Lord’s Day, Vol. 3 No. 8

(1) Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

– A Majestic Melody Out Of Deafness

Being joyful is a hallmark of the Christian. Jesus said to His followers: “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full” (John 15:11). The Apostle Paul reminds us that one of the “fruit of the spirit is…joy…” (Gal. 5:22). A joyless Christian would be a great contradiction.

Henry van Dyke (1852-1933), a famous preacher and writer of devotional material, wrote the celebrated hymn, “Joyful, joyful, We Adore Thee.” He needed a tune that would convey the exhilaration of his words, while maintaining a dignified and worshipful mood. He chose the one perfect melody to express the joyful worship of his text – the final movement of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.

Beethoven combined both instruments and voices in a majestic expression of sound in what has become one of the world’s premier musical productions. The composer was completely deaf when he wrote that majestic melody.

The Ninth Symphony premiered in Vienne and concluded with its magnificent choral ode. Beethoven, standing in the midst of the rolling waves of music, heard nothing. The soloists had to come down from the stage and turn Beethoven around so that he could acknowledge the thunderous applause he was being given.

Beethoven in his deafness, Milton and Fanny Crosby in their blindness, Joni Eareckson Tada in her paralysis, and a countless host of souls, have heard celestial melodies in the night season that could never be heard in the brightness of the day. Indeed, God gives some of his most glorious songs in the night seasons of life.

Let our souls exhilarate in the majestic praise of this great hymn.

 

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,

            God of glory, Lord of love;

Hearts unfold like flow’rs before Thee,

            Hail Thee as 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!

 

All Thy works with joy surround Thee,

            Earth and Heaven reflect Thy rays,

Stars and angels sing around Thee,

            Center of unbroken praise;

Field and forest, vale and mountain,

            Bloss’ming meadow, flashing sea,

Chanting bird and flowing fountain

            Call us to rejoice in Thee.

 

Thou art giving and forgiving,

            Ever blessing, ever blest,

Wellspring of the joy of living,

            Ocean depth of happy rest!

Thou the Father, Christ our Saviour

            All who live in love are Thine.

Teach us how to love each other,

            Lift us to the joy divine.

 

Mortals, join the mighty chorus

            Which the morning stars began;

Father love is reigning o’er us,

            Brother love binds man to man.

Ever singing, march we onward,

            Victors in the midst of strife;

Joyful music lifts us sunward

            In the triumph song of life. 

[Extracted and edited from Henry Gariepy’s Song’s in the Night]

(2) Easter Sunrise Service

Mary Magdalene was the earliest at the sepulchre of our Lord to witness the empty tomb and her resurrected Lord. Her life was miserable and full of suffering, being plagued by demons until our Lord Jesus delivered her. She had much to thank her Lord and she did so rising up early to remember her good Lord who died for her.

We shall be remembering the day our Lord Jesus Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday (5 April 2015) in an outdoor Sunrise Service. As the venue and logistics to hold our Sunrise Service is being planned, please pray and prepare to attend to remember God’s goodness toward us.

Yours lovingly in Christ,

Pr. Lek Aik Wee