Do not hold on to former things

Do not hold on to former things,

Forget the deeds of old; 

God comes to do a new thing now - 

O hear this work foretold!

In wilderness God makes a way,

In deserts makes a stream;

In places dry and desolate

See living waters teem!

 

All creatures now give honor to 

The God who makes them live; 

To animals and people both

This water God will give.

This water in the wilderness,

This flowing desert stream 

God makes to give the people life

To hope, rejoice, and dream.

 

This people God has made to serve,

The ones now called God's own

Can now declare God's praise aloud

Instead of weep and groan.

Do not hold on to former things,

Forget the deeds of old;

God comes to do a new work now - 

O see this work unfold!

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, June 2023, after Isaiah 43:18-21.

MUSIC: Tune SALVATION, Kentucky Harmony, 1816 (various harmonizations)

 

 

Second time in a row I've attended the Worship & Music Conference at Montreat and come up with a hymn text set to the tune SALVATION, a pre-Sacred Harp shape-note tune that oughta get sung more. Another simple and not overly lofty motivation happened here; after an intensive Bible study session on this text, I looked in Glory to God: The Presbyterian Hymnal to see what hymn had been made for it. Finding none, I got provoked to write this.