"His Hymns" Podcast 2 – Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken – Sean Jackson

Hello everyone, and welcome to another episode of “His Hymns”. Today’s hymn is “Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken” and I am going to be using the tune “Austria”. This is a hymn rich with examples of God’s majesty, sovereignty and love for us. I particularly like the second verse, which talks about the streams of living water springing from His eternal love. Indeed we, as His sons and daughters ought not to fear if our needs will be provided. He is “Jehovah Jireh” and his grace is and always will be sufficient for us.

Have you ever had an experience where you were in need and about to despair that your particular need was not going to be met, then just at the right moment, God provides it? I can remember a few examples in my own life and at those moments I was reminded that the Lord was hearing my plea all through that trial. In fact he already knew my need before I even began to ask for it. Imagine what our days would be like if we continually approached them with the confidence that we serve a Lord and Savior who knows our every need and is more than able to meet them. Sometimes we put such an emphasis on wants that we skew their importance in our lives. A common experience of Christian groups on mission trips to poor countries is that they see what it means to fully depend on God’s providence, and that those who do so possess true joy and peace. As you sing along with this great hymn, remember that we serve a great God who calls us his sons and daughters and rest in the knowledge that, as Hebrews 13:5 says, he will never leave you nor forsake you.

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 may’st smile at all thy foes.

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, when such a river
ever will their thirst assuage?
Grace which, like the Lord, the giver
never fails from age to age.

Round each habitation hovering,
see the cloud and fire appear
for a glory and a covering,
showing that the Lord is near.
Thus deriving from their banner,
light by night, and shade by day,
safe they feed upon the manna
which 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 raise
over self to reign as kings:
and as priests, his solemn praises
each for a thank-offering brings.

Words: John Newton (1725-1807), alt.
Music: Austria, Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1807)
Meter: 87. 87. D