Shall We Gather at the River?
History
It was a hot summer in Brooklyn. One of the hottest in memory. Spirits were low, and not only because of the stifling summer air—the American Civil War was tearing the nation apart and fever was running rampant. Nature itself was revolting against the turmoil and destruction caused by sinful hearts.
In the midst of this heat wave, a wave of both weather and temper, Dr. Robert Lowry meditated on the condition of the world. Dr. Lowry was the celebrated preacher and pastor of Hanson Place Baptist Church and after a day of visiting the sick and hurting in his community, he found himself completely exhausted.
As he rested, avoiding the oppressive heat, he began to contemplate the relief that people needed, and the words of Revelation 22 came to him. Brooklyn suffocated under the summer air, but Robert Lowry was daydreaming of the crystal-clear, refreshing water of life.
He would later speak of this moment, saying, “I began to wonder why the hymn writers had said so much about the ‘river of death’ and so little about the pure water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and the Lamb.”
The words the hymn came easily as he mused more and more on that concept. In the midst of what seemed like an uncertain hope, he felt compelled to ask, “Shall we gather?” and he imagined all of christendom answering in unison: ”Yes, we'll gather.”
Robert would publish the hymn, originally titled, "Hanson Place," the following year as part of the Sunday school song collection, "Happy Voices." The hymn would become a beloved song for many over the years, bringing Lowry no small amount of notoriety as a result. He recalls one moment at a Sunday school leaders forum in London where he intended to slip away unnoticed, but was called to the front in recognition. Of this experience he said, "I felt, after it was over, that I had perhaps done some little good in the world."
Devotion
In the midst of everything happening in Robert Lowry's context, it's no wonder he was able to lose himself in the refreshing imagery of that restoring river. Water is never more refreshing than we are parched by the dry summer heat. Likewise, God's healing, cleansing presence is never more welcome than when our soul is chapped and weathered.
As we read that narrative in Revelation 22, the imagery is provoking and hope-giving. Imagine what might have been going through Lowry's mind, during the disease and Civil War, as he read about the tree of life along the banks of that sweet river: "The leaves of the tree were for the healing of nations."
Where do we place our hope and our trust? Perspective matters.
When the unrelenting fires are bearing down on our hearts, do we languish against the heat or do we reflect on the water of life that Jesus himself promised the Samaritan woman in John 4? We can choose to stagnate and wait for our circumstance to chance, or we can grasp the hope that comes from God alone and "gather with the saints at the river."
Lowry reminds us that we can lay every burden down at that river.
As we learn to trust in that refreshing, life-giving promise, we not only see grace more clearly, we see that we have a responsibility. Just as the woman at the well did in John 4:39, we are compelled to share the story of God's restoration. It is our responsibility to share the story of life that we have.
We drink from the river for our own rest and restoration, and by the strength of God's promise, we can lead others to that refreshing water. Who will you lead to those crystal waters?
Scripture Reading
John 4:7-15; Revelation 22:1-2
Shall We Gather at the River?
Shall we gather at the river,
Where bright angel feet have trod;
With its crystal tide forever
Flowing by the throne of God?
Yes, we'll gather at the river,
The beautiful, the beautiful river;
Gather with the saints at the river
That flows by the throne of God.
On the margin of the river,
Washing up its silver spray,
We will walk and worship ever,
All the happy golden day.
Ere we reach the shining river,
Lay we ev'ry burden down;
Grace our spirits will deliver,
And provide a robe and crown.
Soon we'll reach the shining river,
Soon our pilgrimage will cease;
Soon our happy hearts will quiver
With the melody of peace.
