DOCTRINES >> ETERNAL LIFE
SDAH 423
Glorious things of thee are spoken,
Zion, city of our God;
He whose word cannot be broken
Formed thee for His own abode;
Text
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 wall surrounded,
Thou mayest 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 and want remove;
Who can faint when such a river
Ever flows their thirst to assuage?
Grace, which, like the Lord, the Giver,
Never fails from age to age.
3
Round each habitation hovering,
See the cloud and fire appear
For a glory and a covering,
Showing that the Lord is near;
Blest inhabitants of Zion,
Washed in the Redeemer’s blood;
Jesus, whom their souls rely on,
Makes them kings and priests to God.
4
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 treasure
None but Zion’s children know.
Hymn Info
Biblical Reference
(a) Ps 87:3; Matt 16:18; Isa 60:18 (b) Rev 22:1 (c) Ex 13:21; Rev 1:5; Rev 5:10 (d) Ps 105:3; 1 John 2:17
Author
John Newton (1725-1807)
Year Published
1779
Hymn Tune
AUSTRIA
Metrical Number
8.7.8.7.D.
Composer
F. Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Year Composed
1797
Alternate Tune
ABBOT’S LEIGH, SDAH 61
Theme
ETERNAL LIFE
Get the hymn sheet in other keys here
Recommended Reading
The general idea when it comes to hymns is that there is a close bond between the author and the composer. That the author writes a hymn and the composer invents a tune to suit it, and then provides the harmony to accompany the tune. However, such wasn’t always the case.
Many hymns actually worked vice versa wherein authors would write verses according to existing tunes. Hundreds of hymns are sung from borrowed tunes, such as secular songs, chants, and even classical works. That being said, I went ahead and researched which hymns in the SDA Hymnal were originally classical works.
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Notes
Get to know the hymns a little deeper with the SDA Hymnal Companion. Use our song leader’s notes to engage your congregation in singing with understanding. Even better, involve kids in learning this hymn with our homeschooling materials.
Why would a glorious God with a glorious throne, glorious crown and glorious kingdom desire to enter and dwell in your heart? Listen to what He is saying: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hear my voice and open the door, I will come in.” – Revelation 3:20. Could it be because, He is saying that He loves you? (Lesson 13, 2nd Quarter 2021 -Wednesday, New Covenant and Eternal Life, 6/23/2021)
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