How tedious and tasteless the hours
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How tedious and tasteless the hours When Jesus no longer I see! Sweet prospects, sweet birds and sweet flow'rs, Have all lost their sweetness to me. The midsummer sun shines but dim, The fields strive in vain to look gay; But when I am happy in Him December's as pleasant as May. |
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His name yields the richest perfume, And sweeter than music His voice; His presence disperses my gloom, And makes all within me rejoice. I should, were He always thus nigh, Have nothing to wish or to fear; No mortal so happy as I; My summer would last all the year. |
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Content with beholding His face, My all to His pleasure resigned; No changes of season or place, Would make any change in my mind. While blessed with a sense of His love, A palace a toy would appear; And prisons would palaces prove, If Jesus would dwell with me there. |
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My Lord, if indeed I am Thine, If Thou art my sun and my song, Say, why do I languish and pine? And why are my winters so long? Oh, drive these dark clouds from the sky, Thy soul-cheering presence restore; Or take me to Thee up on high, Where winter and clouds are no more. |
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Philippines
"How tedious and tasteless the hours when Jesus no longer I see! (... ) But when I am happy in Him December’s as pleasant as May."
It's true that whenever we do not have the Lord's presence, everything seems to be just tedious and tasteless. But as long as we have His smile, His presence, we always have a sense joy and peace inside even if we're down and walking through a valley.
"I am afraid of only one thing—that I would lose the presence of my Lord." -W. Lee
Like this brother, may we also be afraid of losing the smile, the presence, of our Lord whom we love.
Columbus, Ohio, United States
Singing this hymn really caused me to touch the Lord in my spirit. Oh how sweet it is that He disperses our gloom. We are the happiest people in the world when we truly touch the Lord! He is life!
Canada
Judy, it means that the Lord’s love is incomparable. When we sense His love, even a palace would seem to us like a toy, and a prison like a palace.
Manhattan, KS, United States
I bet one of you wise folks commenting on this song could help me out with this. I love singing this song, but am always confused by this line. What does it mean to you?
While blessed with a sense of His love,
A palace a toy would appear;
Have fallen into depression. These words came to me after long forgotten years. Yes Lord, I long for your Presence.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Wonderful words!
Quoted by Dallas Willard in
The Spirit of the Disciplines.
Wonderful hymn
Sevierville, TN, United States
I’m 66. And never heard this beautiful song before tonight. God sent it my way.
Mafikeng, Northwest Territories
At the airport waiting the arrival of my boss and a lot of uncertainties lie ahead. Then my head dozing away was awakened by the lyrics.
Lord I believe, You have done it before and will do it Again.
Olmsted Twp., Ohio, United States
My grandparents were from Millstone, KY and Old Regular Baptists. I would pick bluegrass with my Papaw a couple nights a week and my sweet Mamaw would stop us sometimes and ask me to sing this beautiful hymn. She’s now in Heaven with our Lord and my Papaw and probably singing this song every day! I can’t wait to sing it with her again and praise Jesus forevermore.