Instead by R. W. Cowdery

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · May 24, 1906

“Instead”

By R. W. Cowdery

INSTEAD of the thorn there shall come up the fir tree, Instead of the brier the myrtle shall spring, Back to its primeval freshness and beauty, God will creation triumphantly bring. Streams in the desert shall heal the parched places, The rose in the wilderness fragrance shall shed, The mountains and hills shall break forth into praises,— Wonderful word of Jehovah—“Instead.”

How sweet the assurance to hearts that are weary! What hope it awakens, what strength doth convey! Sunshine shall follow the days that are dreary, Sorrow and sighing shall vanish away; Symbol and type and the gospel's glad story Say to the fainting, “Lift up your head, Soon shall this sad earth be filled with God's glory; He, for the curse, will give blessing instead.”

Behold, on the altar a victim is lying, Upraised is the knife in the patriarch's hand; The child of the covenant promise is dying, An offering made at Jehovah's command; When, lo! at the word of the angel from heaven The son is restored as “alive from the dead.” The Lord for himself hath a sacrifice given, The ram in the thicket is offered instead.

Alone in the garden, while others are sleeping, The sinless Redeemer a suppliant kneels, His earnest entreaty, his blood-drops, his weeping, To the heart of the Father his anguish reveal. Though bitter the cup that the Surety has taken, Though heavy the stroke that must fall on his head, He goes to the cross to be cursed and forsaken, To give us the cup of salvation instead.

Now saved on the ground of his infinite merit, His people rejoice in the soul-cleansing blood, Transformed by the might of his indwelling Spirit, They hear day by day precious “fruit unto God.” All glory and honor and majesty giving To him who redeemed them, their glorious Head. They count it their joy evermore to be living, No longer “to self,” but “to Jesus” instead.

Believer, rejoice! for the glad day is nearing For which all creation still travails in pain, When Christ, our Redeemer, in glory appearing, Shall take to himself his great power and reign; When, Satan the evil usurper expelling, To earth's farthest limits his kingdom shall spread, And peace and prosperity sweetly be telling That Jesus Emmanuel ruleth instead. —R. W. Cowdery, in London Christian.