Olney Hymns (1840)/Book 1/Hymn 49

49.
He led them by a right Way.—Psalm cvii, 7.

1 When Israel was from Egypt freed,
The Lord, who brought them out,
Help'd them in every time of need,
But led them round about.

2 To enter Canaan soon they hoped;
But quickly changed their mind,
When the Red sea their passage stopp'd,
And Pharaoh march'd behind.

3 The desert fill'd them with alarms
For water and for food;
And Amalek, by force of arms,
To check their progress stood.

4 They often murmur'd by the way,
Because they judged by sight;
But were at length constrain'd to say,
The Lord had led them right.

5 In the Red sea, that stopp'd them first,
Their enemies were drown'd;
The rocks gave water for their thirst,
And manna spread the ground.

6 By fire and cloud their way was shown
Across the pathless sands;
And Amalek was overthrown
By Moses' lifted hands.

7 The way was right their hearts to prove,
To make God's glory known,
And show his wisdom, pow'r, and love,
Engaged to save his own.

8 Just so the true believer's path
Through many dangers lies;
Though dark to sense, 'tis light to faith,
And leads us to the skies.