Hymns We Should Sing More Often: Rejoice, the Lord Is King

This is part of an intermittent series I’ve called “Hymns We Should Sing More Often.” The aim is to remind us (or introduce for the first time) excellent hymns that are probably not included in most church’s musical canon. A few hymns–like Holy, Holy, Holy or Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing—are familiar to many congregations and get sung in conferences and other large gatherings. Unfortunately, for a growing number of churches, there are no hymnals in the pews (or on the chairs), and consequently there is little opportunity to draw from the deep well of Christian hymnody. Most of the hymns in this series are not unfamiliar, just underutilized. I hope you will enjoy learning about these hymns as much as I have and enjoy singing them even more.

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The two most important figures in eighteenth century hymnody were Isaac Watts (1674-1748) and the writer of this hymn, Charles Wesley (1707-1788). Charles, who with his older brother John (1703-1791) started the Methodist movement, wrote more 6500 hymns during his lifetime. We still sing many of Wesley’s hymns, including “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus”, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”, “Christ the Lord is Risen Today”, “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”, and “Jesus, Lover of My Soul.”

Charles Wesley wrote the text to “Rejoice, the Lord is King” (1744) for Easter and Ascension Sundays. Originally the hymn had six stanzas, five of which are included in the Trinity Hymnal. The text rejoices in the kingship of Christ who rules over all. The refrain–“Lift up your hearts, lift up your voice. Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!”–is a combination of two elements: the sursum corda (“Lift up your hearts”) which is a millennia old Latin prayer said before Communion and the joyful exclamation of Philippians 4:4 (“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice.”).

The tune comes from John Darwall (1731-1789), an English vicar and an amateur musician. This tune, first published in 1770 as a setting for Psalm 148, is the only Darwall tune still in common use.

Rejoice, the Lord is king! Your Lord and king adore;
Mortals give thanks and sing, and triumph evermore;
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

Jesus, the Savior, reigns, the God of truth and love;
When He had purged our stains He took His seat above;
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

His kingdom cannot fail, He rules o’er earth and Heav’n,
The keys of death and hell are to our Jesus giv’n;
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

He sits at God’s right hand till all His foes submit,
And bow to His command, and fall beneath His feet:
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

Rejoice in glorious hope! Jesus the Judge shall come,
And take His servants up to their eternal home.
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!