GREATLY BELOVED by Asa Smith

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 4, 1900

GREATLY BELOVED.

By Asa Smith

ASA SMITH.

(Battle Creek, Mich.)

CONVINCED of guilt, with contrite heart and meek, Trembling before His word, I strove to speak, And tell my sorrow, and confess my sin— My work was dross, my life was worthless tin. The enemy, to press me to despair, Insisted God would never hear my prayer. My filthy rags, unfit for man or beast, Would never pass me to the marriage feast. Accused, condemned, afflicted with my care, I lifted unto God my weight of prayer, And stood a suppliant, who made appeal By what I was, to One whose love can feel— Aye, e'en to him who on his loving breast Doth bear the soul by agony oppressed.

Then to the Book I turned, to see what saith The word of God to aid a sinner's faith, And opened to the prayer that Daniel made, Confessing sin like that my heart dismayed. It seemed the very prayer I strove to speak, But could not, since my utterance was weak. And lo! when he had finished, by his side There stood an angel presence glorified, And touched him, and in tenderness so moved, Proclaimed, O Daniel, thou 'rt a man beloved Of God in heaven. Ah! might that word be given To me as unto him,—“Beloved of Heaven.”

Then as I bowed,—desiring, but in pain; Wishing, but deeming all my wishing vain,— There came a touch of love beyond compare; And lo! the angel stood beside me there, And spake as then: “Thy words are heard above, And thou art cherished in God's heart of love.”

I looked, rejoicing suddenly; for, lo! My filthy robes were changed to robes of snow. A diadem upon my head was placed, A scepter glorious my fingers graced. A voice said, “Keep my charge. I cause you, I, To walk with holy angels standing by, To keep my courts, and to go out no more. Behold, I set thee here an open door.”

Then wondering at such power and love divine, I saw a hand reach down to depths like mine, And gently pluck a worthless thing, low down, And lift it to the ensign of a crown. And lo! God's people were, within his hand, A crown of glory in the heavenly land. I heard a voice—a tender voice—declare: “Greatly beloved my suffering people are; E'en as they weep for sin, so, high above, They'll shine in glory, ransomed by my love.”

Then, like the prophet's heart of old, mine beat, And lo! my song was praise, my sleep was sweet. O you who mourn and suffer when you're proved, Rejoice! rejoice! you still are God's beloved.