Hymn Giving of the Law 358

Gerd Eichmann, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>,
via Wikimedia Commons

Similar to the last hymn this one begins with Sinai and the law and then moves to Jesus' rescue mission when he frees captive souls 'And spreads a heaven of comfort there' (what a great line - heaven of comfort is a Puritan phrase). The idea of God as a shield is in Genesis 15. Philip Henry has a sermon called 'Christ is our shield'. ''Tis a dark night when he is gone, When he appears 'tis light and day' - another fine bit of writing.

358 Giving of the Law LM

JEHOVAH sends his wrath abroad, And fills a guilty world with fear; With awe we view th’ extended rod, And start to see our ruin near.

2 Not Israel’s sons could tremble more, When God from Sinai’s mountain spoke, Bade the loud thunders rage and roar, And clad his words in fire and smoke.

3 The law revealed with mighty power, Strikes all our hopes and comforts dead; Convictions now unknown before Our guilty trembling souls invade.

4 Hell's billows all around us roll, And all within is black despair, Till Jesus frees our captive souls, And spreads a heaven of comfort there.

5 Christ is our shield, and he our sun, His presence sends our fears away; 'Tis a dark night when he is gone, When he appears 'tis light and day.

Hymn Sinai and Zion 337

The hymn contrasts the old and new covenants. Verses 1-5 look at Sinai and then in 6-8 we come to New Testament Zion.

337 Sinai and Sion CM

WHEN God descends, a streaming fire Attends him through the sky; Thick clouds compose his dark attire, And vivid lightnings fly.

2 Impervious wreaths of smoke surround, And hide his awful seat; Incessant thunders roar around, Or murmur at his feet.

3 'Twas thus on Sinai’s lofty hill, Jehovah once appeared; The trumpet loud proclaimed his will, And trembling Israel heard.

4 They trembling heard, but straight forgot The terrors of the day; They scarcely left the awful spot, Before they went astray.

5 Their solemn vows they soon revoke, False and ungrateful prove; Forget the tempest, fire and smoke, Their Maker’s wrath and love.

6 What Sinai’s terror ne’er could do, That Sion's God performs; 'Tis he that creates our hearts anew, And strengthens feeble worms.

7 He gently leads our wandering souls In paths of righteousness; And all our passions he controls, By his all-powerful grace.

8 From Sinai we to Sion fly, The city of our God; Unawed and fearless we draw nigh, And make it our abode.