The Fountain of Life

by Amy Carmichael

I take this hymn as a gentle yet joyful exhortation for my soul to dwell in the good land, which is a picture of Christ in the Old Testament. I found this hymn really helpful to me because I usually spend most of my time feeling bad that I’m not dwelling in the land. But this song tells me, just dwell there! It’s for you! Its riches are for you, its streams are for you! Live in the good of all that has been given to you through Christ.

The second verse is similar. Live to the Lord. That’s what I was made for. I can live to the Lord, rather than being complicated about whether I’m living out of my self, etc. I can look upwards, “set the Lord always before me,” and live to Him. The simplicity is refreshing. 

Both of these things--dwelling in the land and living to the Lord--are what God has made possible for us through the sacrifice of His Son. After all, the good land is also called the promised land. It was promised to us from God so long ago and given to us through Christ to enjoy now. 

Realizing this truth does make me want to sing to the Lord, so the song flows naturally into the third verse where we sing to the Lord and offer Him praise.

- Lilly Funk