COME YE DISCONSOLATE!

COME YE DISCONSOLATE!

Jeremiah 31:13

I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.

Come, ye disconsolate, where’er ye languish,
Come to the mercy seat, fervently kneel.
Here bring your wounded hearts, here tell your anguish;
Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.

Joy of the desolate, light of the straying,
Hope of the penitent, fadeless and pure!
Here speaks the Comforter, tenderly saying,
“Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot cure.”

Here see the Bread of Life, see waters flowing
Forth from the throne of God, pure from above.
Come to the feast of love; come, ever knowing
Earth has no sorrow but heaven can remove.

Words: Thom­as Moore, Sac­red Songs, 1816.

Music: Con­sol­a­tor, Sam­u­el Webbe, Sr.,

          Merriam-Webster defines the old word “disconsolate” as “hopelessly sad.” Jeremiah’s ministry was first to break up and to pull down and then, later, to build up and to plant (Jeremiah 1:10). God’s promise was that He would give Israel rejoicing for their sorrow.

          Evidently, in 1816, churches had on staff “consolators” who’s sole business it was to provide cheer and comfort to those who were hopelessly sad. I’ve never known a time when we are more in need of them! Our fast and loose culture has beaten us up! Our own choices have wounded us as well as the evil deeds of others. We need consolation.

          Thomas Moore bids us come to the mercy seat, a reference to the table top of the Ark of the Covenant in the most holy place in the tabernacle. On this was sprinkled the blood of the sacrifice and sins would be forgiven. He bids us to fervently kneel and receive the forgiveness freely paid for. Our mercy seat is a rugged and bloodied cross. There, once for all, Jesus paid the sin debt for all who will receive it.

          Here bring your wounded hearts, here bring your anguish! In this whirling world just where do we flee for refuge? Some flee to a bottle only to wound themselves further. Others to drugs, wild amusements, and excess. Behind every smiling face may lurk a wounded heart. Be sensitive to them today.

Heb 6:18-19

18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

Dear Lord, we need not be hopelessly sad because you have overcome the world. Lord be our consolator today as we bring to you our wounded hearts. AMEN