JESUS CHRIST >> GLORY & PRAISE
SDAH 233
Christ, whose glory fills the skies,
Christ, the true, the only light,
Sun of Righteousness, arise,
triumph o’er the shades of night;
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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: Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies
A radiant morning hymn by Charles Wesley, this song celebrates Christ as the “Sun of Righteousness.” First published in 1740, it remains one of the most uplifting devotional hymns. The tune RATISBON, arranged by William Monk, adds a bright and reverent tone. Let this hymn be your dawn prayer—welcoming the Light of the World into your day.
📖 Reference: Feel free to share but please cite hymnsforworship.org when reproducing.
Introductions for Sabbath School Song Service (based on specific lesson quarterlies):
This morning hymn by Charles Wesley (1707-1788; see Biographies) was first printed in Hymns and Sacred Poems, 1740, brought out by John and Charles Wesley. Strangely, in the 1780 book John substituted for the first stanza, the second stanza of another hymn, “Lord, How Long Shall I, Shall I.” Not until the 1878 Methodist hymnal in America was the original restored. Alexander MacMillan called it” one of the greatest morning hymns in our language, but it is more. It is a glorious hymn to Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, the light of the World.”
The tune RATISBON is named after an ancient German City, now known as Regensburg. It is included in J.G. Werner’s Choralbuck zu den neuen protestanischen Gesangbuchern (Chorale for the New Protestant Hymnbooks), 1851, but was based on an earlier tune. Johann Werner (1777-1822) was born at Hayn, near Leipzig, and held positions as organist at Frohburg, assistant cantor of Hohenstein, and organist-director at Merseburg. He was a teacher and published organ and piano teaching materials and a harmony book.
William Monk (1823-1889; see SDAH 50) made this arrangement for Hymns Ancient and Modern, 1861, for which he was the assistant musical editor. He also wrote the tune VIGILATE, SDAH 603; and EVENTIDE, SDAH 50.
📖 Reference: Companion to the Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal by Wayne Hooper and Edward E. White. Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1988.
Stanza:
1 – John 1:9
Malachi 4:2
2 Peter 1:19
3 – Proverbs 4:19
Text
1
Christ, whose glory fills the skies,
Christ, the true, the only light,
Sun of Righteousness, arise,
Triumph o’er the shades of night;
Dayspring from on high, be near;
Daystar, in my heart appear.
2
Dark and cheerless is the morn
Unaccompanied by Thee;
Joyless is the day’s return,
Till Thy mercy’s beams I see;
Till they inward light impart,
Cheer my eyes and warm my heart.
3
Visit then this soul of mine;
Pierce the gloom of sin and grief;
Fill me, Radiancy divine,
Scatter all my unbelief;
More and more Thyself display,
Shining to the perfect day.
Hymn Info
Biblical Reference
(a) John 1:9; Mal 4:2; 2 Pet 1:19 (c) Prov 4:19
Author
Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
Hymn Tune
RATISBON
Metrical Number
7.7.7.7.7.7.
Arranged
W.H. Monk (1823-1889)
Tune Source
J.G. Werner’s Choralbuch, 1815
Theme
GLORY AND PRAISE
Recommended Reading
Charles was the other Wesley. Alongside his brother John who was considered the main guy behind the founding of Methodism, it was Charles’ hymns that pushed through the envelope of being “just another religion.” His lasting and well-known hymns have captivated Christians all around the world. Through his poetic lines, we are able to sing many hymns with such deep theology.
It was said that he wrote 8,989 hymns. That’s 10 lines of poetry every single day for 50 years. And we are privileged to have sung some of those hymns. Tell me, don’t these hymns ring a bell for you?
