Sunday, February 10, 2008

Dearest Idols

One of the stanzas of William Cowper's great hymn O For A Closer Walk With God came to mind this evening as I was lost in thought. Can you sense the angst in the hymnwriter's heart that caused him to pen these lyrics? I can and I share much if not all of his sentiments.

O For A Closer Walk With God

O for a closer walk with God,
A calm and heavenly frame,
A light to shine upon the road
That leads me to the Lamb!

Where is the blessedness I knew,
When first I saw the Lord?
Where is the soul refreshing view
Of Jesus and His Word?

What peaceful hours I once enjoyed!
How sweet their memory still!
But they have left an aching void
The world can never fill.

Return, O holy Dove, return,
Sweet messenger of rest!
I hate the sins that made Thee mourn
And drove Thee from my breast.

The dearest idol I have known,
Whate’er that idol be
Help me to tear it from Thy throne,
And worship only Thee.

So shall my walk be close with God,
Calm and serene my frame;
So purer light shall mark the road
That leads me to the Lamb.

1 comment:

  1. O' For A Closer Walk With God...It is such a beautiful song, one of the most beautiful in the world. It brings a lump to my throat, chills to my body, and tears to my eyes just to imagine the song in my mind. I have a VERY terrible voice so I only try to sing the song or hum the tune when I'm completely alone. I have it on a cassette tape of a choir in my local area singing it and I keep up with the tape diligently, because people no longer like to sing hymnals any more. The like the contemporary music and rock "gospel," so I just listen to my tape of the song or hum the tune in my heart and mind.

    Mrs Williams

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