Scripture Verse

Go and wash in Jordan. 2 Kings 5:10

Introduction

illustration
Elisha Refusing Naaman’s Gifts
Pieter de Grebber, 17th Century

Words & Mu­sic: Charles A. Tind­ley, 1901 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Charles A. Tindley (1851–1933)

Lyrics

There was Naaman the leper, that hon’rable man,
A captain of the Syrian host;
He was badly afflicted and sick in the land,
And a bur­den to all of his host;
O my, what a sight! his disease made him white,
No doctor could help him I’ve seen;
He ne­ver did pray, and he knew not the way
To get into the beau­ti­ful stream.

Refrain

Go wash in the beau­ti­ful stream,
Go wash in the beau­ti­ful stream,
O Naaman, O Naaman, go down and wash,
Go wash in the beau­ti­ful stream.

He heard of a man in the Hebrew land,
A little maid told him about;
I’ll go if I can, he said to his friend,
For he may relieve me, no doubt;
So he went and called on the servant of God,
And Elisha refused to be seen.
But he lifted his bur­den and sent him to Jordan,
To wash in the beau­ti­ful stream.

Refrain

So Naaman went on, and the servant had gone
Whom Elisha had sent to the door;
He did not believe that He had received
From the prophet a perfect cure;
He thought that the rivers down in his own land
Were better because they were clean;
It was just about night when he got in the light
And plunged into the beau­ti­ful stream.

Refrain

O sinner, O sinner, are you not the same
As Naaman that noted Syrian?
Your sickness injures both body and soul,
And makes you feel loathsome and mean.
If you feel you are lost, just shoulder the cross,
And Je­sus will then make you clean.
If you feel you are sick, just come along quick,
And get into the beau­ti­ful stream.

Refrain