The Day Thou Gavest

The-Day-Thou-Gavest

The day Thou gavest, Lord, is ended;
The darkness falls at Thy behest;
To Thee our morning hymns ascended;
Thy praise shall sanctify our rest.

We thank Thee that Thy Church unsleeping,
While earth rolls onward into light,
Through all the world her watch is keeping,
And rests not now by day or night.

As o’er each continent and island
The dawn leads on another day,
The voice of prayer is never silent,
Nor dies the strain of praise away.

The sun that bids us rest is waking
Our brethren ‘neath the western sky,
And hour by hour fresh lips are making
Thy wondrous doings heard on high.

So be it, Lord;Thy throne shall never,
Like earth’s proud empires, pass away;
Thy Kingdom stands, and grows forever,
Till all Thy creatures own Thy sway.

Although this hymn is in the “Benediction” section of the 2015 Salvation Army Song Book, and the “Evening” section of the 1987 one, it relates well to our ongoing
“Partners in Mission” time, as it speaks of the worldwide Christian Church. How wonderful to realise that at all hours of each day, someone in the world is communing with our Lord! Although there are hundreds of languages and cultures involved, we all worship and serve one God, who loves us all.

there are hundreds of languages and cultures involved Share on X

This hymn was selected by Queen Victoria for her Diamond Jubilee in 1897, and sung in thousands of churches in British domains around the world. It has often topped the charts in the BBC’s “Songs of Praise” polls.

selected by Queen Victoria for her Diamond Jubilee in 1897 Share on X

The song’s author, John Ellerton, was born in London, England in 1826, and educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, obtaining a B.A. degree in 1849 and an M.A. in 1854. He held successive posts as curate, vicar, chaplain, and rector in various British towns. Ellerton was most noted as a hymnologist, editor, hymnwriter and translator. He wrote about fifty original hymns, and translated at least ten from Latin. Many of his hymns, like the one above, are still in common use.

WORDS: JOHN ELLERTON MUSIC: (TUNE – ST. CLEMENTS) REV. CLEMENT SCHOLEFIELD, EDITED BY ARTHUR SULLIVAN
S.A.SONG BOOK, 1987 EDITION, #677; 2015 EDITION, #1039
REFERENCES: USAWEST.ORG HYMNARY.ORG TELEGRAPH.CO.UK

https://youtu.be/LG8nakKl4iA

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