Thou didst leave thy throne

[ancientandmodern]

Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown,
When Thou camest to earth for me;
But in Bethlehem’s home was there found no room
For Thy holy nativity.

O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.

Heaven’s arches rang when the angels sang,
Proclaiming Thy royal degree;
But of lowly birth didst Thou come to earth,
And in great humility.

O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.

The foxes found rest, and the birds their nest
In the shade of the forest tree;
But Thy couch was the sod, O Thou Son of God,
In the deserts of Galilee.

O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.

Thou camest, O Lord, with the living Word,
That should set Thy people free;
But with mocking scorn and with crown of thorn,
They bore Thee to Calvary.

O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.

When the heav’ns shall ring, and her choirs shall sing,
At Thy coming to victory,
Let Thy voice call me home, saying “Yet there is room,
There is room at My side for thee.”

My heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus,
When Thou comest and callest for me.


It's Homelessness Sunday, as well as still being the season of Epiphany; this, another of my childhood favourites, seemed appropriate. This is a hymn about the Son of God, who had no home on earth, and who calls us all home; about Jesus, who was pushed aside, in whose Father's house there is room for all of us. 'Foxes have holes, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.' That God should take such vulnerability upon himself is quite amazing.

Written by Emily Elliott, daughter of the rector of St Mark's, Brighton, for use there in 1864; tune, Margaret.

I've included the following video partly because it's less polished than the one at the top, and is rather appealing for this reason, but also because it includes my favourite verse - the one about the foxes.