Hymns With A Message: BLESSED BE THE NAME

Sunday, November 22, 2015

BLESSED BE THE NAME

While searching for a hymn of praise and thanksgiving to highlight during this Thanksgiving week, I was drawn to the familiar hymn "Blessed Be The Name" which is also sometimes listed by the title "All Praise To Him Who Reigns Above". In singing the words blessed be the name we recognize God's sovereignty and worthiness of our praise. And I trust that you will do that this week as you meditate upon the words. All believers in Christ have so much to be thankful for and our hearts should overflow as we thank Him and praise Him for all He has done for us. Now when doing some basic research on the background of this hymn I was surprised to find that there are really two different versions of it. The first version which I've never heard before contains words written by Charles Wesley in his hymn "O For A Thousand Tongues to Sing". Talp E. Hudson (1803 - 1901) took the words of Wesley's hymn and replaced the second and fourth lines of several stanzas with the phrase "Blessed Be The Name of the Lord!". The anonymous refrain of this song was likely of nineteenth century camp meeting origin. Some think Hudson wrote the chorus in 1887. However, the verses that I am familiar with were written by William H. Clark (1854 - 1925). The use of the refrain with Clark's words appeared in Hymns of the Christian Life, in 1891, where the arrangement of the tune was credited to William Kirkpatrick (1838-1921). Clark's stepmother, after William's conversion in 1873, predicted that one day he would be a bishop. He served the Susquehanna Conference of his denomination as a pastor and district superintendent from 1876 until 1919, when his stepmother's prediction came true. Meanwhile, he had been a member of the joint commission of the Free and Wesleyan Methodist Churches which compiled the Hymnal of 1910, and contributed some items to it. While we don't know what caused him to rewrite the verses that Hudson had created from Wesley's hymn, it is obvious that his writing provides many reasons why we should praise and thank the Lord. We are reminded that God the Father, who reigns above, gave His Son, Jesus, to die for us and to redeem those of us who were ruined by the fall. We are also reminded that today Jesus is at the Father's right hand and His name is exalted more and more, above all names. Sadly, to much of today's world, His name is just a curse word or a point of division. But to those of us who have been redeemed, it is precious and the source of our hope, praise and thanksgiving. And despite today's rejection by so many, someday every knee shall bow to Him (Romans 14:11). May we exalt and praise His holy name daily in our lives. The final two verses remind us of some of the titles for Christ that are in themselves a means of glorifying Him, as well as showing what He has done and will yet do - Redeemer, Savior, Friend of Man, Counselor, Prince of Peace, Conqueror. "Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore." (Psalm 113:2) Blessed be the name of the Lord!

1. All praise to Him who reigns above

In majesty supreme,

Who gave His Son for man to die,

That He might man redeem!

Blessed be the name! Blessed be the name!