Skip to content

Beulah Land – 2 Great Songs

Beulah Land – 2 Great Songs
By Dennis Huebshman

Every time I hear Sweet Beulah Land, especially performed by Squire Parsons, I really get a homesickness for what’s ahead for all believers. My plan for this message was to write about this great song, and I finally researched it. To my great surprise, there’s two songs about Beulah Land so I checked them both out.

For the Squire Parson’s version, I found out HE is the one who wrote Sweet Beulah Land in 1973. (I really did not know this before). He was from Newton, West Virginia and was choir director and deacon of Newton Baptist Church. He was born April 1948 and he has written numerous songs, but Sweet Beulah Land is by far my favorite of his. He was ordained a pastor at Trinity Baptist Church in Asheville, N.C. and I also discovered he was with the Southern Gospel group The Kingsmen from 1975 through 1979. Below are the words to his wonderful song, and I almost feel like I can see Heaven from Beulah Land (Israel).

(1) I’m kind of homesick, for a country,
To which I’ve never been before.
No sad goodbyes will there be spoken,
For time won’t matter anymore.
(chorus) Beulah Land, I’m longing for you.
And some day, on thee I’ll stand.
There my home will be eternal.
Beulah Land, Sweet Beulah Land.

(2) I’m looking now just across the river,
To where my faith shall end in sight.
There’s just a few more days to labor,
Then I will take my Heavenly flight.
(chorus) Beulah Land, I’m longing for you, and some day on thee I’ll stand.
There my home will be eternal, Beulah Land, Sweet Beulah Land.
Beulah Land, Oh it’s Beulah Land. Oh, Beulah Land, Sweet Beulah Land.

Squire Parsons still performs this song today, and so do many other artists. It’s a favorite especially in the Southern Gospel Circuit.

When I was checking out the above song, I found another called Beulah Land, and it was written between 1875 and 1876 by Edgar Page Stites. He wrote it in reference to Isaiah 62:4 – “And you will no longer be called “Abandoned” and your land will no longer be called “Desolate”. Indeed, you will be called “My Delight is in Her” and your land “Married”. For the Lord will take delight in you and your land will be married to Him.”

Stites was writing this song to commemorate the Hebrews returning to their land from exile in Babylon where they would no longer be forsaken but “Hephzibah” (My Delight in Her) and Jerusalem would no longer be desolate but “Beulah” (Married).

Stites wrote the lyrics given below and John R. Sweeney from West Chester, Pennsylvania composed the music. Stites was from Cape May, New Jersey and he lived from March 1836 to January 1921. Stites said after he got through the first two verses, he was so overcome with emotion he was weeping and praying. It was several days later that he was able to do the last two verses and again experienced the same emotions. The first time his song was performed was at a regular Monday morning Methodist Pastor meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Stites said he never received any monetary gain for this song as he wrote it exclusively as an honor to the “Master”.

The idea that Heaven can be seen from Beulah Land (Israel) is credited to John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress where he says, “The Enchanted ground is placed so nigh to the Land Beulah and do near the end of their race (Heaven).

The song’s words are as follows:

(1) I’ve reached the land of corn and wine
And all its riches freely mine.
Here shines undimmed one blissful day,
For all my night has passed away.
(chorus) Oh Beulah Land, Sweet Beulah Land; as on thy highest mount I stand.
I look away across the sea; Where mansions are prepared for me.
And view the shining glory shore; my Heaven My Home forevermore.

(2) My Savior comes and walks with me,
And sweet communion here have we.
He gently leads me by the hand,
For this is Heaven’s border land.
(chorus)

(3) A sweet perfume upon the breeze,
Is borne from ever vernal trees.
And flowers that never fading grow,
Where streams of life forever flows.
(chorus)

(4) The zephyrs seem to float by me,
Sweet sounds of Heaven’s melody.
As Angels with the white robed throng,
Join in sweet Redemption song.
(chorus)

For anyone who has access to YouTube, both versions are available. For Stites version, there is an instrumental rendition that also gives the lyrics as it’s played. For Squire Parson’s version, there are more than one by him and also by several other artists. I highly recommend to anyone that it’s worth the time to hear them both.

For anyone who has not accepted Jesus as their Savior, if you listen to these beautiful songs and experience a feeling you can’t explain, I would recommend you read the Book of John in the Bible followed by Romans. This will give you information that tells you Jesus is the only way to Heaven (John 14:6) and you haven’t done any sin that will cause Him to reject you (Romans 8:1) After Romans, the book of Acts tells about the new church and about Saul that became Paul He brutally persecuted the new church, however later he became one of its greatest advocates.

If you will call out to Jesus, you will be saved (Acts 2:21 and Romans 10:13). To reject this offer is the “Unforgivable Sin” and eternity will not be pleasant.
Call on Him today – we’re not guaranteed tomorrow.

Amen – Come Lord Jesus!

[email protected]

Back To Top