Scripture Verse

I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys. Song of Solomon 2:1

Introduction

Words: Flo­ra Kirk­land, in Christ in Song, by Frank­lin E. Bel­den (Bat­tle Creek, Mi­chi­gan: Re­view and Her­ald, 1900), num­ber 217.

Music: Rath­bun Ith­amar Con­key, 1849 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Kirk­land (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
Ithamar Conkey (1815–1867)

Lyrics

illustration

Valley li­lies, meek and lowly,
Let me hear your mes­sage sweet,
Tell of Christ the pure and ho­ly,
Bending as to touch His feet.

Snowy li­lies of the val­ley,
Speak again your mes­sage rare;
Testify to me of Je­sus,
Heaven’s Li­ly, won­drous fair!

Valley li­lies, gold­en heart­ed,
Love’s sweet mis­sion you ful­fill,
For you tell in per­fumed lang­uage,
How He wrought His Fa­ther’s will.

Valley li­lies, cups in­vert­ed,
Still the Mas­ter you pro­claim:
Empty of all pomp and glo­ry,
To re­deem the world He came.