The Worshipbook ‎#389

389. God Is Working His Purpose Out

1 God is working his purpose out
As year succeeds to year:
God is working his purpose out,
And the time is drawing near;
Nearer and nearer draws the time,
The time that shall surely be,
When the earth shall be filled with the glory of God
As the waters cover the sea.

2 What can we do to work God's work,
To prosper and increase
The brotherhood of all mankind,
The reign of the Prince of Peace?
What can we do to hasten the time,
The time that shall surely be,
When the earth shall be filled with the glory of God
As the waters cover the sea.

3 March we forth in the strength of God,
With the banner of Christ unfurled,
That the light of the glorious gospel of truth
May shine throughout the world:
Fight we the fight with sorrow and sin
To set their captives free,
That the earth may be filled with the glory of God
As the waters cover the sea.

4 All we can do is nothing worth
Unless God blesses the deed;
Vainly we hope for the harvest-tide
Till God gives life to the seed;
Yet nearer and nearer draws the time,
The time that shall surely be,
When the earth shall be filled with the glory of God
As the waters cover the sea.

Amen.

Text Information

• First Line: God is working his purpose out
• Title: God Is Working His Purpose Out
• Author: Arthur Campbell Ainger (1894)
• Meter: Irregular
• Publication Date: 1972
• Scripture:
  Ephesians 1:9-11
• Topic: Service for the Lord's Day: After Creed; Civil Year: New Year; Other Observances: Ecumenism; Other Observances: Mission; Other Observances: World Peace

Tune Information

• Name: PURPOSE
• Composer: Martin Shaw (1931)
• Meter: Irregular
• Key: f minor
• Copyright: Music from Songs of Praise, Enlarged Edition; used by permission of Oxford University Press.