1
Gazing on the Lord in glory,
While our hearts in worship bow,
There we read the wondrous story
Of the cross—its shame and woe.
While our hearts in worship bow,
There we read the wondrous story
Of the cross—its shame and woe.
2
Every mark of dark dishonor
Heaped upon the thorn-crowned brow
All the depths of Thy heart’s sorrow
Told in answ’ring glory now.
Heaped upon the thorn-crowned brow
All the depths of Thy heart’s sorrow
Told in answ’ring glory now.
3
On that cross, alone, forsaken,
Where no pity’ng eye was found;
Now, to God’s right hand exalted,
With Thy praise the heavens resound.
Where no pity’ng eye was found;
Now, to God’s right hand exalted,
With Thy praise the heavens resound.
4
Did Thy God e’en then forsake Thee,
Hide His face from Thy deep need?
In Thy face once marred and smitten,
All His glory now we read.
Hide His face from Thy deep need?
In Thy face once marred and smitten,
All His glory now we read.
5
Gazing on it we adore Thee,
Blessed, precious, holy Lord;
Thou the Lamb, alone art worthy—
This be earth’s and heaven’s accord.
Blessed, precious, holy Lord;
Thou the Lamb, alone art worthy—
This be earth’s and heaven’s accord.
6
Rise our hearts, and bless the Father,
Ceaseless song e’en here begun,
Endless praise and adoration
To the Father and the Son.
Ceaseless song e’en here begun,
Endless praise and adoration
To the Father and the Son.
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Just as it is difficult to begin a meeting, it is also difficult to conclude a meeting. If we sing a hymn that is not fitting at the conclusion of a meeting, the meeting will be interrupted. For example, in a Lord’s [584] table meeting, eating the bread and drinking the cup should be followed by worshipping the Father. At that time the saints should have the sense that the Father and the Son are one. Hence, someone should choose a hymn to conclude the section for remembering the Son and begin the section for worshipping the Father. For this we may use stanzas 1 and 6 of Hymns, #136: “Gazing on the Lord in glory, / While our hearts in worship bow, / There we read the wondrous story / Of the cross—its shame and woe... / Rise our hearts, and bless the Father, / Ceaseless song e’en here begun, / Endless praise and adoration / To the Father and the Son. ” After the singing, a brother or a sister should offer a prayer according to the feeling of this hymn and bring the meeting into the section of worshipping the Father.
Concerning the Practice Needed in the Meetings
Chapter 3 CWWL, 1955, vol. 4
We need to be watchful in spirit in the table meeting. We must bless the bread and the cup when the meeting reaches a climax and cannot go any higher. After we bless the bread and the cup and pass them around, there is a need to maintain the spirit with a hymn. We may use Hymns, #136, “Gazing on the Lord in glory, / While our hearts in worship bow, ” or Hymns, #226, “For the bread and for the wine, / For the pledge that seals Him mine. ” In contrast, Hymns, #226 bears a flavor of ritualistic formalities. We must touch the feeling of the meeting. In order to not allow the spirit to be weakened when we pass the bread and cup, we need to select a hymn that can maintain the spirit. At this point the selection of a hymn greatly depends on the prayers offered during the blessing of the bread and the cup. After singing Hymns, #158, someone may bless the bread and the cup, praying, “O Lord, thank You for first remembering us. You shed Your blood and died for us in this wilderness. The bread and the cup show us the story of Your giving up Your life and shedding Your blood for us. The scene of Your crucifixion is before our eyes. You wore a crown of thorns, and Your head was full of bruises. Lord, we thank You. ” Someone else may continue and pray, “Lord, the picture of Your coming down to the earth from heaven to shed Your blood and die for us is vividly before us. ” In such a case it would be good if someone selected Hymns, #95, “O Head once full of bruises, / So full of pain and scorn. ” The hymn selected should be according to the prayer that blessed the bread and the cup.
Guidelines for the Lord's Table Meeting and the Pursuit in Life Chapter 4 CWWL, 1952, vol. 1 (LSM)
Sydney, NSW, Australia
I sang this hymn in my childhood in a small family meeting and I have thought of it often throughout my life. As I prepare to lead a ladies' Bible study group on Revelation and meditate on the scene of chapter 5, the words of this hymn have gained fresh meaning. It's pure worship and praise which will resonate in our hearts until we stand with the great multitude of the redeemed before the throne of God.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States
Three of us reading Watchman Nee collected Works vol. 23 are enjoying the Little Flock hymnal. This is a hymn I have never seen or heard. Hopefully we can learn and sing at the table meeting in remembrance of the Lord.
中壢區, 桃園市
A nice song will inspire our spirit to go with our Lord.
United States
Miss Cenita Thompson was born in 1822 and died in 1909. This hymn first appeared in the 1881 Little Flock Hymn Book. Miss Thompson contributed poems to the periodical “A Voice to the Faithful” and these were published after her death in 1909 as “ Songs of Praise” She resided in Clapham, England for many years along with Miss E. J. Elwood who was also a writer of hymns.
This hymn is on the Lord’s suffering and glory.
Kayanad, India
Inspiring song.
Yass, NSW, Australia
From my earliest days I have sung this hymn in the morning meeting on sundays. It evokes lovely stirring memories of that wondrous time when we remembered our Lord. Now that I am in my late seventies this hymn and so many like it from the little flock hymn book stir my spirit and bring praise and adoration from my heart to my Saviour Jesus.
Calgary, AB, Canada
This is a beautiful hymn reminding us of the place my Saviour occupies today: seated at the right hand of the Father in glory.
Olympia, WA, United States
Raises the praise in our hearts to our Lord.