Back

Sweet word of consolation

Authors:

Jolly, Hilary Jean

Themes:

Scriptures:

Isaiah 40:25

Book Number:

1163

Sweet word of consolation;
this God will not reject
his wayward, sinful nation,
yet loved and yet elect.
Though exiled now and tearful,
their strength he shall restore,
till they, the faint and fearful,
on wings of eagles soar.

2. Great word of vindication!
The promised Chosen One,
sin’s scourge and condemnation,
God’s servant and his Son,
yet in his power remembers
a broken people’s need.
He will not quench the embers,
nor snap a drooping reed.

3. Dear word from heaven proceeding
like winter snow and rain,
in silent blessing feeding
the summer fields of grain!
God’s word shall not be broken.
The faithful heart must learn
it is not vainly spoken,
nor empty will return.

4. O word of dereliction!
The Servant meekly bore
their sin and their affliction
in pain and sorrow sore.
Yet word of all most glorious!
He is their risen Lord
who will return victorious;
God’s true incarnate Word.
(Based on Isaiah 40–55)

The Bible - Authority and Sufficiency

Downloadable Items

Would you like access to our downloadable resources?

Unlock downloadable content for this hymn by subscribing today. Enjoy exclusive resources and expand your collection with our additional curated materials!

Subscribe now

If you already have a subscription, log in here to regain access to your items.

Tune

Penlan
Metre:
- 76 76 D
Composer:
- Jenkins, David

A look at the author

Jolly, Hilary Jean

b Watford, Herts 1945. Watford Girls’ Grammar Sch and Ecole d’Etudes Bilingues du Lycée Français de Londres. Following a ‘Damascus Rd’ conversion to Christ, she became a member of St Andrew the Great Ch, Cambridge, worked for the church part-time 1994–2002, and also from 1999 as a charity shop manager for a Christian youth and community centre. She has also been involved in supporting sufferers from schizophrenia. Encouraged by Christopher Hayward (qv) she began writing hymns, often as she walked with her dog on Cambridge’s Coe Fen. Her first published work was the prizewinning text (1999) for the St Paul’s Cathedral Millennium Hymn Competition, Through the darkness of the ages, though other texts had already come 1st and 3rd in a smaller-scale competition run by the Association of Christian Writers. Her best-known hymn now features in Sing Glory (1999) and elsewhere; one not included here is the carol-like text, O Mary, rock your little boy. In 2005 she joined the Jubilate Hymns ‘Text Advisory Group’ (TAG) for the assessment of new hymns. See also the survey and appreciation by Brian West in HSB 19.10, April 2011. Nos.685, 789, 861, 1163.