Hymn - "In the Land of Tyre and Sidon"

"In the Land of Tyre and Sidon"
Tune: Naar Mit Oie
(“Come to Calvary’s Holy Mountain”
# 96 form Lutheran Worship)

(all)
In the land of Tyre and Sidon
Came a local Cannanite,
Desperate now this foreign pagan,
To relieve her daughter’s plight,
Soon the Lord she would entreat,
Falling at the Savior’s feet.

(women)
“Son of David, Lord have mercy,
For my daughter suffers sore,
As a devil has beset her,
And I cannot find a cure,
Help me Lord, my child now save,
Cast the demon far away.”

(men)
“Only to the lost of Israel,
Was I sent, to give them bread,
Is it right to starve the children,
So the dogs instead are fed?”
Would the Lord send her away?
What then would the woman say?

(women)
“Yes Lord, it is right and fitting,
That the Master feeds his own,
But beneath the table sitting,
Dogs eat crumbs that fall from sons,”
Trusting Jesus’ mercy great,
So his answer she awaits.

(men)
He who died for all the nations,
Paid his blood on Calv’ry’s tree,
Rose to bring us all salvation,
Granting blessings all for free,
Showed his mercy and his power,
Healed the child that very hour.

(all)
We your children, come to table,
Feasting on your Holy Meal,
To forgive, this food is able,
To restore, uplift and heal,
For your own you care and feed,
For us you have blessed indeed.

© Thomas E. Chryst, 2005.