64. Oh Bright and Blessèd Scenes

S.M.
by J.N. Darby, 1867
1
Oh bright and blessèd scenes!
 
Where sin can never come,
 
Whose sight our longing spirit weans
 
From earth where yet we roam.
“And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.” (Revelation 21:27)
“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:1-2)
“<<A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.>> O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.” (Psalm 63:1)
2
And can we call our home
 
Our Father’s house on high,
 
The rest of God our rest to come,
 
Our place of liberty?
“In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” (John 14:2)
“There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.” (Hebrews 4:9)
3
Yes! in that light unstained,
 
Our stainless souls shall live,
 
Our heart’s deep longings more than gained,
 
When God His rest shall give.
“And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.” (Revelation 22:5)
“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.” (Jude 24)
“<<To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah.>> As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?” (Psalm 42:1-2)
“And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.” (Isaiah 11:10)
“And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.” (Revelation 14:13)
4
His presence there, my soul,
 
Its rest, its joy untold,
 
Shall find when endless ages roll,
 
And time shall ne’er grow old.
“Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” (Psalm 16:11)
5
Our God the center is,
 
His presence fills that land,
 
And countless myriads owned as His,
 
Round Him adoring stand.
“And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.” (Revelation 21:22)
“And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him. And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.” (Revelation 22:3-5)
“And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands. Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.” (Revelation 5:11-13)
6
Our God whom we have known,
 
Well known in Jesus’ love,
 
Rests in the blessing of His own,
 
Before Himself above.
“As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.” (John 15:9)
“The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)
7
Glory supreme is there,
 
Glory that shines through all,
 
More precious still that love to share
 
As those that love did call.
“And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.” (Revelation 21:23)
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” (1 Peter 2:9)
8
Like Jesus in that place
 
Of light and love supreme;
 
Once Man of Sorrows, full of grace,
 
Heaven’s blest and endless theme.
“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:2)
“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” (Isaiah 53:3)
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
9
Like Him! Oh grace supreme!
 
Like Him before Thy face,
 
Like Him to know that glory beam
 
Unhindered face to face.
“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:2)
“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” (1 Corinthians 13:12)
10
Oh love supreme and bright!
 
Good to the feeblest heart,
 
That gives us now, as heavenly light,
 
What soon shall be our part.
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