05
Dec '20
Seize the Moment – Day 263
05
Dec '20
Christmas Hymn: “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”
“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” (ESV)
Pennsylvania native Henry Jackson van Dyke was the pastor of Brick Presbyterian Church in New York City, later becoming a professor of English literature at Princeton, along with a number of other prominent positions.
In 1907, he was invited to preach at Williams College in Massachusetts. One morning, he handed the college president a piece of paper, telling him that he had written a hymn inspired by the Berkshire Mountains and that it must be sung to the music of Beethoven’s ‘Hymn of Joy’. Even though it was written in the bleak days just before the start of World War I, he said that this was a hymn of trust and joy and hope.
One of my favorite versions of this song comes from the movie, “Sister Act 2”, adding some soulful singing and a gospel choir, they brought the audience to their feet. When they were done, someone said “I have never heard or seen it sung with such joy and enthusiasm! It was as if they meant every word they were singing.”
While the holidays are supposed to be a joyful time of friends and family, this year has been tainted by the fear and restrictions that Covid-19 has caused us to focus on. It’s time to WAKE UP and remember that OUR GOD is worthy of ALL the praise, and we are going to joyfully proclaim it for the world to hear, as if we mean every word we are singing!
Joyful! Joyful! Lord, we adore Thee!
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YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Ken reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
Videos are posted about a week after the devotion appears in the blog.
If you would like to read the words to this hymn or hear the melody played, click on this link:
1
Joyful, joyful, we adore You,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flow’rs before You,
Op’ning to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day!
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flow’rs before You,
Op’ning to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day!
2
All Your works with joy surround You,
Earth and heav’n reflect Your rays,
Stars and angels sing around You,
Center of unbroken praise;
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Flow’ry meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting bird and flowing fountain
Praising You eternally!
Earth and heav’n reflect Your rays,
Stars and angels sing around You,
Center of unbroken praise;
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Flow’ry meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting bird and flowing fountain
Praising You eternally!
3
Always giving and forgiving,
Ever blessing, ever blest,
Well-spring of the joy of living,
Ocean-depth of happy rest!
Loving Father, Christ our Brother,
Let Your light upon us shine;
Teach us how to love each other,
Lift us to the joy divine.
Ever blessing, ever blest,
Well-spring of the joy of living,
Ocean-depth of happy rest!
Loving Father, Christ our Brother,
Let Your light upon us shine;
Teach us how to love each other,
Lift us to the joy divine.
4
Mortals, join the mighty chorus,
Which the morning stars began;
God’s own love is reigning o’er us,
Joining people hand in hand.
Ever singing, march we onward,
Victors in the midst of strife;
Joyful music leads us sunward
In the triumph song of life.
Which the morning stars began;
God’s own love is reigning o’er us,
Joining people hand in hand.
Ever singing, march we onward,
Victors in the midst of strife;
Joyful music leads us sunward
In the triumph song of life.