We Were Wanderers

“O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, Thou hast covered my head in the day of battle” (Psalm 140:7).  “The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets” (Proverbs 26:13).  “Hide the outcasts; betray not him that wandereth… Let Mine outcasts dwell with thee… be thou a covert to them from the face of the spoiler” (Isaiah 16:3,4).   “Among whom also we… were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.  But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us,  even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)… Wherefore remember, that ye… were without Christ… having no hope, and without God in the world:  but now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:3-13). 

We would have perished in the battle

If God did not protect our head. 

We wandered off like aimless cattle,

And but for mercy, we’d be dead. 

We all had wandered from the Lord;

We all, like sheep, had gone astray.

Our destiny with judgment’s sword

Was drawing closer day by day.

But God in mercy rescued us! 

To our defense we saw Him race,

Arriving at the cross, and thus

He paid our debt with saving grace.

A lion yet is in the street

Who stalks the souls he would devour.

But God equips us now to meet

That lion with His greater power.

“Hide the outcasts,” God commands,

Who wander as you also did!

Be a covert in all lands

To show them where they may be hid!

Show them that there is a path

Where they my flee and safely dwell

To be delivered from the wrath

Awaiting in eternal hell.

 
O Lord, we thank You for the plan

That You fulfilled to save the lost: 

As Holy God and Kindred Man,   

You gave Yourself to pay the cost!

And now, O Lord, we look to You

That You may daily be our Guide

To show wanderer it’s true:

In Christ there is a place to hide!