Scripture Verse

The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee. Psalm 20:1

Introduction

Words: An­on­y­mous, in the Chris­tian Ob­serv­er, Ap­ril 1804. This has been re­pub­lished in ma­ny al­tered forms.

Music: Blaen­haf­ren tra­di­tion­al Welsh mel­ody (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

  • Penzance, H. Roach, in The Pri­mi­tive Me­thod­ist Hym­nal, ed­it­ed by George Booth (Lon­don: Pri­mi­tive Me­thod­ist Pub­lish­ing House, 1889), num­ber 913 (🔊 pdf nwc)

Anecdote

At that time [Na­pol­e­on] Bon­a­parte was First Con­sul, and med­i­tat­ing an im­med­i­ate in­va­sion of Eng­land. A day of hu­mil­i­a­tion and pray­er was ap­point­ed.

In an­ti­ci­pa­tion of this day the fol­low­ing ed­it­or­i­al note, to­geth­er with the hymn be­low, ap­peared in the Chris­tian Ob­serv­er:—

His Ma­jes­ty has been gra­cious­ly pleased to ap­point Fri­day, the 25th of May next, to be ob­served through­out Eng­land and Ire­land as a day of pub­lic hu­mil­i­a­tion and fast­ing.

We ear­nest­ly hope that it may be ob­served in a prop­er man­ner. We sub­join a hymn for the oc­ca­sion, which has just reached us in time to ob­tain a place in this num­ber.

Julian, p. 310

Lyrics

Dread Jehovah, God of nations,
From Thy temple in the skies,
Hear Thy people’s supplications,
Now for their deliverance rise.
Lo, with deep contritions turning,
Humbly at Thy feet we bend;
Hear us, fasting, praying, mourning;
Hear us, spare us, and defend.

Foes, who’ve ravaged peaceful regions,
Now for us the yoke prepare;
And, if Thou forsake our legions,
We, like them, the yoke must wear.
Shall religion’s foes enslave us?
Shall their heathen tongues exclaim,
Where’s your God? O rise to save us,
And assert Thy glorious name.

Though our sins, our hearts confounding,
Long and loud for vengeance call,
Thou hast mercy more abounding,
Jesus’ blood can cleanse from all.
Let that mercy veil transgressions,
Let that blood our guilt efface:
Save Thy people from oppression,
Save from spoil Thy holy place.

Hear, O God! the vows we tender;
With our hosts to battle go;
Shield the head of each defender,
And confound the impious foe,
So when ceased the battle’s raging,
Thine shall be the victor’s praise;
And in Thy holy bonds engaging,
We will serve Thee all our days.