Deck Thyself My Soul With Gladness – Hymn Lyric
The hymn “Deck Thyself, My Soul With Gladness” encourages us to embrace joy and gratitude, casting away any feelings of sadness or gloom. It reminds us of the immense love and grace of our Creator, who invites us to partake in a wondrous banquet of life. As we open our hearts to receive this gift of love, may we always remember the sacrifice and love of our Savior, responding with gratitude and obedience.
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Deck Thyself My Soul With Gladness – Hymn Lyric
Deck thyself, my soul, with gladness,
Leave the gloomy haunts of sadness,
Come into the day-light‘s splendor,
There with joy thy praises render
Unto Him, whose grace unbounded
Hath this wondrous banquet founded;
High o’er all the earth He reigneth,
Yet to dwell with thee He deigneth.
Hasten as a bride to meet Him,
And with loving reverence greet Him,
For with words of life immortal
Now He knocketh at thy portal;
Open wide the gates before Him,
Saying, while thou dost adore Him,
“Suffer, Lord, that I receive Thee,
And I nevermore will leave Thee.”
He who costly goods desireth
To obtain, much gold requireth;
But to freely give the treasure
Of Thy love is Thy good pleasure,
For on earth there is no coffer
Which as payment we might offer
For this cup Thy blood containing,
And this manna on us raining.
Ah! how hungers all my spirit
For the love I do not merit!
Oft have I, with sighs fast thronging,
Thought upon this food with longing;
In the battle, well-nigh worsted,
For this cup of life have thirsted,
For the Friend who here invites us
And to God Himself unites us.
Sun, who all my life dost brighten,
Light, who dost my soul enlighten,
Joy, the sweetest man e’er knoweth,
Fount, whence all my being floweth,
At Thy feet I cry, my Maker,
Let me be a fit partaker
Of this blessed food from heaven,
For our good, Thy glory, given.
Lord, Thy fervent love hath driven
Thee to leave Thy throne in heaven,
For us on the cross to languish,
And to die in bitter anguish,
To forgo all joy and gladness,
And to shed Thy blood in sadness,
Which we drink now; grant that never
We forget Thy love, dear Saviour!
Jesus, Bread of Life, I pray Thee,
Let me gladly here obey Thee;
By Thy love I am invited,
Be Thy love with love requited;
From this banquet let me measure,
Lord, how vast and deep love’s treasure;
Through the gifts Thou here dost give me
As Thy guest in heaven receive me.
Amen.
Meaning of Deck Thyself My Soul With Gladness
Deck Thyself, My Soul With Gladness: Embracing Joy and Gratitude
In the words of this beautiful hymn, we are reminded to deck ourselves, our souls, with gladness. What does it mean to deck ourselves with gladness? It means to clothe ourselves with joy, to cast away any sadness or feelings of gloom, and to embrace the light and splendor of the day.
It’s easy to get caught up in the busyness and challenges of everyday life. We may find ourselves feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or discontent. But, as the hymn suggests, we are encouraged to come into the daylight’s splendor and offer our praises to the One who has provided us with this wondrous banquet of life.
Just like a bride eagerly prepares to meet her groom, we are called to eagerly and lovingly greet our Creator. We are reminded of the immensity of His grace and His desire to dwell with us, to be present in our lives. It’s a humbling and awe-inspiring thought to consider that the ruler of all the earth wants to be close to us, to walk alongside us in our journey.
The hymn speaks of the priceless gift of love that God freely gives to us. It’s a love that we don’t deserve, a love that is greater than any earthly treasure. We are invited to open wide the gates of our hearts and receive this gift with gratitude and adoration. It’s a love that sustains us, nourishes us, and unites us with our Creator.
There are moments in our lives when we may feel spiritually hungry, longing for something more. We may find ourselves in the midst of a battle, feeling weary and discouraged. In those times, we are reminded to turn to the source of all life and light, to cry out to our Maker and partake in the blessed food from heaven that He offers to us.
The hymn reflects on the sacrifice that Christ made for us, leaving His throne in heaven to die on the cross for our sake. It’s a reminder of the depth of His love and the extent to which He was willing to go to show us that love. As we partake in the bread of life, we are called to remember His sacrifice and to respond with gratitude and love in return.
As we come to the table set before us, we are invited to taste and see the goodness of the Lord. We are encouraged to let His love transform us, to let His grace and mercy shape us into who He has called us to be. It’s a banquet of love, a feast of joy and abundance that we are privileged to partake in.
Let us deck ourselves, our souls, with gladness. Let us embrace the joy and gratitude that come from knowing and being known by our Creator. As we journey through life, may we never forget the love that has been poured out for us, and may we always seek to respond with hearts full of love and gratitude.
In the words of the hymn, let us pray: “Lord, Thy fervent love hath driven Thee to leave Thy throne in heaven…grant that never we forget Thy love, dear Saviour! Jesus, Bread of Life, I pray Thee, let me gladly here obey Thee; through the gifts Thou here dost give me, as Thy guest in heaven receive me. Amen.”
I hope this hymn inspired image brings you hope and peace. Share it with someone who needs it today!
