palms of victory

i heard the chorus of this hymn on Prairie Home companion... Fell in love with the verses, after i googled it. It's really an amazing hymn. Written in the late 1700s- it takes the perspective of a citizen of heaven seeing a believer enter...

I saw a wayworn traveler, in tattered garments clad, And struggling up the mountain, it seemed that he was sad;
His back was laden heavy, his strength was almost gone,
Yet he shouted as he journeyed, “Deliverance will come!”

Refrain

Then palms of victory, crowns of glory,
Palms of victory I shall wear.

The summer sun was shining, the sweat was on his brow,
His garments worn and dusty, his step seemed very slow;
But he kept pressing onward, for he was wending home,
Still shouting as he journeyed, “Deliverance will come!”

Refrain

The songsters in the arbor that stood beside the way
Attracted his attention, inviting his delay:
His watchword being “Onward!” he stopped his ears and ran,
Still shouting as he journeyed, “Deliverance will come!”

Refrain

I saw him in the evening; the sun was bending low;
He’d overtopped the mountain, and reached the vale below:
He saw the Golden City—his everlasting home—
And shouted loud, “Hosanna! Deliverance will come!”

Refrain

While gazing on that city, just o’er the narrow flood,
A band of holy angels came from the throne of God;
They bore him on their pinions safe o’er the dashing foam,
And joined him in his triumph: Deliverance had come!

Refrain

I heard the song of triumph they sang upon that shore,
Saying, “Jesus has redeemed us to suffer nevermore!”
Then casting his eyes backward on the race which he had run,
He shouted loud, “Hosanna! Deliverance has come!”

Comments

[Rick]

Two years ago my wife and I moved and left behind a small, rural church. We now attend a large, urban church that is far less conservative in it's practice (though not it's theology) We traded hymns sung from the hymnbook to piano and organ for a praise & worship band with lyrics on PowerPoint. I'm not saying one is better than the other, but I sometimes miss the spiritual depth and the powerful stories of faith the old hymns so often told.

Like this one - thanks.

[matt tullos]

Isn't it great-- the diversity that we can embrace both...