This World Is a Wilderness Wide (Little Flock Hymnbook #139)

1

This world is a wilderness wide!

We have nothing to seek or to choose;

We’ve no thought in the waste to abide;

We’ve naught to regret nor to lose.

“<<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

The Lord is Himself gone before;

He has marked out the path that we tread;

It’s as sure as the love we adore,

We have nothing to fear nor to dread.

“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.” (1 Peter 2:21)

“So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” (Hebrews 13:6)

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4)

3

There is but that one in the waste,

Which His footsteps have marked as His own;

And we follow in diligent haste

To the seats where He’s put on His crown.

4

For the path where our Savior is gone

Has led up to His Father and God,

To the place where He’s now on the throne,

And His strength shall be ours on the road.

“Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.” (John 20:17)

“Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” (Hebrews 1:3)

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13)

“Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.” (Colossians 1:11)

5

And with Him shall our rest be on high,

When in holiness bright we sit down,

In the joy of His love ever nigh,

In the peace that His presence shall crown.

“There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.” (Hebrews 4:9)

6

’Tis the treasure we’ve found in His love

That has made us now pilgrims below,

And ’tis there, when we reach Him above,

As we’re known, all His fullness we’ll know.

“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.” (Hebrews 11:13-14)

“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)

7

And Savior! ’tis Thee from on high

We await till the time Thou shalt come,

To take those Thou hast led by Thine eye

To Thyself in Thy heavenly home.

“And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.” (1 Thessalonians 1:10)

“I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” (Psalm 32:8)

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:3)

8

Till then ’tis the path Thou hast trod,

Our delight and our comfort shall be;

We’re content with Thy staff and Thy rod,

Till with Thee all Thy glory we see.

“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.” (1 Peter 2:21)

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” (Psalm 23:4-5)

“Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.” (John 17:24)

139. This World Is a Wilderness Wide