On the Banks of the Promised Land
Karen Peck & New River Lyrics


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I have built my life on the solid Rock
Far away from the sinking sand
And I cast my eyes to the home that waits
On the banks of the Promised Land

There's a song of praise that is lifted there
By the saints and the angel band
And I long to go and to join the choir
On the banks of the Promised Land

Hallelujah, what a morning
When I reach for that nail-scarred hand
And I'm led from grace to glory
On the banks of the Promised Land

Every grief and pain that has found me here
Jesus knows, and He understands
They'll be washed away as I cross death's stream
To the banks of the Promised Land

Hallelujah, what a morning
When I reach for that nail-scarred hand
And I'm led from grace to glory
On the banks of the Promised Land

Then I'll see the face of my Savior dear
Beckoned close by His sweet command
All my burdens gone; I will rest at last
On the banks of the Promised Land

Hallelujah, what a morning
When I reach for that nail-scarred hand
And I'm led from grace to glory
On the banks of the Promised Land





Oh, who will come and go with me?
I am bound for the promised land

Overall Meaning

Karen Peck and New River's song "On the Banks of the Promised Land" is a powerful testament to the Christian believer's faith and hope in an eternal life with God. The first verse speaks of building a life on the "solid Rock," a reference to Jesus as the foundation of faith. This is contrasted with the "sinking sand" of the world, which represents the transitory and temporary nature of earthly existence. The second verse speaks of the joy and worship that takes place in the Promised Land, where the believer will join a chorus of saints and angels in praising God forever.


The chorus speaks of the believer's expectation of meeting Jesus Christ in the Promised Land, where they will be led "from grace to glory." The phrase "nail-scarred hand" refers to Jesus' crucifixion, reminding the listener of the sacrifice Jesus made on their behalf. The third verse promises that all grief and pain will be washed away in the Promised Land, providing the believer with the hope and peace necessary to endure the hardships of life. Finally, the song ends with a call to join in the journey to the Promised Land, reminding us that we are not alone on this journey of faith.


Overall, "On the Banks of the Promised Land" is a moving and inspiring song that speaks to the Christian believer's hope for a better world beyond this one. It reminds us of the steadfastness of Jesus Christ as our foundation, the joy of worship and fellowship in the Promised Land, and the assurance that all pain and grief will be erased in the end.


Line by Line Meaning

I have built my life on the solid Rock
My life is grounded on faith and values that are solid and unchanging


Far away from the sinking sand
I steer clear of anything that could lead to instability and uncertainty


And I cast my eyes to the home that waits
I keep my focus on a better future, one that awaits me after this life


On the banks of the Promised Land
This future is heaven, also known as the Promised Land


There's a song of praise that is lifted there
In heaven, there is joy, singing, and worship of God


By the saints and the angel band
Believers and angels alike sing in praise of God in heaven


And I long to go and to join the choir
I eagerly anticipate joining this choir of praise


Hallelujah, what a morning
Oh what a glorious day it will be


When I reach for that nail-scarred hand
When I go to heaven and see Jesus's hands which bear the marks of His crucifixion


And I'm led from grace to glory
I am ushered from experiencing God's grace on earth to eternal glory in heaven


Every grief and pain that has found me here
All the struggles and hurts I have faced in this life


Jesus knows, and He understands
I take comfort in the fact that Jesus is aware of my suffering and empathizes with me


They'll be washed away as I cross death's stream
All my pain and grief will be erased when I die and enter into heaven


Then I'll see the face of my Savior dear
When I enter heaven, I will finally meet Jesus face-to-face


Beckoned close by His sweet command
He will welcome me lovingly and draw me close to Him


All my burdens gone; I will rest at last
I will no longer carry the weight of my problems and can finally experience true rest


Oh, who will come and go with me?
I invite others to join me on this journey to heaven


I am bound for the promised land
I am committed and determined to reach heaven




Contributed by Brooklyn B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Matty Sithole

This song gives me hope! Iโ€™m bound for the promised land. Thanks Karen and everybody else ๐Ÿ™

Abner Marin Delgado

Oh Lord how wonderful you are. I praise you oh Lord

Worship Warrior

This song is a great way to start the day. While at work my machine was being a pain.... but this song was playing in my inner jukebox. Work problem small. Jesus all in all, not a problem at all!

Deb Lindler

Absolutely love every song they sing. Uplifting and powerful

William Mayville

Hello,how are you doing over there I hope do you still remember me ?

Enoc587

Beautiful words, beautiful melodies. My soul is crying with hope. Thank you Jesus.

Rita Wilhoyte

Awesome from grace to glory what else could a person ask for!! Thank you Lord๐Ÿ’™โœŒ

Elizabeth Hennig

Karen Peck love your songs,your angelic voice I love you and all the singers there!!! more power to you all !

Danny Huffman

Hi Elizabeth hope you're okay?

billie phillips

our church just began singing this song, it's a blessing

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