CHRISTIAN CHURCH >> Mission of the church
SDAH 371
Lift Him up, ’tis He that bids you,
Let the dying look and live;
To all weary, thirsting sinners,
Living waters will He give;
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For Worship Leaders
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Hymn Spotlight: Lift Him Up
Though little is known about May E. Warren and composer D. S. Hakes, their hymn has remained a distinctively Adventist call to evangelism since first appearing in Glorious Tidings (1878). Centered on John 12:32—“And I, if I be lifted up… will draw all men unto me”—this hymn reminds us that the most powerful witness we can give is to exalt Christ in word and life. May we lift Him up in our homes, churches, and communities, that many may be drawn to His saving love.
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Introductions for Sabbath School Song Service (based on specific lesson quarterlies):
These words written by May E. Warren, about whom nothing is known. It was first printed in H. S. Perkins’ Glorious Tidings, 1878, then in the SDA book, Hymns and Tunes, 1886. Since then, it was used in only one non-SDA hymnal. In 1913 it appeared in the SDA Christ in Song, 1908, and Church Hymnal, 1941.
The unnamed tune was composed by D. S. Hakes, about whom little is known. He was a prolific composer who collaborated with F. E. Belden and J. E. White in producing the first Sabbath school song book of seventh –day Adventist, Song Anchor, 1878. Hakes also compiled Pearly Portals for the Sabbath School, in 1882, and composed 90 of the 146 tunes in that book.
📖 Reference: Companion to the Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal by Wayne Hooper and Edward E. White. Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1988.
Text
1
Lift Him up, ’tis He that bids you,
Let the dying look and live;
To all weary, thirsting sinners,
Living waters will He give;
And though once so meek and lowly,
Yet the Prince of heaven was He;
And the blind, who grope in darkness,
Through the blood of Christ shall see.
Refrain
Lift Him up, the risen Savior,
High amid the waiting throng;
Lift Him up, ’tis He that speaketh,
Now He bids you flee from wrong.
2
Lift Him up, this precious Savior,
Let the multitude behold;
They with willing hearts shall seek Him,
He will draw them to His fold;
They shall gather from the wayside,
Hastening on with joyous feet,
They shall bear the cross of Jesus,
And shall find salvation sweet.
3
Lift Him up in all His glory,
‘Tis the Son of God on high;
Lift Him up, His love shall draw them,
Eén the careless shall draw nigh;
Let them hear again the story
Of the cross, the death of shame;
And from tongue to tongue repeat it;
Mighty throngs shall bless His name.
4
O then lift Him up in singing,
Lift the Savior up in prayer;
He, the glorious Redeemer,
All the sins of men did bear;
Yes, the young shall bow before Him,
And the old their voices raise;
All the deaf shall hear hosannah;
And the dumb shall shout His praise.
Hymn Info
Biblical Reference
(a) John 12:32; Num 21:8; John 4:10; Matt 11:29; John 9:25 (b) John 10:16; Matt 22:29 (c) Jer 31:3 (d) Ps 148:12, 13; Isa 35:5, 6 (r) 1 Tim 6:11
Author
May E. Warren
Metrical Number
8.7.8.7.D.Ref.
Composer
D.S. Hakes
