Piano Demo
0:00
Hymnal Number
658Resource Type:
Keys included:
F
About this Hymn
On January 3, 1956, five missionaries sang "We Rest on Thee" before entering the Ecuadorian jungle to bring the gospel to the Waorani (or Auca) peoples. They were never to be seen again, and this hymn by humble, sickly British poet Edith Cherry, inspired by the Old Testament story of godly King Asa and sung to the tune FINLANDIA, became the best-known missionary hymn of the twentieth century.
Lyrics
Verse 1
We rest on thee, our Shield and our Defender! We go not forth alone against the foe; strong in thy strength, safe in thy keeping tender, we rest on thee, and in thy name we go; strong in thy strength, safe in thy keeping tender, we rest on thee, and in thy name we go.
Verse 2
Yea, in thy name, O Captain of salvation! In thy dear name, all other names above: Jesus our righteousness, our sure foundation, our Prince of glory and our King of love, Jesus our righteousness, our sure foundation, our Prince of glory and our King of love.
Verse 3
We go in faith, our own great weakness feeling, and needing more each day thy grace to know: yet from our hearts a song of triumph pealing, "We rest on thee, and in thy name we go"; yet from our hearts a song of triumph pealing, "We rest on thee, and in thy name we go."
Verse 4
We rest on thee, our Shield and our Defender! Thine is the battle, thine shall be the praise; when passing through the gates of pearly splendor, victors, we rest with thee, through endless days; when passing through the gates of pearly splendor, victors, we rest with thee, through endless days.
We rest on thee, our Shield and our Defender! We go not forth alone against the foe; strong in thy strength, safe in thy keeping tender, we rest on thee, and in thy name we go; strong in thy strength, safe in thy keeping tender, we rest on thee, and in thy name we go.
Verse 2
Yea, in thy name, O Captain of salvation! In thy dear name, all other names above: Jesus our righteousness, our sure foundation, our Prince of glory and our King of love, Jesus our righteousness, our sure foundation, our Prince of glory and our King of love.
Verse 3
We go in faith, our own great weakness feeling, and needing more each day thy grace to know: yet from our hearts a song of triumph pealing, "We rest on thee, and in thy name we go"; yet from our hearts a song of triumph pealing, "We rest on thee, and in thy name we go."
Verse 4
We rest on thee, our Shield and our Defender! Thine is the battle, thine shall be the praise; when passing through the gates of pearly splendor, victors, we rest with thee, through endless days; when passing through the gates of pearly splendor, victors, we rest with thee, through endless days.
Copyrighted lyrics may be used in corporate worship in accordance with a valid CCLI license. Lyrics should be displayed unaltered and include author and copyright information. All other uses require permission from the copyright holder.
Attribution & Copyright
Words: Edith G. Cherry, ca. 1895
Music: Jean Sibelius, 1899
Music: Jean Sibelius, 1899