Will Our Lamps be Filled and Ready - Hymn with Lyrics

1. Will our lamps be filled and ready,
When the Bridegroom comes?
And our lights be clear and steady,
When the Bridegroom comes?
In the night, that solemn night,
Will our lamps be burning bright,
When the Bridegroom comes?

Refrain
O be ready! O be ready!
O be ready when the Bridegroom comes!
O be ready! O be ready!
O be ready when the Bridegroom comes!

2. Shall we hear a welcome sounding,
When the Bridegroom comes?
And a shout of joy resounding,
When the Bridegroom comes?
In the night, that solemn night,
Will our lamps be burning bright,
When the Bridegroom comes? [Refrain]

3. Don’t delay our preparation
Till the Bridegroom comes,
Lest there be a separation,
When the Bridegroom comes.
In the night, that solemn night,
Will our lamps be burning bright,
When the Bridegroom comes? [Refrain]

4. It may be a time of sorrow,
When the Bridegroom comes;
If our oil we hope to borrow,
When the Bridegroom comes.
In the night, that solemn night,
Will our lamps be burning bright,
When the Bridegroom comes? [Refrain]

5. Oh, there’ll be a glorious meeting,
When the Bridegroom comes;
And a hallelujah greeting,
When the Bridegroom comes.
In the night, that joyful night,
With our lamps all burning bright,
When the Bridegroom comes. [Refrain]

 Scripture; Matthew 25:1-13

The hymn "Will Our Lamps Be Filled and Ready?" was written by Mary L. Maxwell in 1901. Its theme is based on the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-13, which speaks about the importance of being spiritually prepared for the coming of Christ. In the parable, five virgins were wise and brought oil for their lamps, while five were foolish and did not. When the bridegroom arrived, only the wise virgins were ready and able to enter the wedding feast.

Mary L. Maxwell's hymn asks the listener to reflect on whether their spiritual "lamps" are filled and ready for the return of Christ. The hymn calls believers to live in a state of preparedness and watchfulness, ensuring they are not caught unprepared when the "bridegroom" (Christ) comes.

The hymn’s message resonated with the idea of vigilance, emphasizing the need for personal faithfulness and spiritual readiness, especially in the context of the turn of the 20th century, a period when revival movements and religious awakenings were prominent in Christian communities.

While there isn't a specific personal backstory behind the hymn, it can be understood as part of a broader Christian call to spiritual watchfulness and moral purity, which was central to many revival hymns of that time.