Scripture Verse

His windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed. Daniel 6:10

Introduction

Words & Mu­sic: Phi­lip P. Bliss, Gos­pel Hymns No. 2 (New York: Big­low & Main, 1876), num­ber 10 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Philip P. Bliss
1838–1876

Anecdote

Mr. and Mrs. Bliss came to Chi­ca­go to at­tend the Chris­tian con­ven­tion called by [Dwight L.] Moo­dy. Dur­ing the ses­sion he made an ad­dress on the use of song in wor­ship; and sang at the pray­er meet­ing of min­is­ters in Far­well Hall, pre­sid­ed ov­er by Mr. Moo­dy…

Ov­er a thou­sand min­is­ters were pres­ent, and the in­tense spir­it­u­al feel­ing pre­vail­ing found fit ex­pres­sion through Bliss in song. Af­ter he had sung Are Your Win­dows Op­en To­ward Je­ru­sa­lem? his own soul thrilled by the con­scious pres­ence of the Ho­ly Spir­it, one dear min­is­ter cried out, God bless Mr. Bliss for that song; and scores of amens came from as ma­ny ear­nest, ten­der hearts. This was the last time he sang in Chi­ca­go.

None who were pres­ent in Far­well Hall that fore­noon will ev­er for­get the pow­er with which he sang. Mr. Moo­dy leaned for­ward in his chair, oc­cu­pied with the song and the sing­er, and over­come by the feel­ing pro­duced by the mu­sic and the sen­ti­ment of the hymn. It was the last time he was to hear him this side of the Ri­ver.…

The [song] was sug­gest­ed to Mr. Bliss while at­tend­ing a Sund­ay ser­vice at the State Pris­on in Jo­li­et, Il­li­nois, where he had gone to sing. Mr. H. G. Spaf­ford, of Chi­ca­go, ad­dressed the pris­on­ers, and used Dan­i­el in Bab­y­lon, as an il­lus­tr­ation to them of Gos­pel truth, and asked the ques­tion in clos­ing—Are your win­dows op­en to­ward Je­ru­sa­lem?

Whittle, pp. 83–84

Lyrics

Do you see the Hebrew captive kneeling,
At morning, noon and night, to pray?
In his chamber he remembers Zion,
Though in exile far away.

Refrain

Are your windows open toward Jerusalem,
Though as captives here, a little while we stay?
For the coming of the King in His glory
Are you watching day by day?

Refrain

Do not fear to tread the fiery furnace,
Nor shrink the lion’s den to share;
For the God of Daniel will deliver,
He will send His angel there.

Refrain

Children of the living God, take courage,
Your great deliverance sweetly sing.
Set your faces toward the hill of Zion,
Thence to hail your coming king.

Refrain