Verses On Texts

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Title:     Verses On Texts
Author: Frances Ridley Havergal [More Titles by Havergal]

Be quiet; fear not.'--ISA. vii. 4.

THOU layest Thy hand on the fluttering heart,
And sayest, 'Be still!'
The silence and shadow are only a part
Of Thy sweet will
Thy Presence is with me, and where Thou art
I fear no ill.

 

'The Lord shall open unto thee His good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand.'--DEUT. xxviii. 12.

His love is the key and His glory the measure
Of grace all-abounding and knowledge and light:
To thee shall be opened this infinite treasure,
To thee, the unsearchable riches of Christ.

 

'With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.'--2 CHRON. xxxii. 8.

UPON Thy word I rest,
So strong, so sure;
So full of comfort blest,
So sweet, so pure.
The word that changeth not, that faileth never!
My King! I rest upon Thy word for ever.

 

'Rest in the Lord ("Be silent to the Lord," margin), and wait patiently for Him.'--Ps. xxxvii 7.

REST, and be silent! For, faithfully listening,
Patiently waiting, thine eyes shall behold
Pearls in the waters of quietness glistening,
Treasures of promise that He shall unfold.
Rest, and be silent! for Jesus is here,
Calming and stilling each ripple of fear.

 

'Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse.'--ESTHER viii. 8.

FOR He hath given us a changeless writing,
Royal decrees that light and gladness bring;
Signed with His name in glorious inditing,
Sealed on our hearts with His own signet ring.

 

'Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.'--2 COR. x. 5.

LET every thought
Be captive brought,
Lord Jesus Christ, to Thine own sweet obedience!
That I may know,
In ebbless flow,
The perfect peace of full and pure allegiance.

 

'Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in Thy sight.'--MATT. xi. 26.

AND if it seemeth good to Thee, my Father,
Shall it seem aught but good to me?
Thy will be done! Thou knowest I would rather
Leave all with Thee.

 

Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them.'--EZEK. XX. 12.

THE token of His truth and care, the gift that He hath blessed,
The pledge of our inheritance, the earnest of His rest;
The diamond hours of holy light, the God-entrusted leisure:
Oh for a heart to prize aright this rich and heavenly treasure!

 

'O send out Thy light and Thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto Thy holy hill, and to Thy tabernacles.'--Ps. xliii. 3.

THY light and truth forth-sending
From Thy own radiant side,
Be Thou our Guard and Guide!
On Thee alone depending,
No darkness can affright;
Thy shield of Truth and Light,
Clear-flashing through the night,
Is all-defending.

 

'The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear Him, in those that hope in His mercy.' Ps. 147:11.

O MYSTERY of grace,
That chooseth us to stand before Thy face,
To be Thy 'special treasure,'
Thy portion, Thy delight, Thine own;
That taketh pleasure
In them that fear Thy Name, that hope alone
In Thy sweet mercy's boundless measure!

 

And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shall be a blessing.'--GEN. xii. 2.

THY Spirit's fulness on him rest,
Thy love his sunshine be,
And may he still, while doubly blest,
A blessing be from Thee.
Be his the everlasting name
Inscribed by Thy own hand,
That he the promised home may claim
In Thine own Holy Land.

 

Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.'--GEN. v. 24.

OH may'st thou walk! from hour to hour
Of every passing year,
Keeping so very near
To Him whose power is love, whose love is power.
So may'st thou walk! in His clear light,
Leaning on Him alone,
Thy life His very own,
Until He takes thee up to walk with Him in white.

 

Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live?'--EZEK. xxxiii. 10.

'All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.'--ISA. liii. 6.

ON Thee the Lord
My mighty sins hath laid;
And against Thee Jehovah's sword
Flashed forth its fiery blade.
The stroke of justice fell on Thee,
That it might never fall on me.

 

'And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shah shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.'--JOB xi. 17.

FEAR not the westering shadows,
O children of the day!
For brighter still and brighter
Shall be your homeward way.
Resplendent as the morning,
With fuller glow and power,
And clearer than the noonday,
Shall be your sunset hour.

 

I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.

'Sing, O ye heavens; for the Lord hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified Himself in Israel.'--ISA. xiiv. 22, 23.

O MOUNTAIN heights, break forth and sing
In colour-music fair and sweet!
O forest depths, awake and bring
Your delicate odours to His feet.
Sing, for the Lord hath done it!
Proclaim Redemption, for He won it!
Let Easter hallelujahs rise from every living thing!

 

'Yea, He is altogether lovely.'--CANT. v. 16.

There is One, so fair, so bright,
So good, so gracious! Love, and Life, and Light,
Are His rich titles. Oh, for Him I long,
To be my Hope, my Joy, my Strength, my Song!
Earth's shadow melts in conquering light away
Before the rising Daystar's earliest ray.

 

Let me hear Thy voice: for sweet is Thy voice.'--CANT. ii. 14.

HAST thou not heard within some sacred pile,
When hushed the swelling choir, through vaulted aisle
A sweet low echo lingering of the song,
As would angelic harps the sound prolong?
So through the silent chambers of my soul,
In calmest melody His sweet words roll.

 

Lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called.'-- I TIM. vi. 12.

A LIFE is before thee which cannot decay,
A glimpse and an echo are given to-day
Of glory and music not far away.
Take the bliss that is offered thee,
And thou shalt be
Safe and blest for aye.

[The end]
Frances Ridley Havergal's poem: Verses On Texts

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