Scripture Verse

Wait for the promise of the Father. Acts 1:4

Introduction

Words: S. A. Stan­well, in The School Hym­nal, by Will­iam R. Ste­ven­son (Lon­don: E. Marl­bo­rough, 1880), num­ber 337.

Music: Bruce anon­y­mous, in The Hym­nal (Phi­la­del­phia, Penn­syl­van­ia: Pres­by­te­ri­an Board of Pub­li­ca­tion & Sabbath-School Work, 1907), num­ber 694 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know Stan­well’s full name, or where to get a good pho­to of him (head-and-shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Lord, we wait; Thy sowers wait,
Spent with bootless toil;
Sowing early, sowing late,
On a stubborn soil.

Lord, we wait; the parchèd ground
Needs the softening shower;
Let the hardened hearts around
Feel its quickening power.

Lord, we wait; the tender blade
Needs the heav’nly dew;
Shall its first fair promise fade?
O! its life renew.

Feeble faith and waning love,
Hope that scarcely lives,
Wait the influence from above
That Thy Spirit gives.

Plead we not our Father’s word?
Shall we plead in vain?
Lo! the prayer of faith is heard!
Lo! the gracious rain!