Awake, my soul, in joyful lays,
\nAnd sing thy great Redeemer’s praise:
\nHe justly claims a song from me,
\nHis loving-kindness, oh, how free!<\/p>\n
He saw me ruin’d in the fall,
\nYet loved me, notwithstanding all;
\nHe saved me from my lost estate,
\nHis loving-kindness, oh, how great!<\/p>\n
Though numerous hosts of mighty foes,
\nThough earth and hell my way oppose,
\nHe safely leads my soul along,
\nHis loving-kindness, oh, how strong!<\/p>\n
When trouble, like a gloomy cloud,
\nHas gather’d thick and thunder’d loud,
\nHe near my soul has always stood,
\nHis loving-kindness, oh, how good!<\/p>\n
Often I feel my sinful hear
\nProne from my Jesus to depart;
\nBut though I have Him oft forgot,
\nHis loving-kindness changes not.<\/p>\n
Soon shall I pass the gloomy vale,
\nSoon all my mortal powers must fail;
\nOh may my last expiring breath
\nHis loving-kindness sing in death!<\/p>\n
Then let me mount and soar away
\nTo the bright world of endless day;
\nAnd sing with rapture and surprise,
\nHis loving-kindness in the skies.<\/p>\n
Samuel Medley, 1787 The theme of this hymn comes from the Hebrew word “hesed”, usually translated loving-kindness, sometimes steadfast love or love. It’s used repeatedly in the antiphonal Psalm 136 as an echoed chorus to God’s acts of loving-kindness, and in Lamentations 3:22 it is the basis for God’s mercies and great faithfulness. What a great thought for Christians to know that because of God’s steadfast love, his loving-kindness, we can forever “sing with rapture and surprise”!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Awake, my soul, in joyful lays, And sing thy great Redeemer’s praise: He justly claims a song from me, His loving-kindness, oh, how free! He saw me ruin’d in the fall, Yet loved me, notwithstanding all; He saved me from my lost estate, His loving-kindness, oh, how great! Though numerous hosts of mighty foes, Though… <\/p>\n
\ntaken from Spurgeon’s “Our Own Hymn-Book”, #196<\/em><\/p>\n