I love this hymn.
Adapted from a much longer work by Anne R. Cousin, the hymn is beautiful poetry that benefits from some knowledge of biblical and Christian themes, as well a bit of maturity in the experience of Christian life. There’s thankfulness for what is behind, trust for what is present and expectation for that which lies ahead. Sing this hymn over decades and you’ll marvel how your own experiences and hopes grow into the expressions stated in its words.
Here’s the full nineteen original stanzas at hymntime.com and a more usual five verse setting from hymnary.org.
Here’s a sensitively modernised text (with which you can compare the original phrasing) at reformedpraise.com. Indelible Grace have recorded this with an contemporary setting of an uptempo older tune with which I was not familiar.
Below are the four verses we sang this morning. Verses two and three in particular are sublime.
The tune to which we sang the hymn is Rutherford, by Chrétien d’Urhan; arranged by Edward F. Rimbault.
1.
The sands of time are sinking,
the dawn of heaven breaks;
the summer morn I’ve sighed for,
the fair, sweet morn awakes.
Dark, dark has been the midnight,
but day-spring is at hand,
and glory, glory’s dwelling
in Immanuel’s land.
2.
O Christ, He is the fountain,
the deep, sweet well of love;
the streams on earth I’ve tasted,
more deep I’ll drink above.
There to an ocean fullness
His mercy shall expand,
and glory, glory’s dwelling
in Immanuel’s land.
3.
With mercy and with judgment
my web of time He wove,
and all the dews of sorrow
were lustred with His love.
I’ll bless the hand that guided,
I’ll bless the heart that planned,
when throned where glory’s dwelling
in Immanuel’s land.
4.
I’ve wrestled on towards heaven,
‘gainst storm and wind and tide;
now, like a weary traveller
that leans upon his guide,
amid the shades of evening,
while sinks life’s lingering sand,
I hail the glory dawning
in Immanuel’s land.
Hymn from the Rejoice! Hymn Book, Presbyterian Church of Australia
Nice choral presentation on YouTube.
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