Like A River Glorious
Like a River Glorious
Like a river glorious
Is God’s perfect peace,
Over all victorious
In its bright increase;
Perfect, yet it floweth
Fuller ev’ry day,
Perfect, yet it groweth
Deeper all the way.
Stayed upon Jehovah,
Hearts are fully blest—
Finding as He promised
Perfect peace and rest.
Hidden in the hollow
Of His blessed hand,
Never foe can follow,
Never traitor stand;
Not a surge of worry,
Not a shade of care,
Not a blast of hurry
Touch the spirit there.
Ev’ry joy or trial
Falleth from above,
Traced upon our dial
By the sun of love;
We may trust Him fully
All for us to do—
They who trust Him wholly
Find Him wholly true.
IT IS DIFFICULT to remain calm while reading the daily paper or watching the TV news. The world is filled with violence and senseless crime. But Frances Ridley Havergal, a devout Bible scholar as well as a poet, drew upon two passages from the prophet Isaiah to give fresh understanding to Christian peace in difficult circumstances. More than once in Isaiah, God promises “peace like a river.” And in Isaiah 26:3 the prophet says, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” These verses have served as the basis of many hymns over the last two centuries, but none is as picturesque as this one.
It is not only peace that God promises, but perfect peace—perfected, completed in Christ.
Oh, that you had listened to my commands! Then you would have had peace flowing like a gentle river and righteousness rolling over you like waves in the sea.
Isaiah 48:18
From the book
