Living Water
Two years ago, my sister hosted a Hymn Blog Event and challenged her readers to write their own hymns. I chose the beautiful traditional tune “Brother James’ Air” and the theme of Living Water. The Bible speaks so purely and so beautifully on this subject that I sought to preserve its own language in this hymn; and writing it was a wonderful challenge in searching the Scriptures and protecting its message in a translation into meter. (I have included references to the particular verses that lent their phrasing and imagery, so that you can read the wonderful, original Words.)
Living Water
© Handmaidens of the Shepherd
I wander through a wilderness,
A broken, parchéd land.
No water glistens on the plain;
My soul faints on the sand.
A whirlwind from the desert south
Cleaves my tongue in my mouth.
I hewed a cistern for myself
That I might find relief,
But it would not the water hold—
I thought to die of grief.
Not in a broken cistern can
Relief be found for man.
Jeremiah 2:13
I dreamt I drank of water sweet.—
I drank to quench my thirst,
But when I woke my heart was sick
As it was at the first.
No satisfaction did I find
In falsities of mind.
Isaiah 29:8
“Ho! Everyone that thirsteth come!”
A cry is raised abroad.
“Come, drink Living Water from
The fountainhead of God;
Come, draw water from the well of
Jehovah’s saving Love.”
Isaiah 55:1, John 4:10, Isaiah 12:3
The scent of water wakes my soul!
His word distills like dew;
My heart is soft with showers sweet
Of love—and mercy too.
From a root waxed old and dead
A tender bough hath spread.
Job 14:8-9, Psalm 65:10
Dry ground leaps into water-springs!
The wilderness is glad
And blossoms as the crimson rose,
In fir and myrtle clad.
The solitary place shall be
As though a standing sea.
Psalm 107:35, Isaiah 35:1, Isaiah 55:13, Psalm 107:35
Photograph. The Rouvre River. This image is in the public domain.
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HEIDI said...
It’s beautiful! Thank you for sharing it. The “Brother James’ Air” is a favorite of mine, and I enjoyed reading your words to it, singing in my mind.
Thursday, June 7, 2012 08:49 PM
HANDMAIDEN said...
Thank you, Heidi. I am glad you enjoyed this.
Friday, June 8, 2012 08:05 AM
Tuesday, June 5, 2012