Mansion Over the Hilltop song...scriptural?

My papaw's house. As close to an earthly mansion as I've ever been

As a pastor and former music minister, I have often had to face criticism over songs that I have selected. One of the most criticized songs that I have had to defend is Mansion Over the Hilltop, written by Ira Stanphill in 1914. I've heard "it's a fleshly song," "it's only about the person and not the Savior," "it's not scriptural and shouldn't be sang in church," etc...

Well, my dear reader, this has bothered me for some time, so I decided to examine the song for it's Scriptural content and see if it cuts the mustard.

Verse 1

I'm satisfied with just a cottage below
A little silver and a little gold
But in that city where the ransomed will shine
I want a gold one that's silver lined 

(Satisfied while here below)  

Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

(The ransomed) 

Isaiah 35:10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. 

(will shine)

Matthew 13:43: 43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Chorus

I've got a mansion just over the hilltop
In that bright land where we'll never grow old
And some day yonder we will never more wander
But walk on streets that are purest gold 

(Mansions in Heaven) 

John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

(In that bright land) 

Rev 22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

(Streets of pure gold) 

Rev. 21:21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.

Verse 2

Tho’ often tempted, tormented and tested

And, like the prophet, my pillow a stone.

And tho’ I find here no permanent dwelling,

I know He’ll give me a mansion my own.

(Often tempted and tormented and tested) 

Hebrews 11:37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

1 Corinthians 10:13: 13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

James 1:12: Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

(The prophet’s pillow of stone)

Genesis 28:11: And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.

(No permanent dwelling here)

2 Corinthians 5:1: For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Verse 3

Don't think me poor or deserted or lonely
I'm not discouraged I'm heaven bound
I'm just a pilgrim in search of a city
I want a mansion, a harp and a crown 

(Not concerned about being poor) 

Proverbs 28:6: Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

(Pilgrim in search of a city) 

Hebrews 11:13: These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

(A harp)

Psalm 33:2 Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.

(A crown) 

James 1:12: Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

1 Peter 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. 

So, there you have it friend. Is Mansion Over the Hilltop scriptural? You better believe it is. In fact, it has more Scriptural references than most songs. Is it a "selfish" song? I guess that depends on what kind of person you are. If you believe it is selfish then you are probably a selfish person, otherwise you would see that it is a beautiful song written to sing about the glories of Heaven which awaits those that are saved. It speaks of the wonders and sites of that city that God promised us and also said in His Word in Isaiah 64:4 For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.  and then later backed up by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 2:9: But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Enjoy the below clip of my dad, James Chesney, picking and singing this good old SCRIPTURAL song.