Charles Wesley - Thou, Who Hast In Zion Laid Lyrics
Lyrics
1 THOU, who hast in Zion laid
The true foundation-stone,
And with those a covenant made,
Who build on that alone:
Hear us, architect divine,
Great builder of thy church below!
Now upon thy servants shine,
Who seeketh praise to show.
2 Earth is thine; her thousand hills
Thy mighty hand sustains;
Heaven thy awful presence fills;
O'er all thy glory reigns:
Yet the place of old prepared
By regal David's favoured son
Thy peculiar blessing shared,
And stood thy chosen throne.
3 We, like Jesse's son, would raise
A temple to the Lord;
Sound throughout its courts his praise,
His saving name record;
Dedicate a house to him,
Who, once in mortal weakness shrined,
Sorrowed, suffered, to redeem,
To rescue all mankind.
4 Father, Son, and Spirit, send
The consecrating flame;
Now in majesty descend,
Inscribe the living name;
That great name by which we live
Now write on this accepted stone;
Us into thy hands receive,
Our temple make thy throne.
Video
O Thou Who Camest From Above (Hymn with words and music) - Charles Wesley
Meaning & Inspiration
Charles Wesley's "Thou, Who Hast In Zion Laid" is a profound invocation, a hymn steeped in the rich tradition of Old Testament temple dedication, powerfully reinterpreted through the lens of Christian faith. While this specific arrangement was released in 2010, its theological roots run much deeper, connecting directly to the aspirations and divine promises articulated throughout Scripture. The hymn immediately establishes God as the ultimate architect, laying the "true foundation-stone" in Zion – a clear allusion to Jesus Christ, the cornerstone of the Church, as prophesied in Isaiah 28:16 and affirmed by Peter in 1 Peter 2:6-7. The covenant made with those who build on this foundation speaks to the New Covenant established through Christ’s sacrifice, offering salvation to all who place their faith in Him.
The hymn then expands its scope, acknowledging God's sovereignty over all creation, from the "thousand hills" to the entirety of heaven. Yet, it focuses on a specific, chosen place – the temple built by King David's son, Solomon, which stood as a symbol of God's dwelling among His people. This historical context is crucial, as it sets the stage for the hymn's central plea: to dedicate a new spiritual temple. The lyrics resonate with the Old Testament desire to honor God with a physical structure, but pivot to an understanding of the Church as a living, breathing community built upon Christ. This echoes the sentiment of 2 Chronicles 6:18, where Solomon questions if God would indeed dwell on earth, and points toward the New Testament understanding that believers themselves are now the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16).
The third stanza powerfully draws parallels between the psalmists and David, who longed to praise God and record His saving name. We are invited to emulate this spirit, raising a "temple to the Lord" not of stone and mortar, but of lives dedicated to His service. The hymn directly connects this dedication to Christ's earthly ministry, His suffering and sorrow, undertaken "to redeem, To rescue all mankind." This is the heart of the Gospel message, a reminder of the immense cost of our salvation and the boundless love that motivated it. The act of dedication described is not merely a ritual but a heartfelt commitment to living out the redeemed life, reflecting the sacrifice made for us.
The final stanza is a soaring prayer for consecration, calling upon the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to descend and imbue the dedicated space – whether it be a physical building or the assembled body of believers – with His presence. The "inscrib[ing of] the living name" is a powerful image of belonging and identity in Christ, a testament to being accepted by God. This connects directly to the promise in Revelation 3:12 of writing upon the one who overcomes the name of God and the name of the New Jerusalem. The hymn concludes with a surrender, a humble offering of ourselves and our devotion, asking God to make our gathered space His dwelling place. It’s a beautiful articulation of the transformative power of God's presence and the enduring call to live as His people, a spiritual temple through which His glory can be made known.