Welcome! If you are new here, you might like to know what "Notes of Glory" is all about (short story: helping you to SING and enjoy the great songs of the faith at home or wherever you are)! Click here for all the details.
Complete "Notes of Glory" Song List
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PIANO PRELUDE
(to help you enter into a spirit of worship)
Blessed Hope
Piano Solo by Dave Foley
Psalm 71:5
For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth.
For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth.
Psalm 130:7
O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption.Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Titus 2:13
Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
Words by Charles Wesley, Music by John Darwall
Psalm 97:1-6
and his kingdom rules over all.
Although Lampe's original tune was beautiful, it was a bit challenging for general congregational singing. Poet, pastor, and amateur musician John Darwall (1731-1789) wrote the tune that is most frequently sung with "Rejoice, the Lord is King" today, although the tune's original function was to accompany a setting of Psalm 148 in the 1870 collection New Universal Psalmodist (thus the tune name: Darwall's 148th). It's just so typical of the history of hymnody that a tune composed for one text setting ended up being a perfect fit for another. Interestingly, Messiah composer George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) wrote three known hymn tunes: one of which ("Gopsal") is frequently sung with "Rejoice, the Lord is King" (you can hear a recording of that version here).
Rejoice, the Lord is King:
Your Lord and King adore!
Rejoice, give thanks and sing,
And triumph evermore.
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
Jesus, the Savior, reigns,
The God of truth and love;
When He has purged our stains,
He took his seat above;
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
His kingdom cannot fail,
He rules o'er earth and heav'n;
The keys of death and hell
Are to our Jesus giv'n:
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
Rejoice in glorious hope!
Our Lord and judge shall come
And take His servants up
To their eternal home:
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
HYMNS FOR YOU TO SING AT HOME
(transposed to easily singable keys!)
Rejoice, the Lord is King!
Words by Charles Wesley, Music by John Darwall
Psalm 97:1-6
The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice;
let the many coastlands be glad!
Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
Fire goes before him
and burns up his adversaries all around.
His lightnings light up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
before the Lord of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
and all the peoples see his glory.
let the many coastlands be glad!
Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
Fire goes before him
and burns up his adversaries all around.
His lightnings light up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
before the Lord of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
and all the peoples see his glory.
Psalm 103:19
The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,and his kingdom rules over all.
Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
Revelations 1:17-18
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
____________________
In 1746, British preacher and hymn writer Charles Wesley (1707-1788) was 39 years old. Ten years earlier he had traveled to the American colonies with his brother John to preach the gospel. However it was only after the brothers returned to England that they both experienced dynamic personal conversions and rededicated their lives to Christian ministry and evangelism. During the 1840s the Wesleys preached in open-air settings (inspired by evangelist George Whitefield) and Charles was also a prolific song-writer, regularly adding to the total of nearly 9000 hymns he composed over his lifetime.
"Rejoice, the Lord is King" was originally written by Wesley as an Easter hymn by and was first published in a 1746 collection of hymns with tunes by John Frederick Lampe, titled Hymns on the Great Festivals and Other Occasions. Here is "Rejoice" as it appeared in that volume, accompanied by Lampe's tune.
Although Lampe's original tune was beautiful, it was a bit challenging for general congregational singing. Poet, pastor, and amateur musician John Darwall (1731-1789) wrote the tune that is most frequently sung with "Rejoice, the Lord is King" today, although the tune's original function was to accompany a setting of Psalm 148 in the 1870 collection New Universal Psalmodist (thus the tune name: Darwall's 148th). It's just so typical of the history of hymnody that a tune composed for one text setting ended up being a perfect fit for another. Interestingly, Messiah composer George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) wrote three known hymn tunes: one of which ("Gopsal") is frequently sung with "Rejoice, the Lord is King" (you can hear a recording of that version here).
Wesley based "Rejoice, the Lord is King" on Philippians 4:4 ("Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.") Just a reminder: the apostle Paul was imprisoned when he wrote those joyful words. The hymn also proclaim's Christ's majesty, as in Hebrews 1:8: "But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.
You might enjoy reading Kevin DeYoung's post on this hymn, "Hymns We Should Sing More Often: 'Rejoice, the Lord is King'." If this hymn is new to you, here is a recording by the Southwestern Seminary Oratorio Chorus and Festival Brass. Also, here is a wonderful a capella rendition from the vocal ensemble Glad, and here's a contemporary version from Christian singing group Phillips Craig and Dean.
You can hear a piano solo arrangement of "Rejoice, the Lord is King" that was featured on the April 5 (Palm Sunday) edition of Notes of Glory here (scroll down to "Postlude).
Rejoice, the Lord is King:
Your Lord and King adore!
Rejoice, give thanks and sing,
And triumph evermore.
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
Jesus, the Savior, reigns,
The God of truth and love;
When He has purged our stains,
He took his seat above;
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
His kingdom cannot fail,
He rules o'er earth and heav'n;
The keys of death and hell
Are to our Jesus giv'n:
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
Rejoice in glorious hope!
Our Lord and judge shall come
And take His servants up
To their eternal home:
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
The Church's One Foundation
Words by Samuel J. Stone, Music by Samuel S. Wesley
1 Corinthians 3:11
For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:22-23
And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Ephesians 2:19-22
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.Ephesians 4:4-6
There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
____________________
In 1866, as a result of various doctrinal disagreements and controversies in the Church of England, British poet, vicar and hymnodist Samuel Stone (1839-1900) wrote Lyra Fidelium: Twelve Hymns on the Twelve Articles of the Apostles’ Creed. (You can view this entire book here). For more information about the history of the Apostles' Creed, see this article.
In the preface to Lyra Fidelium, Stone explained his purpose in writing these hymns.
Most clergymen are aware how many of their parishioners, among the poor especially, say the Creed in their private prayers. And they cannot but feel how this excellent use, as also its utterance in public worship, is too often accompanied by a very meagre comprehension of the breadth and depth of meaning contained in each Article of the Confession of Faith. Such a feeling first suggested to the Author the probable usefulness of a simple and attractive explanation of the Creed in the popular form of a series of Hymns, such as might be sung or said in private devotion, at family prayer, or in public worship.
Stone's hymn "The Church's One Foundation," expands upon the 9th Article of the Apostle's Creed, which states "I believe in the holy catholic church ("catholic" here in this context means "universal," some versions substitute "Christian" here). The title and first stanza are drawn from 1 Corinthians 3:11, "for no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." In the seven stanzas of the original hymn, this affirmation is supported by numerous scriptural concepts, with biblical references listed by Stone himself at the time (you can see that entire list here: several of these verses are listed above).
The tune most frequently matched with "The Church's One Foundation" is "Aurelia" by composer Samuel Sebastian Wesley (1810-1876), the grandson of Charles Wesley (whose "Rejoice, the Lord is King" is also included in today's post: it's a family affair!). Samuel Sebastian Wesley was featured previously on the September 27th edition of "Notes of Glory" as the composer of "Lead Me, Lord." Aurelia means "golden" and this tune was originally published as a setting for the hymn "Jerusalem the Golden" in 1864. Four years later, "Aurelia" was published with the text "The Church's One Foundation" in the collection Hymns Ancient and Modern (1868 edition).
Here is a beautiful video showing this classic hymn being sung by a British congregation with instrumental and organ accompaniment. And here is a lovely version sung by the Choir of King's College, Cambridge.
The church's one foundation
is Jesus Christ, her Lord;
she is his new creation
by water and the Word:
from heav'n he came and sought her
to be his holy bride;
with his own blood he bought her,
and for her life he died.
Elect from ev'ry nation,
yet one o'er all the earth,
her charter of salvation
one Lord, one faith, one birth;
one holy name she blesses,
partakes one holy food,
and to one hope she presses,
with ev'ry grace endued.
Though with a scornful wonder
men see her sore oppressed,
by schisms rent asunder,
by heresies distressed,
yet saints their watch are keeping,
their cry goes up, "How long?"
And soon the night of weeping
shall be the morn of song.
'Mid toil and tribulation,
and tumult of her war,
she waits the consummation
of peace forevermore;
till with the vision glorious
her longing eyes are blest,
and the great church victorious
shall be the church at rest.
Yet she on earth hath union
with the God the Three in One,
and mystic sweet communion
with those whose rest is won:
O happy ones and holy!
Lord, give us grace that we,
like them, the meek and lowly,
on high may dwell with thee.
is Jesus Christ, her Lord;
she is his new creation
by water and the Word:
from heav'n he came and sought her
to be his holy bride;
with his own blood he bought her,
and for her life he died.
Elect from ev'ry nation,
yet one o'er all the earth,
her charter of salvation
one Lord, one faith, one birth;
one holy name she blesses,
partakes one holy food,
and to one hope she presses,
with ev'ry grace endued.
Though with a scornful wonder
men see her sore oppressed,
by schisms rent asunder,
by heresies distressed,
yet saints their watch are keeping,
their cry goes up, "How long?"
And soon the night of weeping
shall be the morn of song.
'Mid toil and tribulation,
and tumult of her war,
she waits the consummation
of peace forevermore;
till with the vision glorious
her longing eyes are blest,
and the great church victorious
shall be the church at rest.
Yet she on earth hath union
with the God the Three in One,
and mystic sweet communion
with those whose rest is won:
O happy ones and holy!
Lord, give us grace that we,
like them, the meek and lowly,
on high may dwell with thee.
Revive Us Again
Words and music by William Paton Mackay
Psalm 80:18
Then we will not turn away from you;revive us, and we will call on your name.
Will you not revive us again,
that your people may rejoice in you?
that your people may rejoice in you?
1 Peter 2:24
He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.Jude 1:24-25
Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen
____________________
At first sight (or first hearing), "Revive Us Again" sounds like a classic song with roots in the American revival/gospel tradition. Indeed, it was heavily used by 19th century American evangelists Dwight Moody and Ira Sankey, and was published in the 1875 collection Gospel Hymns and Sacred Songs edited by Robert Lowry and William Doane. However, the evangelistic fervor of traveling preachers like Charles Finney (1792-1855) reached other shores as well, and Scotland was the site of one such revival in 1859-1860.
A number of new hymns were produced as a result, one of which was "Revive Us Again" by William Paton Mackay (1839-1885). Mackay was a doctor who later became a Scottish Presbyterian minister. He wrote both the words to "Revive Us Again" as well as the tune, although the music is sometimes wrongly attributed to another composer (John Husband). Mackay's text and tune were first published together in 1866 in William Reid's song collection titled The Praise-Book.
If this hymn is new to you, here's a recording from the Gaither Vocal Band you'll enjoy, and here's an equally dynamic version from the vocal group Selah.
You can also hear a piano solo arrangement of "Revive Us Again" that was featured on the May 31 (Pentecost Sunday) edition of "Notes of Glory" here (scroll down to "Postlude").
We praise thee, O God, for the Son of thy love,
For Jesus who died and is now gone above.
Refrain:
Hallelujah, thine the glory!
Hallelujah, Amen!
Hallelujah, thine the glory!
Revive us again.
We praise thee, O God, for thy Spirit of light,
Who has shown us our Savior and scattered our night. [Refrain]
All glory and praise to the Lamb that was slain,
Who has borne all our sins and has cleansed ev'ry stain. [Refrain]
Revive us again -- fill each heart with thy love;
May each soul be rekindled with fire from above. [Refrain]
POSTLUDE
Sing for Joy!
Piano Solo by Lani Smith
Psalm 84:1-2
How lovely is your dwelling place,O Lord of hosts!
My soul longs, yes, faints
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and flesh sing for joy
to the living God.
Psalm 95:1
Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!Psalm 132:9
May your priests be clothed with your righteousness;may your faithful people sing for joy
