Shall We Gather at the River

Hymn of the day:

Words & Music: Robert Lowry, 1864; first published in Happy Voices, 1865, number 220 (MIDI, score):

One afternoon in July, 1864, when I was pastor at Hanson Place Baptist Church, Brooklyn, the weather was oppressively hot, and I was lying on a lounge in a state of physical exhaustion…My imagination began to take itself wings. Visions of the future passed before me with startling vividness. The imagery of the apocalypse took the form of a tableau. Brightest of all were the throne, the heavenly river, and the gathering of the saints…I began to wonder why the hymn writers had said so much about the “river of death” and so little about the “pure water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and the Lamb.” As I mused, the words began to construct themselves. They came first as a question of Christian inquiry, “Shall we gather?” Then they broke in chorus, “Yes, we’ll gather.” On this question and answer the hymn developed itself. The music came with the hymn.

Part of this hymn was sung in the Academy Award winning movie, Trip to Bountiful
(1985). It was also sung at the funeral of American Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas.

Shall we gather at the river,
Where bright angel feet have trod,
With its crystal tide forever
Flowing by the throne of God?

Refrain

Yes, we’ll gather at the river,
The beautiful, the beautiful river;
Gather with the saints at the river
That flows by the throne of God.

On the margin of the river,
Washing up its silver spray,
We will talk and worship ever,
All the happy golden day.

Refrain

Ere we reach the shining river,
Lay we every burden down;
Grace our spirits will deliver,
And provide a robe and crown.

Refrain

At the smiling of the river,
Mirror of the Savior’s face,
Saints, whom death will never sever,
Lift their songs of saving grace.

Refrain

Soon we’ll reach the silver river,
Soon our pilgrimage will cease;
Soon our happy hearts will quiver
With the melody of peace.

Refrain

I can't wait for the day that I meet my Savior in paradise. To spend eternity with God....WOW! Hard to wrap my head around how awesome that is going to be.

Do you know the one true God? Have you accepted Christ as your Savior? If you have questions about your salvation or wish to accept Christ email me with them.

Sweet Jesus,

We dance in the rain under the umbrella of Your love. We sing praises to You and lay prostrate before You. We humbly seek Your face in all we do.

Go with us and help us to keep our eyes You. Guide us and provide us opportunities to spread the "Good News". May we be Your hands and feet in this fallen world.

Forgive us of our sins and we gladly accept Your Sweet Grace.

In Your Son's Name,

Amen