Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

 When asked to name a hymn that filled him with joy, Frank Calkins chose this hymn as did Sherry Naylor.  Sherry says," How can you listen to that uplifting music and sing those happy words and not be full of joy?  All hymns are joyful--they praise God.  Easter service is not right without the joyful words of "Jesus Christ is Risen Today!  Alleluia!"

 When we sang it a few weeks ago during worship at St. Mark Presbyterian, I, too, had decided this was one of my favorite hymns.  As an English and German teacher, this hymn is perfect.  The lyrics are beautiful poetry and the music is Beethoven's "Hymn to Joy".  It doesn't get any better than that.  If you don't want an English teacher's analysis of the poetry, stop here and just savor the lyrics.



According to Robert J. Morgan in Then Sings My Soul, 

In 1907, Henry van Dyke was invited to preach at Williams College in Massachusetts.  At breakfast one morning, he handed the college president a piece of paper saying, "Here is a hymn for you.  Your mountains (the Berkshires) were my inspiration.  It must be sung to the music of Beethoven's 'Hymn of joy'"

Beautiful metaphors and similes create pictures that help us understand God's Grace:  Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee. . .Melt the clouds of sin and sadness. . .Fill us with the light of day.

Alliteration takes us to peaceful places:  Field and Forest, vale and mountain, Flowery meadow, flashing sea, Chanting bird and flowing fountain, Call us to rejoice in Thee.

Repetition makes us focus:  Thou art giving and forgiving, Ever blessing, ever blest.

Rhyming is also there for poetry purists:
Ever singing, march we onward, 
Victors in the midst of strife,
Joyful music leads us sunward
In the triumph song of life.

Jaclyn Morgan, for "Musical Mondays"