Old hymns are like dusty gems. Take one off the shelf, dust it off, and you have a beautiful, multi-faceted, precious declaration of faith. How often do I forget that those who have gone before me have needed Jesus, just as I? Many have walked before us with even greater burdens and suffering, and to read their declarations of praise is such a blessing. On a particular day of need, I came across this old jewel: Ode to Joy. This poem was written in 1907 by Henry van Dyke (a college student) and set to the famous melody of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. Take a minute and meditate on these precious words:
Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, opening 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 heaven reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee, center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain, flowery meadow, flashing sea,
Singing bird and flowing fountain call us to rejoice in Thee.
Thou art giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blessed,
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.
When was the last time you asked the Father to melt the clouds of sin and sadness in your life? What a beautiful picture when he writes, “hearts unfold like flowers- open to the sun”. The last line, “joyful music leads us (to Christ) in the triumph song of life.” As you walk this week, may you be joyful! As you lead others in worship, may you offer up joyful songs to the Author, Creator, and King of JOY!