Hymn History: The Sands of Time

“When ye are come to the other side of the water, and have set down your foot on the shore of glorious eternity, and look back again to the waters and to your wearisome journey, and shall see in that clear glass of endless glory, nearer to the bottom of God’s wisdom, ye shall then be forced to say, ‘If God had done otherwise with me than He hath done, I had never come to the enjoyment of this crown of glory.'” –Samuel Rutherford

The elderly man drew a feeble breath and looked directly at his visitor. ” Well, what did the kings emissaries want?”

“They’ve summoned you to appear before Parliament, sir,” was the reply.

A smile crossed the man’s worn face. “Aye? No doubt to do to me as they did to my friend James Guthrie! Well, this answer you may return to them. I have already received a summons from a superior Judge, which I behoove to answer, and ere their day come, I will be where few kings or great men ever come.”

Not many days later, Samuel Rutherford drew his last breath. His final words were, “Glory, glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land!”

Born in 1600 in Nisbet, Scotland, the youthful Samuel Rutherford was rather unprincipled. Somewhere in between 1624 and 1626 he came to a saving faith in Christ. When his theological studies were concluded, he answered the call to become the pastor of Anworth church (or kirk, as they say in Scotland). These were the days when to hold to the principles of the reformation was not a popular thing. Despite the fact that Rutherford was the ideal pastor–loving, devoted, and passionate about the souls of his people–trouble began quickly knocking at his door. His wife died after a prolonged illness, and Rutherford himself was deathly ill for three months. The crowning trial occurred when, after theological conflict, the presiding bishop of the district banished Rutherford from Anworth.

In exile in Aberdeen, Rutherford’s heart broke for his beloved parishioners. To him it seemed that they were sheep without a shepherd. He was also distressed that he could no longer publicly proclaim the goodness of Christ from the pulpit anymore. But God still had plans for the pastor. Though he couldn’t be present with his church, he could write. And write he did! The letters that Rutherford wrote to his friends in Anwoth are still published and read today. They reveal the depth of his love for Christ and in their depth and understanding still speak to many. In them, he comforted, rebuked, warned, and exhorted.

In the late 1630’s there was massive political upheaval. While the people of Scotland had, by and large, surrendered their consciences to the king, they were stirred to return to a purer faith. To this end they signed a national covenant that they would hold to their reformed doctrines and not allow the king to control how they worshipped God. Freedom came with the political change, and Rutherford returned to Anworth. A year later, he was called to St. Andrews, where he taught, wrote, and pastored for the rest of his life.

By the time Rutherford was on his deathbed, leaders of the Scottish reformation were beginning to suffer death for their faith. When parliament summoned him, there was little doubt that the verdict would be death. But as he had predicted, before their day came, Rutherford had gone to Immanuel’s land.

Nearly two centuries later, a woman named Anne Ross Cousin was reading about the life and words of Samuel Rutherford. Inspired by his dying testimony, she wrote a 19-stanza poem. Each verse ends with the words, “glory, glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.” Today we find five of the verses in our hymnbook. The Sands of Time are Sinking is a beautiful hymn full of rich truth and expressive of love for our Savior. It’s a hymn that deserves to be read and meditated on carefully. Below are verses 2, 4, and 5.

#2

O Christ, He is the Fountain,

The deep, sweet well of love,

The streams on earth I’ve tasted,

More deep I’ll drink above.

There to an ocean’s fulness,

His mercy doth expand,

And glory, glory dwelleth

In Immanuel’s land.

#4

O I am my Beloved’s

And my Beloved’s mine,

He brings a poor, vile sinner

Into His house of wine.

I stand upon His merit,

I know no other stand,

Not even where glory dwelleth

In Immanuel’s land.

#5

The bride eyes not her garment,

But on her bridegroom’s face,

I will not gaze at glory,

But on my King of grace.

Not at the crown He giveth,

But on His pierced hand,

The Lamb is all the glory

Of Immanuel’s land.

Sources:

www.crichbaptist.org

en.wikiquote.org