a great deal of scripture as influence for his writing and often focuses upon images that are not lofty, intended more "for public worship, and for the use of plain people," This reflects his history of service to the poor and the people of the parish.
Zion, the city of God, is the center of this hymn. The site of the Jebusite fortress taken by King David in 2 Samuel 5, it has long been an important symbol of the strength and identity of Jerusalem. One of the richest images that comes from this location is the life-giving water from the Gihon Spring, an intermittent spring that promised fresh water for ancient settlers of Jerusalem. From the beginning of its history within Judeo-Christian traditions to the hope of the glory of the new Jerusalem, Zion has been a place of promise and has found its way into many songs and liturgical practices of the church, thus it plays a very notable role as a dwelling place for God.
The stanzas of this hymn focus on a different image of strength - rock of ages (2 Samuel 22), streams of living waters (Revelation 22), cloud and fire (Exodus 13 and Isaiah 4), and the "Redeemer's blood" (Revelation 1) - reflecting the different ways God's strength is displayed. God provides a firm foundation, a source of necessary means of survival, a source of protection and food, and love.
The hymn was a favorite of Confederate General Stonewall Jackson. He is said to have once awakened his soldiers in 1862 while they were in the Shenandoah Valley by singing "Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken", out of tune.
1. Glorious things of Thee are spoken
Zion, city of our God!
He, whose Word cannot be broken,
Formed thee for His own abode;
On the Rock of Ages founded,
What can shake thy sure repose?
With salvation's walls surrounded,
Thou mayst smile at all thy foes.
2. See, the streams of living waters,
Springing from eternal love,
Well supply thy sons and daughters,
And all fear of want remove:
Who can faint while such a river
Ever flows their thirst t' assuage?
Grace which, like the Lord, the giver,
Never fails from age to age.
- Round each habitation hov'ring,See the cloud and fire appear,For a glory and a cov'ring,Showing that the Lord is near;Thus deriving from our bannerLight by night and shade by day,Safe they feed upon the mannaWhich He gives them when they pray.
- Blest inhabitants of Zion,Washed in the Redeemer's blood!Jesus, whom their souls rely on,Makes them kings and priests to God;'Tis His love His people raisesOver self to reign as kings,And as priests, His solemn praisesEach for a thank off'ring brings.
- Savior, if of Zion's city,I through grace a member am,Let the world deride or pity,I will glory in Thy name;Fading is the worldling's pleasure,All his boasted pomp and show;Solid joys and lasting treasureNone but Zion's children know.
Listen to it here. GLORIOUS
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