October 11, 2005

Have faith in God –
Who purifies our dross;
Have faith in God –
Through every trial and loss;
Have faith in God –
While standing by the cross.
Have faith, dear friend, in God.

Revive us Again

William Paton Mackay, 1839-1885

    Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Psalm 85:6.

    The author of this text, William Paton Mackay, was a Scottish Presbyterian minister. After his education at the University of Edinburgh, he practiced medicine for a number of years before being called to the Christian ministry in 1868. Written in 1863 but revised four years later, this hymn text was based on Habakkuk 3:2, "O LORD, I have heard Thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive Thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy." The hymn was included in Ira Sankey's Gospel Hymns and Sacred Songs of 1875, under the title "O Lord, Revive Thy Work".

We praise Thee, O God!
For the Son of Thy love,
For Jesus Who died,
And is now gone above.

We praise Thee, O God!
For Thy Spirit of light,
Who hath shown us our Savior,
And scattered our night.

All glory and praise
To the Lamb that was slain,
Who hath borne all our sins,
And hath cleansed every stain.

All glory and praise
To the God of all grace,
Who hast brought us, and sought us,
And guided our ways.

Revive us again;
Fill each heart with Thy love;
May each soul be rekindled
With fire from above.

Chorus:
Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
Hallelujah! Amen.
Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
Revive us again.

Have Faith in God by H.M.S. Richards, Used by Permission