Since long ago at Bethany we parted

1
Since long ago at Bethany we parted,
Within my heart there is a ceaseless void;
How can I take my harp down from the willow?
How can my songs without Thee be enjoyed?
And when at night I’m keeping lonely vigil—
Grown numb alike to sorrow and to cheer—
Then I recall the promise of Thy coming,
But sigh: O Lord, why, why Thou dost not yet appear?
2
Thy manger wakes the thought: I too am homeless;
Thy cross strips earthly pleasures from my soul;
Thy coming bids me seek a better country,
For Thou Thyself art now my final goal.
Since Thou art gone my joy has lost its flavor,
My song the sweetness I would fain convey.
Since Thou art gone the sense of void o’erwhelms me.
Oh, how I long that Thou wilt come and not delay.
3
Though even now I know Thy loving presence,
Yet in my heart there’s still a sense of lack.
Enlightening and tenderest sustaining
Can no more satisfy: I want Thee back.
Despite Thy peace within, I still feel lonely;
Despite Thy joy there still remains a sigh;
When I feel most content, the silent yearning
To see Thee face to face becomes an uttered cry.
4
What exile cannot but desire his homeland
And long his people once again to greet?
What soul on alien soil forgets his kindred?
What parted lovers never yearn to meet?
O Lord, how can these earthly loves and pleasures
With all the joy of Thy return compare?
Then, if I cannot here behold Thy countenance,
What can I do but sigh till Thou, my Lord, appear?
5
Could’st Thou, O Lord, forget Thy word of promise
Soon to return and take me unto Thee?
Yet day by day and year by year I’ve waited
And still I wait, and no return I see!
Remember, Lord, the years I have been waiting
While Thy dear footsteps linger far away.
How long? How long? Oh! must I wait still longer
Till Thou shalt come again in glorious array?
6
From generation unto generation
Thy saints have come and gone, but have not seen
Thy glorious promise pass into fulfilment.
How long, how very long the time has been!
Why cannot we, dear Lord, discern Thy footsteps?
Why are the heavens still so closely sealed?
Oh! must our waiting be prolonged still further
Before Thou in Thy matchless splendor art revealed?
7
Lord, I recall the many years I’ve waited
For Thy return—yet, Lord, not I alone,
But Thy dear saints through many generations—
Beseeching Thee to come back for Thine own.
To countless tears and countless fervent pleadings,
By Thine appearing haste to make reply.
Oh, may Thou come, the echo of the ages,
Come, come and answer now this mighty corp’rate cry!

Copyright Living Stream Ministry. Used by permission.

28
William Jeng

United States

Lord, make us ready for Your coming. Lord, we say that we don't belong to this age, we are just sojourners seeking for a better country - the next age the kingdom age! We don't LIVE for eating, drinking, marrying and giving in marriage; we LIVE for Christ!


John Alexander Díaz

Colombia

Tu cruz de mi alma, despojó el placer...

Thy cross strips earthly pleasures from my soul


Anonymous

beautiful hymn


Diwani Fenwick

Surrey, British Columbia

I just love this hymn so much! Every time I sing this song I just want the Lord to come back! Lord Jesus we love You!! We are awaiting Your return Lord. Do whatever You need to do in us so You can come back to take us with for Your satisfaction! Amen!!


Nancy Goss

Falls Church, VA, United States

I love hymnal.net even though I don't get to it much. It is amazing what can be done with technology these days.... Wasn't the Atlanta conference wonderful!!!

This hymn is so beautiful. Lord we too long for Your return and to be ready to meet You!


Charles Hennessy

Tucson, AZ, United States

A brother in a conference in the summer of 1972 expressed the desire to meet the Lord at the "foot of the Mount of Olives." When we include this song in a conference held in the city of Jerusalem and we all sing it, all 144,000 participants, maybe He will return! "What a meeting, what a meeting./What a meeting any moment we will share." (H1313 Chorus)


Michael Cofino

Miami, Florida, United States

This hymn is so precious! It makes the Lord Jesus so much more real to me. Also I'm so encouraged to see all the comments from all over the world, but yet there is one, unique longing for the Lord. This makes me praise the Lord for the Body of Christ.


Steve Miller

Detroit, MI, United States

This song brings me back to the right perspective for this life. I am a stranger and sojourner longing for My Lord to return. Even though I have the Lord's presence now, this energizes me to long for the full taste of His glorious return. This song inspires me to pray for the Lord to return and for the Lord to accomplish what needs to be done so He can return.


Siling

United States

By the rivers of Babylon,

there we sat down,

yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.

We hanged our harps upon the willows

in the midst thereof.

Psalm 137


Mee

Singapore, Singapore

I cried the first time I heard this song...

Sad because the people who have passed longed so much for Him to come back but we of this generation who are even nearer to His coming do we even long as much?

Piano Hymns