The King

The King - when he came an acclamation
Rang out from a heav'nly choir.
The angels above
Sang of mercy and love
Goodwill to all people on earth.
His mother she saw
Past the manger and straw,
The pain and the passion of birth,
The Light of the World - her son, Redeemer -
Who'd burn up with holy fire.

The King he announced with power, with passion,
The rule he would usher in.
The blind they will see
And the captive go free
To live in his Kingdom of grace.
For all who believe
Will his pardon receive
And find by his mercy: a place,
A seat by his throne, a home, a mansion,
An end to the reign of sin.

The King in his crown of thorns was beaten,
Then nailed to a cruel tree.
Abandoned, alone
And so far from his throne
He took what the demons could hurl.
And there, crucified,
Lion-hearted he died -
The Lamb for the sin of the world.
A tomb for a womb, the prophets' whispers
Would birth a dawn victory.

The King, when he comes again, will conquer.
His river of grace will flow.
The last will be first
And the dead they will burst
To life at the sound of his voice.
And round by his throne
The King gathers his own -
His children, his bride. Oh rejoice!
The King, when he comes, will reign in triumph,
As prophets said long ago.

Nigel Bovey

War Cry 19 December 2009 - TSA UK