Squire Parsons, contemporary writer and singer, is the
writer of this hymn. He was born in Newton, West Virginia, in 1948, to Squire
and Maysel Parsons. He was introduced to music by his grandfather, Will, and
his father, who was a choir director and deacon at Newton Baptist Church. Squire’s father taught him to sing using
shaped notes.
Parsons surrendered his heart to Christ at age 9 and began
his song writing ventures 11 years later. He studied music at West Virginia University
Institute of Technology where he majored in voice and bassoon. Following graduation,
he accepted a teaching position at Hannan High School in West Virginia and
served as music director at various churches.
While still a student, he was employed as a bass soloist for
Christ United Methodist Church, in Charleston, West Virginia. He later said it
was a wonderful experience because he was exposed to the Christian classics,
which influenced some of his later writing.
In 1975, Parsons was ordained as a minister at Trinity
Baptist Church in Asheville, North Carolina. He joined the Kingsmen Quartet in
1975 and toured with them for four years before embarking on a solo career.
One of the songs his father led the congregation in singing
was a song called, “Is This the Land of Beulah.” Parson said: “It seemed my father’s
face would glow and the entire congregation seemed to be swept up into a
wonderful prospect of the eternal land about which they were singing. That image
stayed with me for years. My father was looking into Beulah Land as he sang.”
Years later, Parson was driving to a teaching job and
thinking back to that service in the little church, humming the same sweet
song. Just as he topped one of the mountains, he was faced with a view of the
brilliant sun and all its glory. He suddenly began to sing again, only this
time it was a different song, one he had never heard before. He was singing the
chorus to what became his most known song, “Sweet Beulah Land.”
When he got to the school he sat down and wrote a verse to
go with the chorus. He then put the song away and another five years went by
before he wrote the second verse. He recorded the song, and it launched him
into the ministry of traveling as a gospel singer and songwriter.
In later years he was the lead singer of “The Squire Parsons
Trio.” He and his wife, Linda, live in Leicester, North Carolina. He has
survived leukemia and open-heart surgery. In April 2019, Parsons announced his
retirement from touring due to declining health after “life-saving surgery.”
“Sweet Beulah Land” was written in 1973 and recorded in
1979. In 1981 it became a #1 song and was awarded Song of the Year by the Singing
News Fan Awards. From there it was recorded by countless artists.
Among Parson’s most popular compositions are: “The Master of
the Sea,” “Walk On,” “I Sing Because,” and “Sweet Beulah Land.” His music has
been sung by many great gospel singers in our lifetime.
Jim Brady, who sings with his wife, Melissa, and is now back
with The Booth Brothers said: “Squire’s music was the soundtrack of my
childhood. It is a direct reflection of his deep walk with the Lord.”
Biblehib.com, Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary: The apostle’s difficulty was not between living in this world and living in heaven; between these two there is no comparison; but between serving Christ in this world and enjoying Him in another. Not between two evil things, but between two good things; living to Christ and being with Him. See the power of faith with Christ, we shall escape sin and temptation, sorrow and death, forever. But those who have most reason to desire to depart, should be willing to remain in the world as long as God has any work for them to do. And the more unexpected mercies are before they come, the more of God will be seen in them.
Enduringword.com, David Guzik: Paul knew that death was not a defeat to the Christian. It is merely a graduation to glory, a net gain for the Christian.
Studylight.com, Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible: But thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah; the former of these was the name of Hezekiah’s mother, and a fit name for the church of Christ, who is pleasant to Him for delights. The latter clause explains “Beulah” which signifies “married,” as the church secretly was to Christ from all eternity.
Enduringword.com, David Guzik: But you shall be called
Hephzibah, and your land Beulah: The days
of Forsaken and Desolate will one day pass. There will come
a day when Zion and God’s people will know that God delights in them
(Hephzibah means “My delight is in her”. There will come a day when Zion
and God’s people will know the unbroken presence and love of God, as a wife
should know the presence and love of her husband (Beulah means “Married”).
“With such economy of words and beauty of imagery Isaiah depicts the loving
unanimity that characterize Zion and her intimate union with the Lord – which foresees
as the marriage of the Lamb.”
Enduringword.com, David Guzik: The psalmist pictured the abundant, constant provision of a river for Jerusalem. The image is significant because Jerusalem does not in fact have such a river, only a few small streams. Yet the prophets anticipated the day when a mighty river would flow from the temple itself. The future reality is already in the mind of the psalmist.
Studylight.org, Barnes’ Notes on the Whole Bible: In the New Jerusalem; the happy abode of the redeemed. The phrase “water of life” means living or running water, like a spring or fountain, as contrasted with a stagnant pool. The allusion here is doubtless to the first Eden, where a river watered the garden, and as this is a description of Eden recovered, or Paradise regained, it was natural to introduce a river of water also, yet in such a way as to accord with the general description of that future abode of the redeemed. It does not spring up, therefore, from the ground, but flows from the throne of God and the Lamb. Perhaps, also, the writer had in his eye on the description in Ezekiel 47:1-2, where a stream issues from under the temple, and is parted in different directions. Closely allied with this is the picture so common in Scripture of the fountain of life.
Studylight.org, Barclay’s Daily Bible Study: This picture has many sources in the Old Testament. At its back is the river which watered the Garden of Eden and made it fruitful (Genesis 2:8-16). Still closer is Ezekiel’s picture of the river which issued from the Temple (Ezekiel 47:1-7). The Psalmist sings of the river whose streams make glad the city of God (Psalms 46:4). “A fountain,” says Joel, “shall come forth from the house of the Lord” (Joel 3:18). “Living waters,” says Zechariah, “shall flow out from Jerusalem” (Zechariah 14:8).
Studylight.org, Clarke’s Commentary: God has deeply rooted the idea of eternity in every human heart; and every considerate man sees, that all the operations of God refer to the endless duration . . . And it is only in eternity that man will be able to discover what God has designed by the various works He has formed.
Enduringword.com, David Guzik: The Preacher understood that man has an awareness and a longing for the eternal, and that God has put this in their hearts. We can say that eternity is in our hearts because we are made in the image of an eternal God . . . “God made man in His image; and nothing more surely attests to the greatness of our origin that those faculties of the soul which are capable of yearning for, conceiving, and enjoying the Infinite, the Immortal, and the Divine . . . Every appetite in nature and grace has its appropriate satisfaction.” (Meyer)
This hymn’s powerful lyrics convey a deep longing for a place called Beulah Land, a spiritual home that offers eternal peace and joy. The song expresses a desire to leave behind the troubles and sorrows of this world and embrace the promise of a heavenly destination.
The depth and emotion captured in the lyrics of “Sweet
Beulah Land” resonate with many listeners, providing comfort and hope in times
of struggle and uncertainty. It offers solace to those who long for a better
world, free from pain and suffering. The song encourages believers to keep
their faith strong,
