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Songs of the Exiles

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 11, 1913

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 90, No. 37.

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Songs of the Exiles

By Arthur W. Spaulding

ARTHUR W. SPAULDING
Why hang your harps on the willows, Children of woe? Far is the fame of your voices’ Musical flow. Sing us the songs of Zion.
How can we sing? Waste is our beautiful city, Captive our king.
*O stranger land, O stranger land, Dark is thy bloody scroll. Happy shall be the ruthless hand, Happy the sword at its command, That spills thy fearful soul.*
Kneel with the world in Dura, Ye stiff of neck! Have ye no fear of the furnace? Nothing to reck? Bow to the golden image!
How can we bow? We have no God but Jehovah, Forever, and now.
*God of our fathers, thine all power; Thy name be glorified. Be thou our stay in this dread hour, A covert and a fortress tower; In thee our souls do hide.*
Pray ye no more toward Zion, Hated of men: Choose ye the monarch’s favor, Or lions’ den! Kneel to the lord of kingdoms!
How shall we kneel? Faith in the Lord of heaven Will we reveal.
*Jerusalem! For thee we yearn, Whose streets the saints have trod, To thee with streaming eyes we turn, For thee our hearts within us burn, Thou city of our God!*
Where is your ancient glory, Seed of the blest? Tossed on the waves of affliction, Know ye no rest? Boast ye no hope of restoring? How should we boast? This is the hour of contrition For God’s sad host.
*O Lord, the great and dreadful One, Rebels and sinners we! In misery earned we lie undone. O Lord, forgive! In heaven is none To look to but to thee.*
Lift up your heads, ye drooping, Sorrowful men! Know ye of none anointed To bring you again? Sing ye no song of Messiah?
Yea, we will sing: Blessed is he that cometh, Messiah, our King.
*Lift up your gates, Jerusalem! Your portals open fling! And he that wears the diadem Shall with his people enter them, And reign our glorious King.*