Hebrews 12:1
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us
Steve Green’s “Find Us Faithful” draws directly from this passage in its verses, with the chorus serving as a response:
Mark Schultz’s “Cloud of Witnesses” is a more imaginative take on the same passage, transporting the same concept to a modern context:
Hebrews 12:18-22
For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: and so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels
John Newton developed the Sinai/Jerusalem contrast in his hymn “Not To Sinai’s Dreadful Blaze”
Not to Sinai’s dreadful blaze,
But to Zion’s throne of grace,
by a way marked out with blood,
Sinners now approach to God.
Not to hear the fiery law,
But with humble joy to draw
Water by that well supplied,
Jesus opened when he died.
Lord, there are no streams but thine,
Can assuage a thirst like mine;
‘Tis a thirst thyself didst give,
Let me therefore drink and live.
Michael Card’s song “Pilgrims to the City of God” draws from themes across chapters 11 and 12. But its bridge, the song’s musical and lyrical climax, is directly drawn from verse 22:
Expository Songs
Awake, My Soul, Stretch Every Nerve (Hebrews 12:1-2)
Philip Doddridge
Lyrics | Sheet Music
Great Cloud of Witnesses (Hebrews 12:1-2)
Popularized by Carolyn Arends
YouTube | Amazon
Onward! Onward! (Hebrews 12:1-2)
Robert Bruce
Lyrics | Sheet Music
Lo! what a cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 12:1-3)
John Logan
Lyrics | Sheet Music
Behold what witnesses unseen (Hebrews 12:1-13)
Lyrics | Sheet Music
Find Us Faithful (Hebrews 12:1)
Jon Mohr | Popularized by Steve Green
Lyrics | YouTube | Amazon
The Way to Joy (Hebrews 12:2) (2006)
Popularized by Sherri Youngward
YouTube | Amazon
No Surprise (Hebrews 12:3) (1996)
Steve Green, Doug McKelvey | Popularized by Steve Green
Lyrics | YouTube | Amazon
Afflictions Do Not Come Alone (Love-Tokens) (Hebrews 12:5-11) (1779)
John Newton | Popularized by Olney Hymns (1779)
Lyrics
Shaken (Hebrews 12:5-11) (2010)
Rita Baloche | Popularized by Paul Baloche
Lyrics | Sheet Music | YouTube | Amazon
Since thy Father’s arm sustains thee (Hebrews 12:7)
Carl Rudolph Hagenbach
Lyrics | Sheet Music
Welcome Cross (Warning: Archaic synonym substitution needed) (Hebrews 12:8) (1779)
John Newton | Popularized by Olney Hymns (1779)
Lyrics
Are You Holy Now? (Hebrews 12:14)
Charles Naylor
Lyrics | Sheet Music
Not to Sinai’s Dreadful Blaze (Hebrews 12:18-22) (1779)
John Newton | Popularized by Olney Hymns (1779)
Lyrics
Not to the Mount that burn’d with fire (Hebrews 12:18-26)
James Montgomery
Lyrics | Sheet Music
Shake the Heavens (Hebrews 12:18-29) (2008)
Popularized by Kim Hill
YouTube | Amazon
You Have Drawn Near (Hebrews 12:18-29) (2007)
John Michael Talbot | Popularized by John Michael Talbot
YouTube | Amazon
Lord, when thou didst ascend on high (Hebrews 12:18) (1719)
Isaac Watts | Popularized by The Psalms of David (1719)
Lyrics | Sheet Music
Not To The Terrors Of The Lord (Hebrews 12:18) (1709)
Isaac Watts | Popularized by Hymns and Spiritual Songs (1707-09)
Lyrics | Sheet Music
When God of old came down from heaven (Hebrews 12:18)
John Keble
Lyrics | Sheet Music
Shaken (Hebrews 12:27) (2010)
Popularized by Paul Baloche
Lyrics | YouTube | Amazon
Unshakable Kingdom (Hebrews 12:27) (1986)
Popularized by Sandi Patty
Lyrics | YouTube | Amazon
Can’t Be Moved (Hebrews 12:28) (2015)
Popularized by Jeremy Camp
Lyrics | YouTube | Amazon
Adore and Tremble, For Our God (Hebrews 12:29) (1709)
Isaac Watts | Popularized by Hymns and Spiritual Songs (1707-09)
Lyrics | Sheet Music
Other References
Awake, Our Souls; Away, Our Fears (The Christian Race) (Hebrews 12:1-2) (1709)
Isaac Watts | Popularized by Hymns and Spiritual Songs (1707-09)
Lyrics | Sheet Music
Enter, Jesus Bids Thee Welcome (Hebrews 12:1-2)
Sidney Dyer
Lyrics | Sheet Music
Looking to Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2)
Teddy Huffam | Popularized by Teddy Huffam and the Gems
Amazon
The Ancient Worthies (Rise, O my soul, pursue the path) (Hebrews 12:1-2)
John Needham
Lyrics | Sheet Music
Cloud of Witnesses (Hebrews 12:1) (2000)
Popularized by Mark Schultz
YouTube | Amazon
Give Me the Wings of Faith (Hebrews 12:1) (1709)
Isaac Watts | Popularized by Hymns and Spiritual Songs (1707-09)
Lyrics | Sheet Music
Looking Unto Jesus (Weary not, my brother, cheerful be thy song) (Hebrews 12:1)
Fanny Crosby
Lyrics | Sheet Music
O Church, Arise (Hebrews 12:1) (2005)
Keith Getty, Stuart Townend | Popularized by Keith and Kristyn Getty
Lyrics | Sheet Music | YouTube | Amazon
Passin’ the Faith Along (Hebrews 12:1)
Jon Mohr | Popularized by Gaither Vocal Band
Lyrics | YouTube | Amazon
Runner (Hebrews 12:1) (1985)
Twila Paris | Popularized by Twila Paris
Lyrics | YouTube | Amazon
When We See Christ (Hebrews 12:1)
Esther K. Rusthoi
Lyrics | YouTube
A Violent Grace (Hebrews 12:2)
Michael Card | Popularized by Michael Card
Lyrics | YouTube | Amazon
Author and Finisher (Hebrews 12:2) (2011)
Michael Frost | Popularized by Ivan Parker
YouTube | Amazon
Because He Loved Me First (Hebrews 12:2)
Lee Black, Ross King | Popularized by Lee Black
YouTube
Looking Unto Jesus (Hebrews 12:2) (1779)
John Newton | Popularized by Olney Hymns (1779)
Lyrics
Looking Unto Jesus (Hebrews 12:2)
Thomas Chisholm
Lyrics | Sheet Music
Looking Unto Jesus (O eyes that are weary, and hearts that are sore) (Hebrews 12:2)
Horatius Palmer
Lyrics | Sheet Music
Who But God (Hebrews 12:2) (1997)
Popularized by Wes King
YouTube | Amazon
Filial Submission (Hebrews 12:5-7)
Anne Steele
Lyrics | Sheet Music
If You Love the Lord (Hebrews 12:5-11) (1980)
Keith Green, Melody Green | Popularized by Keith Green
Lyrics | YouTube | Amazon
Love Me Enough (Hebrews 12:5-12) (1997)
Popularized by Scott Krippayne
YouTube | Amazon
I take this Pain, Lord Jesus (Hebrews 12:5)
Frances Havergal
Lyrics | Sheet Music
When he waketh, when he sleepeth (Hebrews 12:6)
Lyrics
Be Tranquil, O My Soul (Dealeth As With Sons) (Hebrews 12:7)
Thomas Hastings
Lyrics | Sheet Music
I bless thee, Lord, for sorrows sent (Hebrews 12:11)
Samuel Johnson
Lyrics | Sheet Music
When the King Shall Come Again (Hebrews 12:12)
Christopher Idle
Lyrics | Sheet Music
Ye trembling captives, hear (Hebrews 12:22-24)
Samuel Boyce
Lyrics | Sheet Music
Pilgrims to the City of God (Hebrews 12:22)
Michael Card, Phil Naish, Rob Mathes | Popularized by Michael Card
Lyrics | YouTube | Amazon
Consuming Fire (Hebrews 12:28-29)
Brad Avery, David Carr, et al | Popularized by Third Day
Lyrics | YouTube | Amazon
Purify Me (Hebrews 12:28-29)
Annie Herring | Popularized by 2nd Chapter of Acts
YouTube | Amazon