Upon the Red Sea's eastern banks

Is raised - as Israel's gathered ranks

The flush of victory know –

A song to God, who clave the sea

To set a ransomed people free

And Pharaoh's hosts o'erthrow.

The people blest 'neath David's reign,

Find joy to sing, in glad refrain,

To Him who is "The Same".

How rich the anthems of those days,

From vessels formed for God's own
praise,

By kings who feared His Name.

But soon the voice of song is hushed;

The people, by the river crushed,

As captives only toil.

No songs their victors just to please,

The harps hang silent on the trees,

Upon a foreign soil.

Yet still, as faithful to His word,

A kingly heart again is stirred

By God who orders all;

And, through His governmental ways,

The choirs in Nehemiah's days

Sing praises on the wall.

But richer, fuller, swells the praise,

As heavenly hosts their tribute raise

And join with one accord

To celebrate, as here on earth,

The glorious truth as to the birth

Of Jesus Christ the Lord.

 

We wonder as we hearken now

To notes that make our spirits bow,

And stand with feet unshod

For on that night of deepest woe

Ere out to Olivet they go,

A hymn ascends to God.

In Philippi, ‘tis night once more

And men lie on the prison floor

For truth they have confessed.

With fettered feet, but spirits free

They're praising God adoringly

And men around are blessed!

E'en now in days of dark reproach

Where Satan's power would feign
encroach,

And all response erase;

Within th' assembly there are heard -

As by the Holy Spirit stirred –

The endless songs of praise.

The whole creation soon will sing

The praises of the heavenly King,

And every conflict cease.

The earth at rest beneath His hand,

His Name adored through every land,

The glorious Prince of Peace!

At length, when time its course has
stayed,

And every dispensation made

The yield which God had planned,

The universe at rest will be

And give to God eternally

The fruit of His own hand.