Scripture Verse

Before me was a throne in heaven…and the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. Revelation 4:2–3

Introduction

portrait
George C. Martin (1844–1916)

Words: Phi­lip Dodd­ridge (1702–1751). Pub­lished post­hu­mous­ly in Hymns Found­ed on Va­ri­ous Texts in the Ho­ly Scrip­tures, by Job Or­ton (Shrop­shire, Eng­land: Jo­shua Ed­dowes & John Cot­ton, 1755), num­ber 355: God’s co­ve­nant un­change­a­ble, or the rain­bow round about the throne.

Music: King of Kings George C. Mar­tin (1844–1916) (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Philip Doddridge (1702–1751)

Lyrics

Supreme of beings, with delight
Our eyes survey this heav’nly sight;
And trace with admiration sweet
The beaming splendors of Thy feet.

Jasper and sapphire strive in vain
To paint the glories of Thy train;
Thy robes all stream eter­nal light,
Too pow­er­ful for a cherub’s sight.

Yet round Thy throne the rainbow shines,
Fair emblem of Thy kind designs:
Bright pledge, that speaks Thy covenant sure
Long as Thy kingdom shall endure.

No more shall deluges of woe
Thy new-created world o’erflow;
Jesus, our sun, His beams displays,
And gilds the clouds with beauteous rays.

No gems so bright, no forms so fair;
Mercy and truth full triumph there:
Thy saints shall bless the peaceful sign,
When stars and suns forget to shine.

E’en here, while storms and gloomy shade
And horrors all the scene o’erspread,
Faith views the throne with piercing eye,
And boasts, the rainbow still is nigh.