The Lowliness of the Messiah

The Jews beheld with pride and scorn

The Sav­ior in His day;

They mocked His birth

and state for­lorn

His meek and hum­ble way.

Is this

the fool­ish people said

“A prince to rule our land?

We see no crown up­on his head

No scep­ter in his hand.

“Where is the long and sple­ndid track

Of tri­umphs all his own;

The arm to give to Ju­dah back

Her long lost

va­cant throne?

“When He

the Lord in whom we trust

Shall come to bless our race

His en­emies shall lick the dust

All na­tions seek His face.

And He

with pow’r by Heav’n as­signed

The hearts of men shall draw

To Mo­ses’ rules

till all man­kind

Shall own no oth­er law.

Alas! the veil was on their eyes

That hid the com­ing scene

And led them blind­ly to des­pise

The low­ly Na­za­rene.

A con­quer­or He o’er death and hell

Their armies to con­trol

The proud re­bel­li­ous thoughts to quell

And win the faith­ful soul.

A king

to whose di­vine com­mand

All pow’r and might are giv’n

To rule on earth in ev­ery land

And reign sup­reme in Heav’n.

A teach­er of the will di­vine

Almighty to im­part

His right­eous law; and

line on line

To write it on the heart.

He is our fort­ress and our rock

Our shep­herd

called of old;

For there shall be one hap­py flock

One Shep­herd of the fold.