CHRISTIAN LIFE >> Watchfulness
SDAH 601
Watchmen, on the walls of Zion,
What O tell us, of the night?
Is the daystar now arising?
Will the morn soon greet our sight?
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For Worship Leaders
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Introductions for Sabbath School Song Service (based on specific lesson quarterlies):
This hymn by an anonymous author originally had six stanzas. Note that the first two stanzas ask questions and the last two provide the answers. The metaphors change, however, from a citizen inside a walled town to a traveler on a ship bound for harbor. It will be noted that the language of the last two stanzas uses much of the language of the questions in the first two. The hymn was first printed, words and music, in the 1855 Hymns for Those …, by James White. It has been used only in SDA hymnals since then.
The tune ZION was composed in 1830 in Washington, Connecticut, by Thomas Hastings (1784-1872; see SDAH 300). It was first set to Thomas Kelly’s hymn “On the Mountain Top Appearing,” which tells of a herald carrying good things to Zion. Hastings also composed tunes for SDAH 300, TOPLADY, and SDAH 527, RETREAT.
📖 Reference: Companion to the Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal by Wayne Hooper and Edward E. White. Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1988.
Text
1
Watchmen, on the walls of Zion,
What O tell us, of the night?
Is the daystar now arising?
Will the morn soon greet our sight?
O’er your vision Shine there now
some rays of light?
O’er your vision Shine there now
some rays of light?
2
Tell, O tell us, are the landmarks
On our voyage all passed by?
Are we nearing now the haven?
Can we e’en the land descry?
Do we truly See the heavenly kingdom nigh?
Do we truly See the heavenly kingdom nigh?
3
Light is beaming, day is coming!
Let us sound aloud the cry;
We behold the daystar rising
Pure and bright in yonder sky!
Saints, be joyful; Your redemption draweth nigh;
Saints, be joyful; Your redemption draweth nigh.
4
We have found the chart and compass,
And are sure the land is near;
Onward, onward we are hasting,
Soon the haven will appear;
Let your voices Sound aloud your holy cheer;
Let your voices Sound aloud your holy cheer.
Hymn Info
Biblical Reference
(a) Isa 21:11 (c) Isa 21:12; Luke 21:28
Author
Anonymous
Hymn Tune
ZION
Metrical Number
8.7.8.7.4.7.
Composer
Thomas Hastings (1784-1872)
Year Composed
1830
