Poems (Shipton)/The Watch-Tower
THE WATCH-TOWER.
"Let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in Thee."—Psalm xxv. 20.
"Thou shalt know that I am the Lord: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for Me."—Isaiah xlix. 23.
"It will surely come, it will not tarry."—Habakkuk ii. 3.
I will stand alone on my watch-tower,
And hear what my Lord will say;
I've watched there many a midnight,
And the noon of a sultry day.
I have cast my bread on the waters;
I shall surely find it again,
Though now, to my poor heart's vision,
It seems to be all in vain.
And hear what my Lord will say;
I've watched there many a midnight,
And the noon of a sultry day.
I have cast my bread on the waters;
I shall surely find it again,
Though now, to my poor heart's vision,
It seems to be all in vain.
The Lord hath His time appointed;
I know not when it may be;
But the blessing my soul is seeking
Will be given at last to me.
It may come in the silent watches,
When the world lieth weary and still;
It may come when my hope sinks lowest,
The depth of my spirit to thrill.
I know not when it may be;
But the blessing my soul is seeking
Will be given at last to me.
It may come in the silent watches,
When the world lieth weary and still;
It may come when my hope sinks lowest,
The depth of my spirit to thrill.
I know it will come. I am gazing
Into the distance afar,
As the wise men watched for the rising,
Through Eastern night, of their star:
And a star will rise on my darkness
That Herod shall ne'er destroy;
I shall know the light I have longed for,
And "rejoice with exceeding joy."
Into the distance afar,
As the wise men watched for the rising,
Through Eastern night, of their star:
And a star will rise on my darkness
That Herod shall ne'er destroy;
I shall know the light I have longed for,
And "rejoice with exceeding joy."
It may come in another fashion
Than e'er I pictured its ray;
It may rise o'er the dull, cold mountain,
Like the dawn of a summer's day.
It may come like the lightning flashing,
Or loud as the thunder's blast;
But the Lord, who is strong in battle,
Will answer my prayer at last.
Than e'er I pictured its ray;
It may rise o'er the dull, cold mountain,
Like the dawn of a summer's day.
It may come like the lightning flashing,
Or loud as the thunder's blast;
But the Lord, who is strong in battle,
Will answer my prayer at last.
Thou hast spoken, and Thou wilt do it:
I will tarry in hope, and see;
For none ever walked in darkness,
And waited in vain for Thee.
I know that my prayer will be answered;
The Lord never comes too late;
And the heart that will trust Him fully
Shall never be desolate.
I will tarry in hope, and see;
For none ever walked in darkness,
And waited in vain for Thee.
I know that my prayer will be answered;
The Lord never comes too late;
And the heart that will trust Him fully
Shall never be desolate.
It may come when my dust lies sleeping,
Awaiting my Saviour's call;
But my last prayer, safe in His keeping,
Will shine there fairest of all.
It may come when the enemy scoffeth,
But I will believe Thee, Lord;
For they who dwell in Thy presence,
May take their rest on Thy word.
Awaiting my Saviour's call;
But my last prayer, safe in His keeping,
Will shine there fairest of all.
It may come when the enemy scoffeth,
But I will believe Thee, Lord;
For they who dwell in Thy presence,
May take their rest on Thy word.
My star—nay, Thy star, my Master!—
To shine in Thy crown so fair:
This is my hope in my sadness,
This is the strength of my prayer.
Thou workest in signs and wonders:
Thy promise shall cheer me again.
Long have I waited on Thee, Lord;
None ever waited in vain.
To shine in Thy crown so fair:
This is my hope in my sadness,
This is the strength of my prayer.
Thou workest in signs and wonders:
Thy promise shall cheer me again.
Long have I waited on Thee, Lord;
None ever waited in vain.
I will stand alone on my watch-tower,
If so I may do Thy will:
Keep me to watch for my star-rise,
Patiently watching there still.
Thou wilt answer my prayer for Thy glory,
Master beloved! Thou wilt bless,
And quicken my heart in Thy praises,
To tell of Thy faithfulness.
If so I may do Thy will:
Keep me to watch for my star-rise,
Patiently watching there still.
Thou wilt answer my prayer for Thy glory,
Master beloved! Thou wilt bless,
And quicken my heart in Thy praises,
To tell of Thy faithfulness.
"Therefore I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me."—Micah vii. 7.