Giver and Guardian of my sleep

Details

Hymnal / album Hymns and Sacred Poems (1742)

Publisher William Strahan

Copyright Public Domain (Disclaimer: This is not legal advice. The publication year, if correct, suggests that this work may be in public domain in the U.S..)

Notes Introduced in Hymns and Sacred Poems (1742), published by John and Charles Wesley (London: William Strahan, 1742). Published in The Poetical Works of John and Charles Wesley, Collected and Arranged by G. Osborn, Vol. 2 (London: Wesleyan-Methodist Conference Office, 1869), page 140. A portion of this hymn was later published separately as "Thy Will Be Done" or "Thy Presence, Lord, the place shall fill."

Scripture connections

Expository

This passage is the main idea of the song

Matthew 6:10

References

Verses this song directly draws from

Psalm 73:25 Psalm 127:2 Isaiah 61:1 Zechariah 9:12 Luke 4:18 Luke 22:42 I Corinthians 3:16 Philippians 2:5-8 I John 3:2 I John 5:14-15

Lyrics

Verse 1
Giver, and guardian of my sleep, (Ps. 127:2, Ps. 4:8)
To praise thy name I wake,
Still, Lord, thy helpless servant keep (Ps. 86:2)
For thy own mercy’s sake.

Verse 2
The blessing of another day (Ps. 118:24)
I thankfully receive:
O may I only thee obey,
And to thy glory live. (I Cor. 10:31)

Verse 3
Vouchsafe to keep my soul from sin, (Ps. 19:13)
Its cruel power suspend, (Rom. 6:14)
Till all this strife and war within (Rom. 7:23, James 4:1)
In perfect peace shall end. (Isa. 26:3)

Verse 4
O respite me from self and pride,
Curb, and keep down my will,
My appetites and passions chide, (Rom. 8:13)
And bid the sea be still. (Matt. 8:26, Mark 4:39, Luke 8:24, Ps. 107:29)

Verse 5
Upon me lay thy mighty hand, (I Pet. 5:6)
My words and thoughts restrain, (Ps. 19:14, II Cor. 10:5)
Bow my whole soul to thy command,
Nor let my faith be vain. (I Cor. 15:14)

Verse 6
Prisoner of hope, I wait the hour (Zech. 9:12)
Which shall salvation bring, (Isa. 49:8, II Cor. 6:2)
When all I am shall own thy power,
And call my Jesus King.

Verse 7
Thou wilt, I stedfastly believe,
Thou wilt the captive free, (Isa. 61:1, Luke 4:18, John 8:36)
Freedom, full, perfect freedom give,
And more than victory. (Rom. 8:37, I Cor. 15:57)

Verse 8
Tho’ now to every sin inclin’d, (Rom. 7:15-20)
I shall be as thou art, (I Jn. 3:2)
Lowly as thine shall be my mind, (Matt. 11:29, Phil. 2:5-8)
And meek and pure my heart. (Matt. 5:8)

Verse 9
Anger, and lust thou wilt expel, (Gal. 3:5-8, Gal. 5:24)
And pride by stronger grace, (James 4:6)
They can in me no longer dwell,
When Jesus fills the place. (Eph. 3:17)

Verse 10
Thy presence, Lord, the place shall fill, (Ex. 40:34-35)
My heart shall be thy throne, (I Cor. 3:16)
Thy holy, just, and perfect will (Rom. 12:2)
Shall in my flesh be done. (Matt. 6:10, Luke 11:2, Gal. 2:20)

Verse 11
I thank thee for the future grace,
And now in hope rejoice, (Rom. 5:2, Rom. 12:12)
In confidence to see thy face, (Ps 17:15, I Cor. 13:12, Rev. 22:4)
And always hear thy voice: (John 10:27)

Verse 12
I have the things I ask of thee, (I Jn. 5:14-15)
What shall I more require? (Phil. 4:11)
That still my soul may restless be,
And only thee desire. (Ps. 73:25, Ps. 37:4, Matt. 6:33)

Verse 13
Or let me (if I more would have)
This last desire submit,
And lye, till thou seest good to save,
Expecting at thy feet. (Matt. 15:30, Mark 5:22, Mark 7:25, Luke 8:35, Luke 8:41, Luke 10:39, Luke 17:16, John 11:32)

Verse 14
Thy only will be done, not mine, (Matt. 26:39, Luke 22:42)
But make me, Lord, thy home, (John 14:23, Eph. 3:17)
Come when thou wilt, I that resign,
But O! My Jesus, come! (I Cor. 16:22, Rev. 22:20)