Israel's Call

Not to the mount that might be touched,
Not to the flame that flared
Above its crest and o‘er its breast
While heaven’s power was bared;
Not to the earth that rended, quaked
O’er dark, tempestuous way;
But to the land that God hath planned
Move Zion’s hosts today.

Not to the law that Moses wrote
On tabled stones of yore,
Giving each line of will divine
In moral code and lore;
But to prophetic time that now
Points to their rightful home,
From out the death-hued centuries
God’s Israel has come.

Jerusalem awakes at length,
Her royal robes puts on,
And glories as of former strength
Shall clothe her as the sun;
And brighter shall her treasure grow,
And all the world shall see
That God hath brought her foes to naught
And sent her Jubilee.

Rich farming lands and orchards fair
Her wealth in store proclaim,
And men rejoice to hear the voice
That sounds abroad her name;
Each school in pride of learning stands,
Each home of beauty marks
Modern advancement in the land
Where dwelt the patriarchs.

God has his time to cause the morn
To spread its gold on high,
And for the diamonds of the night
To gem the vaulted sky;
So in the ages as they move
Past as on mighty wing,
The time is set for Harvest Home,
When Zion’s hills shall sing.

The world moves on from dark to light,
The Plan of God is sure,
And all the fortresses of might
‘Gainst justice can’t endure.
Have courage then, O Israel,
And bear this fact in store,
Earth’s Golden Age, your heritage
Of life forever more.