The Sands of Time Are Sinking

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Lyrics and Music for The Sands of Time Are Sinking, Emmanuel’s Land

The lyrics for ‘The Sands of Time Are Sinking‘ were written by Anne R. Cousin, and published in 1857. The words for this hymn were inspired by the letters of Samuel Rutherford (1600-1661). It’s also remembered by an alternate title: Emmanuel’s Land (or Immanuel’s Land). “Glory, glory dwelleth in Emmanuel’s land” is repeated as the last line in several of the verses.

Background

A.R. Cousin’s poem (written in 1854) was originally titled ‘The Last Words of Samuel Rutherford’.

“Many of the phrases and images from the hymn’s 19 verses come from Rutherford’s letters and provide a glimpse into his life and ministry… Rutherford died on March 30, 1661. His dying words were ‘Glory, glory dwelleth in Emmanuel’s Land.‘ It was this quote that stirred the heart of Anne Ross Cousin almost two hundred years later to set the words of Rutherford into a hymn.” (See the article by Ken Puls for more details).  

A choir on the sand dunes, singing at sunrise. The sands of time are sinking, the dawn of heaven breaks.
A choir on the sand dunes, singing at sunrise: ‘The sands of time are sinking, the dawn of heaven breaks’.

Lyrics for ‘The Sands of Time Are Sinking’

This song is in the public domain, so the lyrics and musical score are available from many sources. Trinity Hymnal (546) provides four commonly sung verses. Trinity Psalter Hymnal (471) has the same four verses. Both of these examples use the Rutherford-Urhan tune. Chrétien Urhan composed the melody (1834) and Edward F. Rimbault provided the standard arrangement (1867). Lyrics for 5 verses, are freely available from Timeless Truths. The article I published last Sunday morning, The Sands of Time are Sinking: Sovereign Grace Music provide the lyrics for six verses, but uses a new melody by Connie Dever (2014).

Lyrics for all 19 verses are in the article by Ken Puls, mentioned above. Indelible Grace also lists 19 verses, and notes which of Rutherford’s Letters are referenced in each verse. I’m including two of my favorite verses below, since they were the inspiration for the Sands of Time Art Gallery.

Verse 1
The sands of time are sinking,
The dawn of heaven breaks;
The summer morn I’ve sighed for,
The fair, sweet morn awakes;
Dark, dark hath been the midnight,
But dayspring is at hand,
And glory, glory dwelleth
In Emmanuel’s land.

Verse 4
With mercy and with judgment
My web of time he wove;
And always dews of sorrow
Were lustered with his love;
I’ll bless the hand that guided,
I’ll bless the heart that planned,
When throned where glory dwelleth
In Emmanuel’s land.

Music / Video

A music video of Audrey Assad singing ‘The Sands of Time Are Sinking’ with friends in Nashville (2019). Scott Roley on guitar.
A 2008 recording, in the standard style of congregational singing, by the ‘Altar of Praise Choral’. (Over 1 million views on YouTube).

Poetic Words About Death, Time, and Eternity

“Here we see Cousin’s skill in drawing a picture in words, and using that picture to express an abstract point. We have images of the last sands sinking through an hourglass, of the early summer dawn. Jesus is the Dayspring, that is, the morning star, the light of Heaven’s dawn. Thus, by using this classic Christological title, she proclaims that Christ is the gracious new light that greets the Christian at death. Earthly sufferings are the darkness of midnight, but Jesus is coming.” (See Kevin White’s helpful analysis of the lyrics.)

As the last sands fall through the glass, the light of Christ is already seen on the horizon.

Related Articles About Samuel Rutherford and The Sands of Time

Sands of Time Soliloquy

Father Abraham sits near a colorful sand castle, under a brilliant night sky, contemplating the millions of stars, and millions of grains of sand.
Father Abraham sits near a colorful sand castle, under a brilliant night sky, contemplating the millions of stars, and millions of grains of sand. Remembering the day I was talking to myself about the sinking sands of time.

Anwoth Keystone

The plaque above the Anwoth Keystone commemorates Rutherford's dying words: Glory, glory dwelleth in Emmanuel’s land. An oft repeated phrase from the hymn - The Sands of Time Are Sinking.
A plaque on the old Anwoth church, remembering Samuel Rutherford.

This article provides rare photos of the Old Anwoth Kirk, in Scotland where Samuel Rutherford was the pastor from 1627 to 1638, and explains why the Anwoth Keystone is significant.

The plaque above the Anwoth Keystone commemorates Rutherford’s dying words: “Glory, glory dwelleth in Emmanuel’s land.”

Sands of Time (T4G)

A choir on the sand dunes at sunrise, to sing the hymn: The Sands of Time Are Sinking.
A choir on the sand dunes at sunrise.

Another rendition of the Sands of Time, recorded live at Together For the Gospel (T4G) in 2016.

This version uses a different melody, composed by Connie Dever, published by Sovereign Grace Music (2014). Listen as thousands sing together. Lyrics and links to download the sheet music are also provided.

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