The Divine Perfections

Representative Text

1 The Lord Jehovah reigns,
his throne is built on high;
the garments he assumes
are light and majesty:
his glories shine with beams so bright
no mortal eye can bear the sight.

2 The thunders of his hand
keep the wide world in awe;
his wrath and justice stand
to guard his holy law;
and where his love resolves to bless
his truth confirms and seals his grace.

3 Through all his ancient works
amazing wisdom shines,
confounds the powers of hell
and breaks their cursed designs;
strong is his arm, and shall fulfil
his great decrees, his sovereign will.

4 And can this mighty King
of Glory condescend?
And will he write his name
My Father and my Friend?
I love his name, I love his word;
join, all my powers, and praise the Lord.

Source: Together in Song: Australian hymn book II #117

Author: Isaac Watts

Isaac Watts was the son of a schoolmaster, and was born in Southampton, July 17, 1674. He is said to have shown remarkable precocity in childhood, beginning the study of Latin, in his fourth year, and writing respectable verses at the age of seven. At the age of sixteen, he went to London to study in the Academy of the Rev. Thomas Rowe, an Independent minister. In 1698, he became assistant minister of the Independent Church, Berry St., London. In 1702, he became pastor. In 1712, he accepted an invitation to visit Sir Thomas Abney, at his residence of Abney Park, and at Sir Thomas' pressing request, made it his home for the remainder of his life. It was a residence most favourable for his health, and for the prosecution of his literary… Go to person page >

Notes

The Lord Jehovah reigns, His throne is built on high. I. Watts. [Ps. cxlviii.] Although given in his Hymns and Sacred Songs, 1709, Bk. ii., No. 169, as a version of Ps. 148, in 4 stanzas of 8 lines, it did not appear in his Psalms of David, 1719, nor in any subsequent edition of the same. It is in somewhat extensive use.

-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

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The Lord Jehovah reigns, p. 1153, ii. This is not a version of Psalms 148, but an original hymn.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)

Tune

DARWALL

Composed by John Darwall (b. Haughton, Staffordshire, England, 1731; d. Walsall, Staffordshire, England, 1789), DARWALL'S 148TH was first published as a setting for Psalm 148 in Aaron William's New Universal Psalmodist (1770) with only soprano and bass parts. The harmonization dates from the ninete…

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LENOX (Edson)


[The Lord Jehovah reigns]


Timeline

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The Cyber Hymnal #3838
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Instances

Instances (1 - 6 of 6)

Great Songs of the Church (Revised) #105

Hymns and Psalms #59

Hymns of the Saints #25

TextPage Scan

The A.M.E. Zion Hymnal #65

Text

Together in Song #117

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The Cyber Hymnal #3838

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