There is balm in Gilead; there is balm for my soul In the streams of the Jordan broken spirits are made whole There are streams in the desert land that give healing within And whoe’er tastes these streams of grace shall never thirst again
There’s a place where He pours out His grace upon the needy heart Where at last things become complete yet suddenly things start We can sing and hide beneath His wing, protected from all harms There the Good Shepherd graciously shall bear us in His arms
There’s a mount in Canaan’s land; there’s a cleft in the stone There’s a place where the wand’ring heart can fin’ly feel at home There is rest in the Savior’s arms; there is rest for my soul There is dear love and freedom ‘neath His yoke and His control
There’s a fount that springs from Zion’s mount that can cleanse us from sin See the gates of the city opened wide to let us in To the Son’s sweet goodness we shall run—to His unending store In the house of our Savior we shall flourish evermore
Three years ago today I first saw you. Although I can’t say it was love at first sight, I knew that it was an answer to prayer—even a miracle—that I was able to travel to see you at all, and was so excited and thankful to be standing within your gates. It wasn’t but a few days more until I was enveloped in the same infatuation that has claimed the hearts of so many of your children over the millennia. You captured my heart in a way that no other city ever has or ever will. In you I found a home—found a sense of belonging that I had hardly known was lacking. I didn’t realize before 2023 that a human heart could love a place as much as I love you.
Over these three years, I have shed many tears over you—both tears of pain and yearning caused by the ocean-breadth distance and tears of joy and thankfulness that God has connected me to you and your destiny. Whether from afar or close by, I know I will continue to cry alongside you until at last all things are made complete at the returning of our King. Though all my life, I will share in your emotions of both pain and comfort. And believe me, the comfort our King provides will be greater. “For I reckon that the sufferings of this life are not worth comparing to the glory that is to be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18)
I knew it was Yehovah’s perfect plan that had led me to your streets that first time in March 2023. Though the infatuation with you had not yet hit me, I still knew in my spirit it wouldn’t be the last time I stood within you. As our bus drove away, I whispered to you, “I shall return.” I had begged Yehovah to let me to see you only once, but I knew soon that it wouldn’t be just once. Yehovah has shown that I am to keep returning to you, again and again—until finally the day comes when I get to stay within your renewed walls and never leave. This is one of my heart’s greatest desires.
Yehovah expressly declared that when He created and formed you, He made you to be inhabited and to be established.(Jeremiah 33:2) Who is to inhabit you? By His grace, me. Who is to establish you? By His grace, me. I am honored to share in your story and share in Yehovah’s passionate love for you. Because, after all, He loves you more than all the dwelling places of Jacob. (Psalm 87:2)
I can’t wait to see your walls again, touch your dust again, play violin within you again, laugh within you again, and bring life to you again. Until then, we endure the waiting through the power of the promise.
“I will return to Zion, And dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be called the City of Truth, The Mountain of Yehovah of hosts, The Holy Mountain.” (from Zechariah 8:3)
“Do not fear; Zion, let not your hands be weak.Yehovah, your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will be silent in His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” (from Zephaniah 3: 16-17)
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, I long for you I’m longing for the day that I return Jerusalem, how long shall I be far from you? To see your walls and citadels I yearn
Jerusalem, the King of Kings has chosen you To shine throughout the world His truth and light Upon your walls His watchmen keep their eyes on you Throughout each day and even every night
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, I grieve for you I’ll grieve until your mourning days are done Jerusalem, how long shall strife remain in you? Until the blessed arrival of the Son
Jerusalem, both day and night I dream of you I dream of building up your fallen walls What blessings and great mysteries are found in you! How wondrous that in you my portion falls
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, I’ll live in you A place within your walls is pledged to me Jerusalem, when I look east and pray for you The King of Kings who loves you hears my plea
Jerusalem, though pain and hardship fall on you One day you’ll be established far from fear Behold, your King is coming to deliver you You’ll be a joy and praise to all who hear
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, I’m missing you My heart and all my treasures are with thee Jerusalem, your King has bound my heart to you When I am far away, do you miss me?
Jerusalem, the King has made His home in you He loves you more than any other land Jerusalem, how glad I was to visit you! How long till in your walls again I stand? —written by F. A. W. in 2023
Tear down the strong walls—iron bars that we trust in Tear down all our treasures of earth that will rust Hedge in every way we might flee for protection Till only in You have we put all our trust
Far be it from us to rely on another When You were our Savior from youth until now We rest upon You, our strong King and our Father And only to You shall our knees ever bow
Tear down the deceptions—all pride, self-reliance Get rid of ourselves till we fully are Yours Your banner alone we shall raise toward these giants Your Name is our vict’ry far past Jordan’s shores
Tear down every chain of this world that would bind us Tear down our heart’s boundaries—our walls to the dust For only Your Spirit and grace ever saves us Come change us, till only in You do we trust
A heart that’s been touched by the Gospel Holds power that can’t ever hide For could a mere person be able To hold Yahweh’s Spirit inside?
If truly you’re touched, you will know it It seeps from the core of your soul And out of the depths of your spirit His rivers of life overflow
It flows, and you cannot restrain it You yield plans and choice to its strength It rules you, yet you do not fear it It gives you the viewpoint of faith
His mercy consumes you like fire Displayed in your life—on your face To love Him is your true desire To serve and give others His grace
If yet you’re not touched by the Gospel Still sinful, still burdened, still lost Surrender alone is the channel And all of your self is the cost
That brings to your life this rich blessing Of being a soul truly changed To lead you from seeking to finding The destiny He has arranged
Kneel down, fix your eyes, and accept Him! He’s worth all we ever could give When truly you’re touched, and you know Him In radiant light shall you live
