ORSBORNAGAIN (9)
A devotional series by Major Rob Birks
ORSBORNAGAIN is meant to introduce the poetry of the first Poet General, Albert Orsborn (1886-1967) to a new audience and to reintroduce his works to dyed-in-the-(tropical)-wool Salvationists.
These are not new songs.
However, the lyrics are jam-packed with new life, which may be missed during corporate worship. Re-examined through scripture and experience, Rob Birks intends through an examination of these scared songs to renew the spiritual fervor of believers, and point seekers to their Savior.
When shall I come unto the healing waters?
Lifting my heart, I cry to thee my prayer.
Spirit of peace, my Comforter and healer,
In whom my springs are found, let my soul meet thee there.
From a hill I know,
Healing waters, flow:
O rise, Immanuel’s tide,
And my soul overflow!
Wash from my hands the dust of earthly striving;
Take from my mind the stress of secret fear;
Cleanse thou the wounds from all but thee far hidden.
And when the waters flow let my healing appear.
Light, life and love are in that healing fountain,
All I require to cleanse me and restore;
Flow through my soul, redeem its desert places,
And make a garden there for the Lord I adore.
Albert Orsborn
742 – Our Response to God, Holiness, Wholeness
Oh, come on! Are you kidding me? If those aren’t some of the most beautiful words ever written, then I don’t know what beauty is. I dare you to re-read them right now. Read them out loud, even if you’re surrounded by other people. For me, this song isn’t just about healing, it is healing. Its words are like a balm for a weary soul who is worn out from “earthly striving,” stressed out from “secret fear,” and whose wounds are found out, and cleansed, when the waters flow from “Immanuel’s tide.”
There is no question that when Orsborn speaks of healing waters flowing from a hill, he’s referring to Jesus Christ and the blood he shed for all humankind. Remember, Orsborn’s poetry is Christ-centric. For him, it’s all Jesus, all the time! And there is no question that God is concerned with the physical health and healing of the men, women and children he lovingly created and cares for. Of course we reject any sort of unbiblical health and wealth gospel. But even a cursory read through the four Gospels would lead any sensible reader to conclude that Jesus is concerned with the physical well being of fallen humanity. Just ask the leper, or the 10 lepers, healed by Jesus. Ask the centurion’s servant, or Peter’s mother-in-law, or the bleeding woman, or the two blind men, or the blind man at Bethsaida, or the man born blind, or the deaf mute, or the paralytic, or the many sick people with various diseases. Heck, ask Lazarus someday. All of these people, and many more, had some aspect of their physical life restored to them. Jesus cares about physical restoration. So when we consider this great song, we must remember that physical healing happens by the hands of Jesus. It doesn’t always happen. But when it does happen, Jesus has a hand in it.
As I see it, however, this song is getting at something beneath our leprous skin. Orsborn’s writing pen is poking at some part of us that is well past our blinded eyes and deaf ears. These words long for and speak of a healing available for soul-sickness. We all suffer from it. It comes with our fallen human condition. There are “desert places” within each of us that need to be redeemed by the “healing waters” that flow freely from “Immanuel’s tide.”
When I was growing up, our family would spend a week or so each summer with other Salvation Army families at “Sally’s Trailer Club.” Our leader, or wagonmaster, was the perpetually cool, always awesome, spiritual giant Brigadier Bob Yardley (“Uncle Bob” to us young’uns). We’d enjoy separate family time during the day and meet for united campfires at night. It was so much fun!
“Sally’s” usually met in a campground in Mammoth Lakes, California. Not far from camp were the Mammoth Hot Springs. This was a popular destination during those campouts. Some people would sit in the springs until they couldn’t stand the heat any longer. I’m sure some people considered these to be “healing waters.” I just remember two things: 1. They weren’t as cool as a pool, and 2. They stunk like a skunk!
No joke. These waters did not smell good. I’m sure I took a dip or two as a kid, ‘cause that’s what was expected. After all, everybody was doing it. But there’s something weird about wading in water that makes you feel dirtier than you felt when you entered into it. Seriously, I think I smelled decent going in (well, I was a normal pre-teen boy), but I definitely needed a shower after those springs got all over me.
What does any of that have to do with this song? Just this: The healing waters referred to here have little in common with the Mammoth Hot Springs, except that God had a hand in both streams. Other than that, they are polar opposites. “Immanuel’s tide” is accessible to all who want to wade there, not just those who have the luxury of a vacation. “Immanuel’s tide” actually contains healing properties, instead of merely making you feel good until you burn. “Immanuel’s tide” will wash you clean, and take away the stench of sin and death, and decay. The hot springs at Mammoth will … well … they won’t do that. Natural springs are nice to look at (if not to smell). The supernatural springs flowing from “Immanuel’s tide” will save your life!
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness (Matt. 9:35).