“ And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things that belong unto thy peace: but now are they hid from thine eyes.” Luke 19:41, 4241And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, 42Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. (Luke 19:41‑42).
“If thou hadst known,”! Unutterable love!
A Savior’s grace o’er mercies pass’d away:
The mournful grieving of the Holy Dove
That hovered still where peace still sought to stay;
“ If thou hadst known”! The sinful nation slept
Her dark death slumber. JESUS watched, and wept.
If thou hadst bowed thine head, inclined thine ear
To hear the gracious words that Jesus spake;
If thou hadst known Him when He came so near-
The Hebrew Servant, bound for love’s own sake;
Thine own Redeemer, Israel! Son of God,
Yea, Son of Man: “My Fellow,” saith the Lord.
“ If thou hadst known”! O agony of grief!
Love’s patient labor vainly, vainly spent!
Impending woe foreseen: Divine relief
Refused, despised in Him the Father sent:
“If thou hadst known”! E’en Zion would not hear.
‘Twas naught to her that JESUS lingered near.
“Hid from thine eyes”! Alas, alas for thee!
Thy visitation’s hour thou didst not know:
Messiah thou hast nailed to the Tree:
That shameful death his wages here below.
If thou hadst known what JESUS came to bring,
Thou hadst not, Israel, crucified thy King.
“Hid from thine eyes”! Too late, too late to learn
His quenchless love who sought to save the lost!
Too late! Ah no! He lives! He will return—
JESUS! the SAME who died upon the Cross.
Again His voice shall penetrate the tomb—
Shall wake the dead: Death’s driest tree shall bloom.
“If thou hadst known”! We weep, but we rejoice,
Lord Jesus Christ, Thy path of life to trace;
Thy scattered sheep shall hear their Shepherd’s voice,
Thine Israel’s guilt shall magnify Thy grace-
For oh, Thy Cross, man’s everlasting shame,
Records, o’er all, the LIFE-IMPARTER’S Name.