On Jordan's stormy banks I stand
On Jordan's stormy banks I stand,
And cast a wishful eye
To Canaan's fair and happy land,
Where my possessions lie.
Refrain
I am bound for the promised land,
I am bound for the promised land;
Oh who will come and go with me?
I am bound for the promised land.
O the transporting, rapturous scene,
That rises to my sight!
Sweet fields arrayed in living green,
And rivers of delight!
Refrain
There generous fruits that never fail,
On trees immortal grow;
There rocks and hills, and brooks and vales,
With milk and honey flow.
Refrain
O'er all those wide extended plains
Shines one eternal day;
There God the Son forever reigns,
And scatters night away.
Refrain
No chilling winds or poisonous breath
Can reach that healthful shore;
Sickness and sorrow, pain and death,
Are felt and feared no more.
Refrain
When I shall reach that happy place,
I'd be forever blest,
For I shall see my Father's face,
And in His bosom rest.
A longing for heaven is not a morbid thing,
But a call from the heart to hear the angels sing.
A longing for heaven is the sweet pull of home,
Our Father's promise, to Him we will come.
ONE THING
One thing I ask, one thing I seek,
That I may dwell in Your house, O Lord,
All of my days, all of my life,
That I may see You, Lord
One thing I ask,
One thing I desire,
Is to see You,
I want to see You.
Hear me O Lord, hear me when I cry.
Lord do not hide Your face from me.
You have been my help, You have been my shield,
And You will lift me up.
Comments (13)
Love it--On Jordan's Banks is a oldie but goodie in my humble opinion.
@JulieDeer@xanga - Thanks. Hope you are doing OK.
@stephensmustang@xanga - I am visiting in California and attended a Baptist church for the first time in a long time. "Jordan's Banks" was one of the songs they sang. I was hoping for the familiar tune, but they did all their songs to a different melody from what I know. Glad you were blessed!
Yes, we have the sure hope of heaven one day which gives us great encouragement today to press on in the midst of trials, but with that hope, there should be joy springing up so we might be able to experience that foretaste of glory divine in our pilgrimage in this fallen world.
(I'd been wanting to post this hymn for a little while now.)
From "We're Marching to Zion":
Yea, and BEFORE we rise,
To that immortal state,
The thoughts of such amazing bliss,
The thoughts of such amazing bliss,
Should CONSTANT JOYS create,
Should constant joys create.
The men of grace have found,
Glory begun BELOW.
Celestial fruits on EARTHLY ground
Celestial fruits on earthly ground
From faith and hope may grow,
From faith and hope may grow.
I'm asking for those constant joys and celestial fruits even here on earthly ground - as absurd as that seems at times, as much as it goes against my feelings at times - for this is our inheritance, which begins in this life.
Psalm 41:
12 But you have upheld me because of my integrity,
and SET ME IN YOUR PRESENCE FOREVER.
13 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting!
Amen and Amen.
@naphtali_deer@xanga - Point well taken. I had a dream last night that led to posting this song (the latter one), maybe spurred on by the first song which we sang Sunday in church. Yes, as I alluded to the time in the sanctuary, it was all about praising Him and giving Him the glory for the True Life which He has given us so that we may enter in to fellowship with Him. I used to be all about joy. Now, I'm having to be reminded from time to time....thanks!
But God has given me assurance that the song of joy will once again come from my lips!
@quest4god - I apologize for being stern there, but I am getting vicious about joy, particularly my own joy, b/c of some recent events. If our only joy isn't until we cross over, then we are men and women and boys and girls most miserable. Yes, it's true that in this life our joy will be limited, but we can still experience great joy in the here and now. There's no Biblical mandate that we're supposed to go through life miserable. Again, I'm not saying that we won't have struggles, but, as you quoted from Psalm 27 in the second song, that's what we've got to keep doing, seeking His face, wanting to see Him, to gaze upon His beauty, or as we read in Psalm 43, come to our exceeding joy.
And yes, God will rejoice your soul, of that you can be sure. We all forget from time to time, that's why we're to encourage one another daily. We can remind one other when one of us gets off track.
my nephew was singing this song last weekend. it's funny to hear it tripping off a three year old's lips.
@naphtali_deer@xanga - Oh, I needed a good dressing down! But the Lord had already been there also... Thanks for your faithfulness in exhortation and correction! Sometimes our surroundings hem us in and we can scarcely see over the hedge. That morning has broken once more for me. I am claiming that and rejoicing in my Lord!
@ehrinn_l@xanga - Three years old! How amazing and cute! Pretty good start, though, I'd say! Glad you were blessed!
@quest4god - Praise God! ... Thank you for being gracious.
As our surroundings are hemming us in, that is God's hemming us in so we have no where else to turn so we might see Him and know His sufficiency! II Timothy 4:16-18.
@naphtali_deer@xanga - I am so glad that my Shepherd cares that much for me that He would continually go after me! His rod and His staff, they comfort me!
@quest4god - Yes! It's truly astounding that He loves us so much and keeps pursuing us!