Hymns · 1739

Sing, ye heavens; and, earth, rejoice, make to God

Made popular by Charles Wesley, John Wesley

Details

Hymnal / album Hymns and Sacred Poems (1739)

Publisher William Strahan

Notes Originally titled: "Grace Before Meat." This is the original version of this hymn, as first published in "Hymns and Sacred Poems (1739)," published by John and Charles Wesley (London: William Strahan, 1739). Published in The Poetical Works of John and Charles Wesley, Collected and Arranged by G. Osborn, Vol. 1 (London: Wesleyan-Methodist Conference Office, 1868), page 189.

Scripture connections

References

Verses this song directly draws from

Psalm 91:3 Psalm 98:4 Psalm 100:1 Psalm 124:7 Isaiah 44:23 Isaiah 49:13 Luke 15:5-7 Luke 15:10 Luke 15:20 Luke 15:24 Luke 15:32 John 10:28-29 John 17:1 Acts 3:13 Acts 20:28 Romans 8:38-39 I Peter 1:18-19 Revelation 5:9

Allusions

Verses this song echoes or alludes to

Job 38:7 Isaiah 53:12 Luke 11:21-22 John 17:5 Romans 6:9-10 Ephesians 4:30 Hebrews 9:28 I Peter 3:18

Lyrics

Verse 1
Sing, ye heavens, and earth rejoice, (Isa. 44:23, Isa. 49:13)
Make to God a chearful noise, (Ps. 98:4, Ps. 100:1)
He the work alone hath done,
He hath glorified his Son. (Acts 3:13, John 17:1, John 17:5)

Verse 2
Sons of God exulting rise (Job 38:7)
Join the triumph of the skies, (Luke 15:7, Luke 15:10)
See the prodigal is come, (Luke 15:20, Luke 15:24)
Shout to bear the wanderer home! (Luke 15:5-6)

Verse 3
Strive in joy with angels strive, (Luke 15:7, Luke 15:10)
Dead she was, but now’s alive, (Luke 15:24, Luke 15:32)
Loud repeat the glorious sound,
Lost she was, but now is found! (Luke 15:24, Luke 15:32)

Verse 4
This through ages all along,
This be still the joyous song,
Wide diffus’d o’er earth abroad,
Music in the ears of God.

Verse 5
Rescued from the fowler’s snare, (Ps. 91:3, Ps. 124:7)
Jesus spreads his arms for her,
Jesu’s arms her sacred fence:—
Come, ye fiends, and pluck her thence! (John 10:28-29)

Verse 6
Thence she never shall remove,
Safe in his redeeming love: (Rom. 8:38-39)
This the purchase of his groans! (Acts 20:28, I Pet. 1:18-19, Rev. 5:9)
This the soul he died for once! (Heb. 9:28, Rom. 6:9-10, I Pet. 3:18)

Verse 7
Now the gracious Father smiles,
Now the Saviour boasts his spoils; (Luke 11:21-22, Isa. 53:12)
Now the Spirit grieves no more: (Eph. 4:30)
Sing ye heav’ns, and earth adore! (Isa. 44:23, Isa. 49:13)
Hallelujah.