Glorious things of thee are spoken

1
Glorious things of thee are spoken,
  Holy city of our God;
He whose word cannot be broken
  Formed thee for His own abode;
On the Rock of Ages founded,
  What can shake thy sure repose?
With salvation's walls surrounded,
  Thou may'st smile at all thy foes.
2
See the streams of living waters,
  Springing from eternal love,
Well supply thy blessed members,
  And all fear of want remove;
Who can faint, when such a river
  Ever flows their thirst t' assuage?
Grace which, like the Lord, the giver,
  Never fails from age to age.
3
Blest constituents of Zion,
  Washed in the Redeemer's blood;
Jesus, whom their souls rely on,
  Makes them kings and priests to God.
'Tis His love His people raises
  Over self to reign as kings:
And as priests, His worthy praises,
  Each his thankful offering brings.
4
Savior, if of Zion's city
  I, through grace, a member am,
Let the world deride or pity—
  I will glory in Thy name.
Fading is the worldling's pleasure,
  All his boasted pomp and show;
Solid joys and lasting treasure
  None but Zion's members know.
21
Leigh Powell

United Kingdom

This hymn is of the new Jerusalm, Zion, the heavenly city of God. But a city is nothing if it has no inhabitants. How does one get to heaven to live in Zion, the new Jerusalem?

A person gets to Heaven by being born again of God the Holy Spirit, through repentance and faith in the gospel. The gospel says no one is good enough to go to heaven, and one only gets to heaven by means of what the first line of this paragraph says. It also says that Jesus bore our sins in His body on the cross, and died as the world's sin bearer. But because He Himself was sinless, He did not deserve to die, so God raised Him from the dead. In Genesis we read that God told Adam and Eve 'in the day you eat the fruit of the tree you shall surely die'. But they did NOT die on the same day as they ate the fruit of the tree, but rather they became SPIRITUALLY dead.

Romans. 6 verse 20 says 'the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord'. When a person sins they don't physically die but confirm their SPIRITUAL death - we are all born sinners (the psalmist said 'in sin did my mother conceive me').

God is love - see John 3 verse 16.


James Chamberlain

Cedar Rapids, State Of Iowa, United States

Cannot explain in words. Such joy to my heart and soul. May it live forever. Thanks be to God.


F Lee

Singapore

The original lyrics are more impactful. What a beautiful and uplifting hymn. Reminds me how refreshing it is to drink from this living water and never be thirsty again. He shall supply all our needs. His presence as the cloud and fire is always hovering over His people. We are never alone even when we walk through the desert.


Priscilla Amoding

Kampala, Namugongo, Uganda

We sung it last Sunday 2 Jul 2017 at Namugongo Holy Martyr's Shrine in Uganda. I felt above the earth, I couldn't recall the song but picked a few words. Have looked for it until I got on the net. I want to sing it always! God fix each word in my head so that am all the time connected to the glory of Your unspoken things! Bless the composer too and reward the work of his hands. Amen.


Clinton Anyiam

Abuja, Nigeria

God, may I be found worthy to sing of the Glorious things that are spoken of Thee by Thy people.


Florence Orji

Abuja, Nigeria

This hymn lifts my fainting spirit up each time I hear or play it. God bless the originator of this hymn.


Dorcas T.Adesanya

London, England, United Kingdom

Solid joys and lasting treasure none but Children of God knows. The Grace of God Never Fails from age to age. Thank God we have a father that cares! Thanks for uploading this song and God bless you all.


Samson Onyango

Nairobi, Kisumu, Kenya

I can't stop singing the song because I feel by doing so I am uplifting my spirit. The song makes me to meditate about Heaven.


Steve Miller

Detroit, MI, United States

I especially like the last stanza because it reminds me what my hope is and what it is not.

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In the original, stanza 1, 2nd line, "Holy city of our God" is "Zion, city of our God."

In stanza 2, 3rd line, "blessed members" is "sons and daughters".

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There is an additional stanza 3 following stanza 2 above:

Round each habitation hovering,

See the cloud and fire appear!

For a glory and a cov’ring

Showing that the Lord is near.

Thus deriving from our banner

Light by night and shade by day;

Safe they feed upon the manna

Which He gives them when they pray.

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In hymnal.net stanza 3, "constituents" is originally "inhabitants".

In the last stanza, last line, "members" is originally "children".


Chigozie Eberendu

Yenagoa, Bayelsa, Nigeria

This hymn is a great one. It reminds me of my sovereignty and superiority as a child of God. I so much rely on His blood which shed for my sake at the cross of Calvary. Dear God may Your grace continue to be abundant to me, Amen.

Piano Hymns