Sacred Music Sunday: I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say

One of my favorite hymn composers is Ralph Vaughn Williams. Every tune he pens brings to my mind the majesty of God. Near the top of the list is the hymn tune Kingsfold, which is based on the Irish folk song Star of the County Down. LDS listeners will be most familiar with it as the tune to If You Could Hie to Kolob. My preferred hymn set to Kingsfold, however, is I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say.

The hymn is a summary of some of the main messages from the life and ministry of Jesus: “Come unto Me and rest.” “I freely give the Living Water.” “Look unto Me.” And the singer gives the results of following these sayings: “I found in Him a resting place.” “My thirst was quenched.” “I found in Him my star, my sun.”

The music and the text are juxtaposed interestingly – hopeful words paired with music in a minor key. However, I think that’s an important message of the gospel. Jesus isn’t just there with us when everything is light and happy. He’s there with us in the minor keys of our lives as well, calling to us, giving us Living Water to quench our thirst, giving us rest.

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Come unto Me and rest;
lay down, O weary one, lay down
your head upon My breast.”
I came to Jesus as I was,
weary and worn and sad;
I found in Him a resting place,
and He has made me glad.

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Behold, I freely give
the living water; thirsty one,
stoop down and drink, and live.”
I came to Jesus, and I drank
of that life-giving stream;
my thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
and now I live in Him.

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“I am this dark world’s Light;
look unto Me, your morn shall rise,
and all your days be bright.”
I looked to Jesus and I found
in Him my Star, my Sun;
and in that light of life I’ll walk,
’til trav’ling days are done.

I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say – Horatio Bonar – Public Domain