Doctor Watts's Imitation of the Psalms of David ‎#112a

112a. Looking to God in the Distress of War

1 Lord thou hast scourg'd our guilty land,
Behold thy people mourn;
Shall vengeance ever guide thy hand?
And mercy ne'er return?

2 Beneath the terrors of thine eye,
Earth's haughty towers decay;
Thy frowning mantle spreads the sky,
And mortals melt away.

3 Our Sion trembles at thy stroke,
And dreads thy lifted hand!
Oh, heal the people thou hast broke,
And save the sinking land.

4 Exalt thy banner in the field,
For those that fear thy name;
From barbarous hosts our nation shield,
And put our foes to shame.

5 Attend our armies to the fight,
And be their guardian God;
In vain shall numerous powers unite,
Against thy lifted rod.

6 Our troops, beneath thy guiding hand,
Shall gain a glad renown:
'Tis God who makes the feeble stand,
And treads the mighty down.

Text Information

• First Line: Lord thou hast scourg'd our guilty land
• Title: Looking to God in the Distress of War
• Meter: Common Metre
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1787
• Scripture:
  Psalm 60
• Topic: Day of Humiliation and Disappointments in War; Formal worship; Humiliation Day; Psalm: for soldiers; War: disappointments therein

Tune Information

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