Issue 865 – At the River – September 27, 2022

Today’s image is of the view downstream of the Fraser River at Matsqui Park, Abbotsford. It is a popular park year round. There are walking trails, picnic tables and an enjoyable river view. Families, walkers and anglers are here in abundance.

As Kathy and I sat by the riverbank enjoying a cup of coffee, an old gospel tune came to mind. “Shall we gather at the river” became an earworm for a few days.

I confess that although I have heard that song since childhood, I never paid any attention to the meaning of the lyrics.

Shall we gather at the River? What river? The one that, “Flows by the throne of God.”

Shall we gather at the river,

 Where bright angel feet have trod,

 With its crystal tide forever

 Flowing by the throne of God?

Refrain:

 Yes, we’ll gather at the river,

 The beautiful, the beautiful river;

 Gather with the saints at the river

 That flows by the throne of God.

On the margin of the river,

 Washing up its silver spray,

 We will talk and worship ever,

 All the happy golden day.

Ere we reach the shining river,

 Lay we every burden down;

 Grace our spirits will deliver,

 And provide a robe and crown.

At the smiling of the river,

 Mirror of the Savior’s face,

 Saints, whom death will never sever,

 Lift their songs of saving grace.

Soon we’ll reach the silver river,

 Soon our pilgrimage will cease;

 Soon our happy hearts will quiver

 With the melody of peace.

(Robert Lowry 1864, Public Domain)

It never really occurred to me that the song is about an actual river.

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. Revelation 22:1-4

It is a song all believers can sing. “Yes, we’ll gather at the river, the beautiful, the beautiful river; gather with the saints at the river, that flows by the throne of God.”

A place of perfect endless peace and beauty, alongside believers of every tribe and tongue and from every period of time, All of us basking in the presence of the Lord. What a picture that makes!

I find myself humming that song just thinking about it.

I look forward to seeing each of you at the river that flows by the throne of God.

Let’s give God the glory due to His name.

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Be blessed

Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

Kevin

 Gleanings From The Word

 Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV). 

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