The purpose of this series is to rediscover and share forgotten hymns of the faith. I encourage you to both read and deeply ponder the text of this hymn. Further, I hope this hymn will provide opportunity for dialogue.
A Hymn by Benjamin Keach (1640–1704)
“God the Saints Dwelling Place”
Psalm 90:1
Thy saints Lord have a dwelling strong
And thou that dwelling art,
No habitation like to this,
Hath any haughty heart.
For ’tis the low and humble soul
That in the Lord does dwell:
Where such do rest, and have repose,
This dwelling doth excell.
A house, ah ’tis our home always,
And when we absent be:
How do we long for to return,
So do our soul till we
Return again unto our God,
When we from thee do stray:
O bring us to our bless’d abode,
Christ Jesus is the way.
We here no perfect rest shall find,
Until we fixed are
In our brave house that is above,
No palace like to it here.
The Second Part
A House preserves from heat and cold,
From winds and cruel storms;
Those who Lord dwell in thee are bold,
Being safe from fear of harms.
And in our house our comforts lie,
And all our chiefest treasure:
God is our joy, our souls delight,
In whom is sweetest pleasure.
Propriety unto a house
Doth make it valued;
Our interest in our God, alone,
Makes us lift up our head.
In a great house are many rooms
To dine and also lye,
Fare secret chambers also we
Do in thee clearly Spy.
Each attribute is as a room
Whither thy saints do go
By precious acts of faith, and then
Nothing they fear below.
Another house, tho stately ’tis,
It may be batter’d down;
But thou art such a house, o Lord,
That can’t be overthrown.
Hast then away to your abode,
Let all with speed hast home,
For dreadful storms you may expect
Will very quickly come.
The Third Part (Chambers of Safety)
O come, o come, God’s people all,
With speed hast ye away,
Enter your chambers great and small,
No longer do you stay:
For God, the mighty God above,
Is rising out of’s place,
And will the hills and mountains move,
And vengeance pour apace.
There is a way found out that ye
May be secured,
When sinners shall consumed be
Who basely are misled.
Doth it not thunder afar off,
It lightens also fore:
O tremble all, and do not scoff,
For hark ’tis more and more.
Children get home, and do not stay,
Hast to your dwelling place;
For if you make the least delay,
Then sad may be your case.
All who abroad or in the fields
Do foolishly remain,
They may as the Egyptians were,
Be ruined and slain.
Benjamin Keach, Spiritual Melody, 6–9
