October 28, 2018 (Sunday)
Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” from his 9th symphony is the basis for this hymn. The words came from Henry J. Van Dyck in 1907 as he visited the Berkshire mountains in Massachusetts. He was a professor of English literature at Princeton University after serving as minister of the Brick Presbyterian Church in Manhattan for 17 years (1883-1900), where members and tourists crowded the building to hear him. Van Dyke delivered a sermon which was published as The Story of the Other Wise Man in Harper’s magazine in 1893 and then as a book. Now, a classic of Christian literature, it is beloved around the world.
Addressed to the “Lord of Love,” in this uplifting hymn we sing about hearts opening and joyful music leading us “sunward.” Stars and angels and all of nature, from flowery meadows to flashing seas, sing unbroken praise to the one who is “giving and forgiving.”
In both exuberant text and music, we “mortals” are urged to “join this mighty chorus,” learn to love one another, praise the “wellspring of the joy of living.”
WORDS: Henry J. van Dyke, 1907;
MUSIC: “Ode to Joy”; Ludwig van Beethoven;
arr. by Edward Hodges, 1824.
Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flow’rs before Thee,
Op’ning to 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 heav’n reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee,
Center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Flow’ry meadow, flashing sea,
Singing 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 our Father, Christ our Brother,
All who live in love are Thine;
Teach us how to love each other,
Lift us to the joy divine.
Mortals, join the happy 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 leads us Sunward
In the triumph song of life.