Nations Gonna Come

Roots of ReasonTrack 12 of 12

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About this songA postmillennial doxology — every tribe and tongue praising the Lord, the earth filled with His glory as the waters cover the sea.

Big ideaA doxology of hope: the gospel will fill the whole earth as the waters cover the sea, every tribe and tongue will praise the Lord, and what the cross has won will be fully done.

Doctrine

Missions · Kingdom · Eschatology of hope

Anchor text

Psalm 117 · Psalm 72

Form

Reggae hymn

Voices

Isaac Watts

O all ye nations, praise the Lord,
Each with a diff'rent tongue;
In every language learn His word,
And let His name be sung.
His mercy reigns through every land;
Proclaim His grace abroad;
For ever firm His truth shall stand
Praise ye the faithful God.

He will fill the world
With His majesty,
Binding up the wounds,
Setting captives free;
Every tribe and tongue
Shall His glory see
All the earth restored
In His victory.
Justice shall spread
As the waters run,
Darkness chased away
By the rising Sun;
What the cross has won
Shall be fully done,
Oh Lord,
Let Thy Kingdom come!

His gospel light shall chase the dark
Where ancient shadows lie;
The idols fall, the lies grow mute,
As truth is lifted high.
By Word and Spirit hearts are won,
New songs through nations ring;
The meek inherit all the earth,
And Christ alone is King.

Jesus shall reign where'er the sun,
His daily course doth run;
From shore to shore His rule extends,
Till moons shall wax no more.
He comes the pris'ners to release,
The wounded He shall heal;
All kings shall bow, all tongues shall confess
The pow'r His truth shall seal.

Scripture References

1.Psalm 117:1; Revelation 7:9
2.Acts 2:11; Revelation 5:9
3.Psalm 117:2
4.Numbers 14:21; Habakkuk 2:14
5.Psalm 147:3; Isaiah 61:1
6.Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18
7.Revelation 7:9
8.Amos 5:24; Isaiah 11:9
9.Malachi 4:2; Luke 1:78-79
10.Matthew 6:10
11.Isaiah 9:2
12.Isaiah 2:18
13.Zechariah 4:6
14.Matthew 5:5; Psalm 37:11
15.Psalm 72:8 (Watts, “Jesus Shall Reign”)
16.Zechariah 9:10
17.Psalm 72:12-13
18.Psalm 72:11; Philippians 2:10-11

Study this song

Teaching aids drawn from the song — for personal study or group discussion.

How the song moves

All ye nations

Psalm 117’s call: every tongue praising, His mercy reigning through every land, His truth standing forever (Psalm 117:1–2; Revelation 7:9).

He will fill the world

Binding up wounds, setting captives free; the earth restored and justice spreading “as the waters run” (Habakkuk 2:14; Isaiah 61:1).

Gospel light over idols

Ancient shadows flee, the idols fall and the lies grow mute, the meek inherit the earth, and Christ alone is King (Isaiah 2:18; Matthew 5:5).

Jesus shall reign

Watts’s hymn woven in: His rule from shore to shore till moons wax no more, every knee bowing (Psalm 72:8–11; Philippians 2:10–11).

Key terms & allusions

“Let Thy Kingdom come” — The petition of the Lord’s Prayer, used as the song’s refrain (Matthew 6:10).
“fill the earth as the waters cover the sea” — The promised global scope of God’s glory (Numbers 14:21; Habakkuk 2:14).
“Jesus Shall Reign” — Isaac Watts’s hymn, a paraphrase of Psalm 72, quoted in the closing verses.
“the meek inherit the earth” — The kingdom reversal Christ promised (Matthew 5:5; Psalm 37:11).

Study questions

The song is relentlessly hopeful about the gospel’s reach. How does that hope change the way you pray “Thy kingdom come”?
“Every tribe and tongue” will praise. How should that future shape your view of missions now?
What “idols” and “ancient shadows” do you most long to see fall as the gospel advances?