Musical Notes

Hello OCBC family,
“Who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.” (1 Peter 3:22 – NKJV).

Peter shares this verse with us, which concludes this section on suffering for doing good. First, he encourages us not to do evil for evil; moreover, he encourages us to bless others because that is what we have been called to do. “Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.” (3:9). Even so, Peter encourages us to be ready to defend our faith, to be prepared to correct those who have a question about our faith. “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” (3:15). And Peter tells us “For it is better to suffer for doing good.” Why?

“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.” (3:18). What a passage, closing with our first verse, pointing out that he was a witness, at least of the first part, “who has gone into heaven” which reminds us of the verses of Acts 9-11, “And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.  And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes,  and said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’” This Jesus, who is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him” is the same Jesus that we adore and also the same Jesus that inspired Edward Perronet to write down his famous and powerful hymn “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name.”

This hymn first appeared as an anonymous work in The Gospel Magazine, edited by Augustus Toplady (the author of “Rock of Ages”). Later, it was revealed that the author was Edward Perronet. His grandparents were protestant and they had to flee Catholic France, first going to Switzerland, then to England. There Edward’s father became a vicar of the Anglican Church, and Edward followed his example several years after.

He became a close friend of the Wesleys, traveling with them and preaching on the streets. His goal was to bring glory to God through his preaching of the gospel.

“All hail the power of Jesus' name!
Let angels prostrate fall.
Bring forth the royal diadem,
and crown him Lord of all.
Bring forth the royal diadem,
and crown him Lord of all!”

In some point, Edward broke with the Wesleys over various Methodist policies, and John Wesley excluded Perronet’s hymns from Methodist hymnals. Then he became a pastor of a small independent church in Canterbury.

“O seed of Israel's chosen race
now ransomed from the fall,
hail him who saves you by his grace,
and crown him Lord of all.
Hail him who saves you by his grace,
and crown him Lord of all!”

Edward died on January 22, 1792. His last words were: Glory to God in the height of His divinity!  Glory to God in the depth of His humanity! Glory to God in His all-sufficiency! Into His hands I commend my spirit.

The hymn is a call to worship Jesus but also is a call to share the gospel.

“Let ev'ry kindred, ev'ry tribe,
On this terrestrial ball,
To Him all majesty ascribe,
And crown Him Lord of all;
To Him all majesty ascribe,
And crown Him Lord of all.”

Remember the words of Hebrews 1:6,
“Let all God's angels worship him.”
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In His service,
Israel