Musical Notes

Hello OCBC family!  Let me share a passage with you.  “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me” (John 15:26 – ESV).

You are familiar with the hymn “Come, Thou Almighty King” but maybe you never realized that it is by an unknown author.  The first time that the lyrics of this hymn appeared was in George Whitefield’s Hymn Book, published in 1757.  Normally it is attributed to Charles Wesley, but this is not certain.  People believe that he wrote this hymn on the same year that the English national anthem was written, “God Save the King.” This new national anthem became very popular throughout England, and Charles Wesley maybe wrote this hymn to keep priorities straight.

There is a story that, during the American Revolution, some British soldiers surprised an American congregation on Long Island and ordered them to sing “God Save the King.” The Americans responded by singing the correct tune, but the words of “Come, Thou Almighty King.”

Whether the author was trying to remind us that it is an almighty king greater than any ruler in this world, or maybe he wrote just wonderful lyrics to sing during Trinity Sunday, this is a grand and noble hymn that praises our sovereign Lord, the Triune God.

Come, thou almighty King,
help us thy name to sing;
help us to praise.
Father, all glorious,
o'er all victorious,
come, and reign over us,
Ancient of Days.

Come, thou incarnate Word,
gird on thy mighty sword;
scatter thy foes.
Let thine almighty aid
our sure defense be made,
our souls on thee be stayed;
thy wonders show.

Come, holy Comforter,
thy sacred witness bear
in this glad hour.
Thou who almighty art,
now rule in every heart,
and ne'er from us depart,
Spirit of power.

To thee, great One in Three,
eternal praises be
hence evermore!
Thy sovereign majesty
may we in glory see,
and to eternity
love and adore.

In His service,
Israel

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