Advent III: The Pharisee

by Christopher Good

I.
Come quench our thirst, Thou Well of hope, for we
Are doubtful, fearful, dreadful, weak and sick.
We need Thy strong sure trust of grace to fickle
Hearts that, low and hopeless, long for Thee.
We let our empty buckets down, O Well.
Let us draw life; cause us in hope to dwell.

II.
Come still our fears, Thou Prince of peace, and calm
The tumult raging in our troubled lands,
The violence waged by cruel and evil hands;
We long for quiet rest, for soothing balm.
Put out the fires of wrath, O Prince of peace,
And make Thy justice more and more increase.

III.
Come fill our hearts, Thou Spring of joy, and flow
Through our parched desert like a cheering stream,
A brook whose waters bright with beauty gleam;
Immerse our sadness, wash us from our woe.
We wait Thy generous tide, O joyous Spring,
To flower the wastes and make the barren sing.

IV.
Come lift us, ever-glorious King of love,
To sit with Thee in heaven’s highest place.
Rain mercy freely on our captive race,
Redeem, release, and carry us above.
Eternal King, we long to feel Thy pow’r;
Grant us Thy love, though dark we know this hour.

V.
O Well, O Prince, O King of joy and love,
What are we to do with this homeless infant?

Christopher Good is a deeply opinionated Canadian Christian thinker and communicator. He studies literature and philosophy at WLU.

Artwork: Chapel on a Mountain in Winter, Ernst Oehme, 1842