Translate

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

A Hymn to the God of Abraham

"A Hymn to the God of Abraham" is usually credited something like this: Words from The Yigdal of Daniel Ben Judah Dayyam, circa 1400, based on the thirteen creeds set forth in the twelfth-century by Moses Maimonides; paraphrased by Thomas Olivers (1725-1799), ca. 1765-1770.

The God of Abraham praise, Who reigns enthroned above;
Ancient of everlasting days, and God of love;
Jehovah, great I AM! by earth and heaven confessed:
I bow and bless the sacred Name forever blessed.

The God of Abraham praise, at Whose supreme command
from earth we rise, and seek the joys at His right hand;
we all on earth forsake, its wisdom, fame and power;
and Him our only portion make, our Shield and Tower.

The goodly land we see, with peace and plenty blessed:
a land of sacred liberty and endless rest;
there milk and honey flow, and oil and wine abound,
and trees of life for ever grow, with mercy crowned.

There dwells the Lord, our King, the Lord, our Righteousness,
triumphant o'er the world and sin, the Prince of Peace;
on Zion's sacred height His kingdom He maintains,
and, glorious with his saints in light, for ever reigns.

The God who reigns on high, the great archangels sing,
and "Holy, holy, holy," cry,"Almighty King!"
Who was and is the same, and evermore shall be:

Jehovah, Father, great I AM, we worship thee."

The whole triumphant host give thanks to God on high;
"Hail, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost" they ever cry;
hail, Abraham's God and mine; I join the heavenly lays;
all might and majesty are thine, and endless praise!

Before the Savior's face the ransomed nations bow.
Overwhelmed at His almighty grace, forever new:
He shows His prints of love - they kindle to a flame!
And sound through all the worlds above the slaughtered Lamb.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I remember singing that one in the Church of England. It is in the Common Prayer and Hymn Book and is attributed to Thomas Oliver, 1770, based on Deut 10:21 "He is thy praise, and he is thy God."

Cheers, and thanks for the memories,

Jim

R. L. Vaughn said...

Glad it brought back the memories, Jim. We've never had that in any book we sing from, but it's a nice hymn, IMO.