GOD THE FATHER >> Majesty & Power of God
SDAH 91
Ye watchers and ye holy ones,
Bright seraphs, cherubim and thrones,
Raise the glad strain, Alleluia!
Cry out, dominions, princedoms, powers,
Virtues, archangels, angels’ choirs:
Get the hymn sheet in other keys here
For Worship Leaders
Make each hymn more meaningful with these helpful tools: Short, ready-to-use hymn introductions for church bulletins, multiple ways to introduce a hymn based on your worship theme and in-depth history and insights to enrich your song service.
Hymn Spotlight: Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones
This triumphant hymn is set to LASST UNS ERFREUEN, a melody that was widely used in southern Germany before 1700. Originally paired with an Easter hymn in 1623, the tune was revived when John Athelstan Laurie Riley (1858–1945) set it to his hymn text, published in the English Hymnal (1906). Riley, an advocate of the Anglo-Catholic movement, was known for his extensive travels in the Middle East and his writings on Eastern Christianity.
Arranged in 3/2 time by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958), the tune’s soaring “Alleluia” calls voices to praise in unity.
As we sing, may our worship join with the heavenly choir in joyful adoration of our mighty God.
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Introductions for Sabbath School Song Service (based on specific lesson quarterlies):
The Son of man regains what Adam lost. It also suggests that He shares common ground with humanity. The title Son of man points to His bond with humankind. From the broad context of the Scriptures, we can infer that the Son of man not only represents His people in the heavenly tribunal, but He also can identify with them because He partakes of their human nature (Heb. 2:14, Heb. 4:15). We also should note that the Son of man of Daniel 7 must be identified with the Prince of the Host (Dan. 8:11), the “man clothed in linen” (Dan. 10:5), and Michael (Dan. 10:13, Dan. 12:1). To conclude, the Son of man of Daniel 7 is clearly the Messiah Jesus Christ, who comes to the presence of God the Father as a representative of the saints (1 John 2:1) on the antitypical day of atonement. (Lesson 8, 1st Quarter 2020 – Wednesday, The Coming of the Son of Man, 2/19/2020)
The tune of this hymn in unusual meter was in extensive use in southern Germany before 1700. It appeared as a hymn tune in 1623, set to an Easter hymn, Lasst uns Erfreuen Herzlich Sehr (Let Us Most Heartily Rejoice). It was revived when set to these words by John Athelstan Laurie Riley and published in the English Hymnal, 1906, of which Riley was one of the editors. Of the original four stanzas, the third was omitted by SDAH because of unscriptural references to the state of the dead.
Riley was born in Paddington, London, on August 10, 1858. He was educated at Eton and Oxford, gaining his B.A. in 1881, and the M.A. two years later. He traveled extensively in the Middle East and published several pamphlets and articles on the Eastern Christian church. He was a great supporter of the Anglo-Catholic movement. He died on November 17, 1945, in the township of Trinity, Jersey, in the Channel Islands. (He had purchased the Manor of Trinity and thus had become virtually the owner of the Isle of Jersey and Seigneur [Lord] of La Trinité.) The opposition to the English Hymnal because of its High Church leanings was softened to a great extent by Riley’s lectures on the book, illustrated by a group of singers.
LASST UNS ERFREUEN (see SDAH 2) is also used for SDAH 228. It was arranged in a consistent 3/2 time by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958).
Stanza:
1 – Revelation 19:1
Text
1
Ye watchers and ye holy ones,
Bright seraphs, cherubim and thrones,
Raise the glad strain, Alleluia!
Cry out, dominions, princedoms, powers,
Virtues, archangels, angels’ choirs:
Refrain
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia!
2
O higher than the cherubim,
More glorious than the seraphim,
Lead their praises, Alleluia!
Thou bearer of the eternal Word,
Most gracious, magnify the Lord.
3
O friends, in gladness let us sing,
Supernal anthems echoing,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
To God the Father, God the Son,
And God the Spirit, Three in One.
Hymn Info
Biblical Reference
(a) Rev 19:1
Author
Athelstan Riley (1858-1945)
Year Published
1906
Performance Suggestions
Unison
Copyright
Words and music from The English Hymnal by permission of Oxford University Press
Hymn Tune
LASST UNS ERFREUEN
Metrical Number
8.8.8.8.8. Alleluias
Arranger
Arr. by Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906 (1872-1958)
Tune Source
Geistliche Kirchengesange, Koln / 1623
Alternate key
Lower key, SDAH 2
Theme
MAJESTY & POWER OF GOD
