The Christian Was Never Meant to Walk Alone
1 week ago
Give Me the Wings of Faith to Rise
By Isaac Watts
Lyrics
1. Give me the wings of faith to rise
Within the veil, and see
The saints above, how great their joys,
How bright their glories be.
Within the veil, and see
The saints above, how great their joys,
How bright their glories be.
2. Once they were mourning here below
And wet their cheeks with tears;
They wrestled hard, as we do now,
With sins, and doubts and fears.
And wet their cheeks with tears;
They wrestled hard, as we do now,
With sins, and doubts and fears.
3. I ask them whence their vic'try came;
They, with united breath,
Ascribe their conquest to the Lamb,
Their triumph to his death.
They, with united breath,
Ascribe their conquest to the Lamb,
Their triumph to his death.
4. Our glorious Leader claims our praise
For his own pattern giv'n,
While the long cloud of witnesses
Show the same path to Heav'n.
For his own pattern giv'n,
While the long cloud of witnesses
Show the same path to Heav'n.
Bible Reference
Hebrews 12:1
About This Hymn
“Give Me the Wings of Faith to Rise” is a devotional hymn written by Isaac Watts in 1707. It is part of his influential work that shaped early English hymnody and continues to bless churches today. The hymn expresses a longing to rise above earthly limitations in order to view the lives and testimonies of the saints who have gone before us. Their faithful endurance serves as a powerful encouragement to believers who strive to follow Christ with perseverance.
Hebrews 12:1 provides the foundation for the hymn. This passage calls believers to run the Christian race with patience while being surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. Watts uses poetic imagery to depict faith as wings that lift the heart to a clearer view of the steadfast devotion of earlier Christians. Their victories, struggles, and unwavering trust in God become a motivating example for those who continue the journey today.
The hymn encourages self examination and renewed commitment. It reminds believers that the path of faith, though at times filled with difficulty, is strengthened by the testimony of those who remained steadfast until the end. Its reflective tone and spiritual focus make it suitable for worship that emphasizes perseverance, hope, and the heritage of faithful believers who point us toward Christ.
From the Dictionary of Hymnology
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