Tag Archives: Thomas Kelly

Music

Sunday Singing: Look, Ye Saints, the Sight Is Glorious

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“Look, Ye Saints, the Sight Is Glorious” sung by the congregation of the Metropolitan Tabernacle, London

Last Thursday was Ascension Day, making today Ascension Sunday. It’s been a trying week for me, so leaning into Christ victorious is comforting.

Peter referred to Christ’s ascension when he preached to the crowd at Pentecost, saying, “This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. . . . For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,

“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.”’

Today’s hymn by Irishman Thomas Kelly (1769-1855) speaks to this most incredible moment in history. Look, ye saints, he says. Look at the Man of Sorrows now! You thought he was dead, and now, not only is that not true, he has risen into the clouds to receive his crown.

1 Look, ye saints, the sight is glorious;
see the Man of Sorrows now;
from the fight returned victorious,
ev’ry knee to him shall bow.
Crown him! Crown him!
Crowns become the Victor’s brow.

2 Crown the Savior, angels, crown him;
rich the trophies Jesus brings;
in the seat of pow’r enthrone him,
while the vault of heaven rings.
Crown him! Crown him!
Crown the Savior King of kings.

3 Sinners in derision crowned him
mocking thus the Savior’s claim;
saints and angels crowd around him,
own his title, praise his name:
Crown him! Crown him!
Spread abroad the Victor’s fame!

4 Hark! those bursts of acclamation!
Hark! those loud triumphant chords!
Jesus takes the highest station;
O what joy the sight affords!
Crown him! Crown him!
King of kings and Lord of lords.

Music

Sunday Singing: Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted

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Continuing an Easter theme, here’s a marvelous hymn that fits our Good Friday meditations. “Stricken, smitten, and afflicted” comes from the Irishman Thomas Kelly (1769-1855), who wrote 765 hymns over 51 years. The tune, I believe, is of German folk origin with harmony arranged by American Paul G. Bunjes for Lutheran Worship (1982). The text below is taken from the 2006 Lutheran Service Book.

1 Stricken, smitten, and afflicted,
see him dying on the tree!
‘Tis the Christ, by man rejected;
yes, my soul, ’tis he, ’tis he!
‘Tis the long-expected Prophet,
David’s Son, yet David’s Lord;
Proofs I see sufficient of it:
’tis the true and faithful Word.

2 Tell me, ye who hear him groaning,
was there ever grief like his?
Friends through fear his cause disowning,
foes insulting his distress;
many hands were raised to wound him,
none would interpose to save;
but the deepest stroke that pierced him
was the stroke that Justice gave.

3 Ye who think of sin but lightly
nor suppose the evil great
here may view its nature rightly,
here its guilt may estimate.
Mark the sacrifice appointed,
see who bears the awful load;
’tis the Word, the Lord’s Anointed,
Son of Man and Son of God.

4 Here we have a firm foundation,
here the refuge of the lost;
Christ, the Rock of our salvation,
his the name of which we boast:
Lamb of God, for sinners wounded,
sacrifice to cancel guilt!
None shall ever be confounded
who on him their hope have built.