If I rise on the wings of the dawn

Authors:
Themes:
Scriptures:
  • Psalms 139
Book Number:
  • 1016

If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
seek the lands that lie over the sea;
if I go to the heavens, if I live in the depths,
if I hide in the darkness, you are there.
You are there, where your light shines like day,
you are there.

1. O Lord you have searched me, you know me.
You know when I sit, when I rise.
You see when I weep, you watch as I sleep,
not a thought can be hid from your eyes.

2. O Lord you stand firm round about me,
your hand to sustain and uphold.
your knowledge so vast, it’s beyond me to grasp,
but your wisdom surrounds and enfolds.

If I rise…

3. O Lord you created my being.
Your presence was there at my start.
Each day on this earth you could see from my birth,
all my life written full on your heart.

4. O, Lord, I would ask you to search me,
to know every thought of my heart.
to wash me anew and lead me on through,
so my life can be yours – every part.

If I rise…

© 1993 Andrew Lane
Andrew Lane

Psalms

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The story behind the hymn

Andrew Lane writes, “the Psalms are perhaps the richest available source of hymns, yet most of them have fallen out of modern usage. Although many are difficult to sing, there are a few which are precious to many and can be more easily adapted into a worship song recognisable and acceptable to today’s worshippers. This setting of Psalm 139 has become a popular addition to the canon of scripture-based worship songs and provides a faithful yet contemporary expression of these beautiful words”.

A look at the author

Lane, Andrew

b 1959, Cambridge) is a professional writer who works in broadcasting. He leads the worship in an FIEC church. Apart from his main work, he has published Just for Me, a collection of new worship songs; The Flammable Ones, a volume of poetry for Advent and Christmas and three Christmas musicals. Andrew has won a prize in an international poetry competition and runs song writing workshops nationwide. Numbers 1015, 1016.