CROWN HIM WITH MANY CROWNS

Today we celebrate Palm Sunday and most Christians will remember how Christ was praised and honored as he entered the city just a few days before His death. So it may be fitting that we choose this week a hymn that centers on praising and honoring our King, the Lord Jesus Christ. In Revelation 19:12a we read, "His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns." It is this verse which appears to have inspired Matthew Bridges, in 1851, to write this great hymn. Bridges (1800-1894), once wrote a book condemning Roman Catholic theology, and then later, at the age of 48, converted to Catholicism. His original title was "The Song of the Seraphs" which included six stanzas. Thirty years later, Godfrey Thring (1823-1903), a devout Anglican clergyman, was concerned that this popular hymn was allowing Catholic theology to be sung by protestant congregations. And so he wrote six new verses. The 12 stanzas have been mixed and matched during the years but today most hymnals include just four of the twelve. Verses 1, 2, and 4 were written by Bridges and verse 3 was written by Thring. The powerful words and the stirring music make this a moving hymn of triumph and praise. I love to hear it sung by a large choir or congregation, backed by brass instruments and an organ. Wow, how powerful! It certainly must be one of those hymns which we will sing around His throne in heaven.

(1) Crown Him with many crowns, the Lamb upon His throne:

Hark! how the heav'nly anthem drowns all music but its own!

Awake, my soul, and sing of him who died for thee,

And hail Him as thy matchless King thru all eternity.

(2) Crown Him the Lord of love: Behold His hands and side--

Rich wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified;

No angel in the sky can fully bear that sight,

But downward bends his wond'ring eye at mysteries so bright.

(3) Crown Him the Lord of life: Who triumphed o'er the grave,

Who rose victorious to the strife for those He came to save;

His glories now we sing, who died and rose on high,

Who died eternal life to bring and lives that death may die.

(4) Crown Him the Lord of heav'n: One with the Father known;

One with the Sprit thru Him giv'n from yonder glorious throne.

To Thee be endless praise, for Thou for us hast died;

Be Thou, O Lord, thru endless days adored and magnified.

Listen to it here. LISTEN