O Zion Haste

Today I stopped at my mother's home to say "hi" and to play a few hymns on her piano, the one I unwillingly practiced on 50 years ago as a kid.

The hymn book was opened to one of my all-time favourite hymns. You could fittingly classify this one as a missions anthem. It's compelling! It's victorious! It's moving!

As I played this piece of music I couldn't hold back the tears. What a glorious message we have to tell to the nations! Why are so few going, sending or supporting?

Here are those powerful lyrics:

O Zion, haste, thy mission high fulfilling,
To tell to all the world that God is light,
That He who made all nations is not willing
One soul should perish, lost in shades of night.

Chorus:

Publish glad tidings, tidings of peace;
Tidings of Jesus, redemption and release.

Behold how many thousands still are lying
Bound in the darksome prison house of sin,
With none to tell them of the Savior’s dying,
Or of the life He died for them to win.

Proclaim to every people, tongue, and nation
That God, in Whom they live and move, is love;
Tell how He stooped to save His lost creation,
And died on earth that we might live above.

Give of thy sons to bear the message glorious;
Give of thy wealth to speed them on their way;
Pour out thy soul for them in prayer victorious;
O Zion, haste to bring the brighter day.