A hymn by John Ryland Jr. (1753-1825)

Taking his inspiration from Genesis 49:22-24 where Joseph is described as a “fruitful bough,” Ryland wrote this hymn to capture the way in which this text hints at the believer’s relationship to Christ.

Blest is the man, O Christ,
Who’s grafted into thee:
He, well supplies with sap divine,
A fruitful bough shall be.

O may this bliss be mine!
May I on thee depend!
Do thou thy feeblest branch support,
and constantly defend.

Be thou my heav’nly root,
It is in thee I’d dwell:
Water me daily with thy grace,
Thou everlasting Well.

Fed by thy living streams,
Which never can run dry,
With humble confidence I’d lift
My blooming branch on high.

Surrounded by thy love,
That wall which none can scale,
Nor undermine, nor batter down,
My foes shall ne’er prevail.

My enemies in vain
Bend their infernal bow;
They can but only wound my heel,
Their arrows fly too low.

My vitals are secure,
Tho’ oft they wound me sore;
But when I climb to thee above,
They shall not hurt me more.

Poor weakling as I am,
I’ll never, never yield;
Thy might shall keep my bow in strength,
And I shall win the field.

Follow-up Questions:

1. Aside from the reference to Genesis 49:22-24, what other passages of
Scripture come to mind as you read the first four stanzas?

2. What does it mean to be grafted into Christ?

3. What are some of the “living streams” God has provided
by which believers are supported in this life?