♫ LAND OF BEULAH ♫

By: Travis Lewis

December 1, 2000 [1]

In 1980, Squire Parsons released a beautiful song that has long since been identified with “gospel music”. The title was Sweet Beulah Land, and though the title and lyrics attracts the attention and stirs the emotions of most Christians, for many years I was curious about the origin of the title. Years passed before a late dear friend and pastor, Elder Calvin Perrigo, explained the title in sermon. After listening to his message, the lyrics began to make sense and encourage making notes that ended with this essay a few years later.

Hopefully, the following exposition will unfold much of its rich meaning. Before reviewing the text, which has been expanded from my notes during and following Brother Perrigo’s message, please refer to Isaiah 62:4 as the prophet was praying for Israel’s return to righteousness. Basically, this was his plea, “…Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate; But thou shalt be called Hephzibah (my delight is in her), and thy land Beulah (to marry, or married land): for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.”. Having frequently pondered these mystical words since that sermon in the early 1990s, this is a collection of my thoughts on “Sweet Beulah Land” as they attempt to visualize Heaven.

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This will indeed be a “married land”, for it epitomizes a perfect and permanent union, with no thought of separation or substitution with another. This “married land” reflects a land of harmony; no more varying or opposing points of view; no more differences in motive or intent. Truly, this is a land of happiness — no more uneasiness or toiling for that which we are convinced will render us happy, for happiness has now become a present and permanent reality in this “married land”.

This is a land of no separation; no more hindrance to the joy of our present state by the thought of parting, for separation is past forever; this “married land” is one of perfect, permanent fellowship — no more of one using or misleading another for personal gain. For in this wonderful land, mutual trust prevails, and motives are not questioned; no more victims filled with grief when having experienced the loss of a loved one or betrayal of a friend.

This is a land where all expectations are met — and more; for this permanent marriage will be more glorious than the instant wedding; no more looking forward to fruition of beautiful hopes, only to be grieved by an empty end; no more wondering if the attaching love we feel for another is mutual; as with the good marriage on earth, this is a land completely void of jealousy between those afforded various honors and rewards. Also, surpassing even the most stable marriage within our earthly homes, this is a land of total security — a land of no uncertainty about acquiring or losing protection from harm or insurance against loss. This is also a land of rest – one with no more unpleasant toil or unwelcome demands on our time and no more pleas from our weary bodies for rest.

Being infinitely superior to the most mature earthly unions, this is a land of peace where nothing can ever interject an unpleasant disturbance or disagreement. Having been vulnerable to the impure and unholy on earth, this is a land in which we are never tempted again — nothing to distract or draw our passions from all that is pure and holy. Here is a land where we wonder not again about rumors that distract or provoke. No more will there arise misunderstandings that confuse our minds or cloud our vision of the future. All communications are clear, for full understanding of truth finally prevails.

Having been tempted on earth with “greener pastures on the other side”, this is a land where each is happy within the perimeter of his or her own present position. This is a land absent of competition and strife – no more mentalities guided by the view, “the more you get, the less there is for me”, or “might makes right”; this is a land which knows nothing of the philosophy, “for one to be fulfilled, another has to be subdued.”, or man’s axiom of “survival of the fittest”. All such paradigms are forever erased.

This is truly a land of the living where every single one is wanted and welcomed; a land in which innocent children know not the anguish caused by negligent or wayward parents, nor will dads and moms be asking for the right to rip away limbs and life from the helpless body of their voiceless child.

This beautiful land of marriage will host an environment of total sharing — no more “mine, and not yours”, for everything in sight is a gift of the Lamb of God; it is a land of single, common interests — no more “What’s in it for me?”, or “What have you done for me lately?”, or “Get all you can, and can all you get.”

This ‘married land’ will be absent of vengeance one toward another; no more losses from having been exploited by the greedy or victimized by the zealot. This home will be void of prejudice — where every inhabitant can comfortably sit with his neighbor, void of bigotry, and fully absent of racial, cultural, or religious distrust. All the cruelties of ethnic cleansing and the stiff necks of self-righteousness will have been left behind forever.

Here is a land in which each party looks forward with certainty and pleasure to remaining together forever. Having been continual pilgrims on earth, we will have at last reached a land where we no longer dread a future end to that which is good or hope for that which is better. All grief and uneasy feelings will be left outside the gate, as every heart quivers in a sweet melody of lasting peace as we join in songs of praise to the Lamb on the throne; this is truly a “married land” — this is “Beulah Land”! And, at last we are HOME!!! Ώ

Epilogue: At some point of meditation as I pondered over this essay, I attached this note…. Bury this old house in which I have lived and laughed, worked and wept – but know that, though it served me well, I’m not here anymore. I’m finally at home in sweet Beulah Land!

[1] This essay first appeared in the December, 2000 – January, 2001 issue of the newsletter, Reveille. Various issues of Reveille can be found on our website, www.goldenbowlpublications.net. On the website cover page, click on “Publications”, then click on the dropdown, “Reveille Newsletter”, then “Reveille Issue #7.”. This article will appear on Page 1 of the newsletter.