Musical Notes

Hello OCBC family,
“Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” (Revelation 11:15).

The book of Revelation tells us in this passage that this seventh angel played his trumpet, announcing the arrival of the King. His judgment is at hand, God is in control and he unleashes his full wrath on the evil world that refuses to turn to him. But, for the believers, that day will be a day of rejoicing, a day when we can adore our heavenly King, Jesus the Christ.

“Look, ye saints! the sight is glorious:
See the Man of Sorrows now;
From the fight returned victorious,
Ev'ry knee to Him shall bow;
Crown Him, crown Him, Crown Him, crown Him,
Crown Him, crown Him.
Crowns become the Victor's brow,
Crowns become the Victor's brow.”

This hymn, not too familiar in modern churches, was written by Thomas Kelly, a prolific Irish hymnist, who gave us over 750 hymns. People called him the “Isaac Watts” of Ireland.

Thomas Kelly, following his father’s desire, started his studies of law in the Dublin University, but during his studies, he changed his interest to study Hebrew, which led him to study the Scriptures. He left the study of law, committed his life to Christ, and began studying theology.

Kelly was ordained into the Anglican church in 1792 and became friends with open-air evangelist, Rowland Hill, an evangelist that complained about the slow music at church, and the necessity of upbeat tempo in the hymns. Because of this friendship and his own desire to do the same thing at the church, Kelly was suspended from ministry and forbidden to preach.

“Crown the Savior! angels, crown Him;
Rich the trophies Jesus brings;
In the seat of pow'r enthrone Him,
While the vault of heaven rings:
Crown Him, crown Him, Crown Him, crown Him,
Crown Him, crown Him.
Crown the Savior King of kings,
Crown the Savior King of kings.”

Because he could not preach in the Anglican church, Kelly became a Dissenter-a non-Anglican preacher, sharing his sermons in a very passionate way, working with poor people in Ireland; he became a local hero.

At age of eighty-six, and ready to die, his prayer was, “Not my will, but Thine be done.” A friend was reading to him the 23rd Psalm, and in his last whisper, he said, “The Lord is my all.”

This hymn, “Look, Ye Saints! The Sight Is Glorious” was written to be used for Ascension Day, a day when some denominations, celebrate and remember the ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ forty days after Easter.

Repeat the refrain once again, proclaiming Jesus as your King. “Crown Him, crown Him.”
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In His service,
Israel