Music Ministry - May, 2026
- Apr 30
- 3 min read
SONGS OF FAITH THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
“O Zion, Haste”
One of the most inspiring hymns for the mission of the Church in the world, “O Zion, Haste” was penned in by Mary Ann Thomson in 1868. Well, mostly – the refrain was added later, in 1871. Mary Ann was born in London and emigrated as a young girl to the United States, where she married John Thomson, who served as the first librarian of the Free Library in Philadelphia. Her text was originally six stanzas, but these four are most commonly included in hymnals and serve to render the poem quite complete.
O Zion, haste, thy mission high fulfilling, to tell to all the world that God is Light;
That He who made all nations is not willing one soul should perish, lost in shades of night.
Behold how many thousands still are lying, bound in the darksome prison-house of sin,
With none to tell them of the Savior's dying, or of the life He died for them to win.
Proclaim to every people, tongue and nation that God, in whom they live and move, is love;
Tell how He stooped to save His lost creation and died on earth that we might live above.
Give of thy sons to bear the message glorious; give of thy wealth to speed them on their way;
Pour out thy soul for them in prayer victorious; and all thy spending Jesus will repay.
REFRAIN: Publish glad tidings, tidings of peace; Tidings of Jesus, redemption, and release.
The first verse calls to mind the image of “Zion” such as is mentioned in Isaiah 40:9. This name is used throughout Scripture to refer to the genuine people of God. So in this opening exhortation, Mrs. Thomson is calling all members of the Church at large to pay heed to the task before us. Certainly the text calls to mind the Great Commission from Matthew 28:18-20. 2 Peter 3:9 is clearly referenced as well; that the Lord is “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” Verse two calls attention to the acuteness of the circumstance; it is the Christian’s simultaneously solemn and joyful duty to bring the promise of eternal life to those who walk in the shadow of death. After reminding us of the particular work of Jesus at the cross, the hymn closes with some particular challenges to us to make our spending for the Kingdom of God from the very resources we hold most dear. Not least of these expenditures is to “pour out thy soul…in prayer victorious.” What a stirring recollection of the very real power of genuine prayer!
God is proclaimed as the main object of this petition, Scriptural reasons are given for us to praise Him, and we are clearly called to repentance unto salvation and life in Christ Jesus our Lord. These elements combine to make this an entirely excellent hymn; one the Church has enjoyed already for more than 150 years, and ought to continue singing for generations to come.
Mrs. Thomson originally had in mind an existing tune to which she fit the meter of her hymn text. We are all thankful that she heeded the urging of a minister friend to pursue a particular tune for her work. TIDINGS by James Walch is grand and stately in the stanzas, intimating the seriousness of the text. Yet in the refrain there is a light and hope to the music which beautifully reflects the hopefulness of the message the text carries there. As we approach the particular remembrance of the sending of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, let us sing this hymn boldly to proclaim the tidings of Jesus – His redemption and release!
Listen for yourself! Search online for the hymn title and you’ll find some beautiful renderings. And be ready to sing this one in worship soon.
Yours in Christ,
Dan Byerly
Director of Music Ministry