1
Beneath the cross of Jesus
I fain would take my stand,
The shadow of a mighty Rock
Within a weary land;
A home within the wilderness,
A rest upon the way,
From the burning of the noontide heat,
And the burden of the day.
I fain would take my stand,
The shadow of a mighty Rock
Within a weary land;
A home within the wilderness,
A rest upon the way,
From the burning of the noontide heat,
And the burden of the day.
2
Oh, safe and happy shelter!
Oh, refuge tried and sweet!
Oh, trysting place where heaven’s love
And heaven’s justice meet.
As to the holy patriarch
That wondrous dream was given,
So is my Savior by the cross
A ladder up to heaven.
Oh, refuge tried and sweet!
Oh, trysting place where heaven’s love
And heaven’s justice meet.
As to the holy patriarch
That wondrous dream was given,
So is my Savior by the cross
A ladder up to heaven.
3
There lies beneath its shadow,
But on the farther side,
The darkness of an awful grave
That gapes both deep and wide;
And there between us stands the cross,
Two arms outstretched to save,
Like a watchman set to guard the way
From that eternal grave.
But on the farther side,
The darkness of an awful grave
That gapes both deep and wide;
And there between us stands the cross,
Two arms outstretched to save,
Like a watchman set to guard the way
From that eternal grave.
4
Upon that cross of Jesus
Mine eye at times can see
The very dying form of One,
Who suffered there for me;
And from my smitten heart, with tears,
Two wonders I confess,
The wonders of His glorious love,
And my own worthlessness.
Mine eye at times can see
The very dying form of One,
Who suffered there for me;
And from my smitten heart, with tears,
Two wonders I confess,
The wonders of His glorious love,
And my own worthlessness.
5
I take, O cross, thy shadow
For my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine than
The sunshine of His face;
Content to let the world go by,
To know no gain nor loss,
My sinful self my only shame,
My glory all the cross.
For my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine than
The sunshine of His face;
Content to let the world go by,
To know no gain nor loss,
My sinful self my only shame,
My glory all the cross.
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Kansas City, Missouri (MO), United States
Earl, I also love the part that goes, "My sinful self my only shame, my glory all the cross." I interpret this to mean that the only thing I need to be ashamed of is my sin, and the only thing ("all") I want to be proud of is the cross (who I am because of Jesus having become my righteousness).
Alexandria, VA, United States
I can't help but weep when reading "My sinful self my only shame" but don't understand the last line "My glory all the cross". My mind wants it to say "MY glory on the cross".
How do you interpret the last line?
Truly blessed by the song.
Tauranga, New Zealand
Hagar running from the tensions of the Sarai/Abram home (Gen. 16) found a well in the wilderness of her life at that time. "A home within the wilderness, a rest upon the way, From the burning of the noontide heat, and the burden of the way." There she met the Angel of the Lord and discovered that she was seen. She gave the angel a name; Elroi - the God who sees. She named the well Beer-la-hai-roi or the God who sees and was seen. We have a well in the wilderness of life. It is always fresh and deep and satisfying life's parched pathway. Christ supplies its fresh fountains.
Montgomery, IL, United States
What manner of love is this? The 4th and 5th verse says it all. Praise God for His great love for us.
Cary, NC, United States
Composing a Sonnet to add to this chain....
Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
My Mama's favorite hymn..... So many times I would arrive home from school to hear her singing that 5th verse ....
Rimrock, AZ, United States
We never lose the need to abide in the shadow of the cross. The world denies that Jesus died to save sinners. How we rejoice that the cross is empty and the tomb!
Raleigh, NC, United States
As I read the words to this hymn I'm once again reminded that everyone is level at the foot of the cross! And how thankful and overwhelmed I am that He chose me (a wretched sinner) before the foundation of the world. The world holds nothing for me, all is vanity apart from knowing Jesus Christ my LORD and SAVIOR! That HE loves me, is beyond comprehension, except the HE is Love! I praise HIM and love HIM and and pray I will do that all the days HE gives me breath!!
New Mexico, United States
I see something new each time I read these words. 'My sinful self my only shame, my glory all the cross' - Amen.