This Lord’s Day we’ll be singing a new song, and while new to our fellowship, this song has been around a good while. I thought it would be most enjoyable and helpful to introduce the song a bit more thoroughly before.
The Sands of Time are Sinking was written in 1854 by Anne Ross Cousin while in Scotland with her husband who was a presbyterian minister. Cousin was inspired by the writings of the Scottish Samuel Rutherford who was a presbyterian theologian.
Wayne Grudem author of Systematic Theology: An Introduction To Biblical Doctrine says this of the song: “This is one of the most beautiful hymns ever written in any language. It expresses so clearly the fact that the beauty of heaven is the glory of God, and the great beauty of God’s glory is the Lamb who died for us and now reigns.” Anne’s original edition which is also know as Immanuel’s Land, has nineteen verses but was later introduced by a Reverend with only these five:
The sands of time are sinking,
The dawn of heaven breaks;
The summer morn I’ve sighed for –
The fair, sweet morn awakes:
Dark, dark had been the midnight
But dayspring is at hand,
And glory, glory dwelleth
In Immanuel’s land.
The king there in His beauty,
Without a veil is seen:
It were a well-spent journey,
Though seven deaths lay between:
The Lamb with His fair army,
Doth on Mount Zion stand,
And glory, glory dwelleth
In Immanuel’s land
O Christ, He is the fountain,
The deep, sweet well of love!
The streams on earth I’ve tasted
More deep I’ll drink above:
There to an ocean fullness
His mercy doth expand,
And glory, glory dwelleth
In Immanuel’s land.
The bride eyes not her garment,
But her dear Bridegroom’s face;
I will not gaze at glory
But on my King of grace.
Not at the crown He giveth
But on His pierced hand;
The Lamb is all the glory
Of Immanuel’s land.
O I am my Beloved’s
And my Beloved is mine!
He brings a poor vile sinner
Into His house of wine
I stand upon His merit –
I know no other stand,
Not e’en where glory dwelleth
In Immanuel’s land.
I encourage you to meditate on these lyrics, let them saturate your soul. Then listen to this demo from igracemusic.com so when we gather this Lord’s Day you’ll be prepared to belt it! Songs like these should not only encourage us because of the deep Scriptural ingredient but also songs like these serve to remind us of our beautifully rich Christian heritage.