Jesus Shall Reign Where'er the Sun

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Jesus shall reign where'er the sun

Author: Isaac Watts (1719)
Tune: DUKE STREET
Published in 1796 hymnals

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	Jesus Shall Reign

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Representative Text

1 Jesus shall reign where'er the sun
does its successive journeys run,
his kingdom stretch from shore to shore,
till moons shall wax and wane no more.

2 To him shall endless prayer be made,
and praises throng to crown his head.
His name like sweet perfume shall rise
with every morning sacrifice.

3 People and realms of every tongue
dwell on his love with sweetest song,
and infant voices shall proclaim
their early blessings on his name.

4 Blessings abound where'er he reigns:
the prisoners leap to lose their chains,
the weary find eternal rest,
and all who suffer want are blest.

5 Let every creature rise and bring
the highest honors to our King,
angels descend with songs again,
and earth repeat the loud amen.

Psalter Hymnal, (Gray)

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Author: Isaac Watts

Isaac Watts was the son of a schoolmaster, and was born in Southampton, July 17, 1674. He is said to have shown remarkable precocity in childhood, beginning the study of Latin, in his fourth year, and writing respectable verses at the age of seven. At the age of sixteen, he went to London to study in the Academy of the Rev. Thomas Rowe, an Independent minister. In 1698, he became assistant minister of the Independent Church, Berry St., London. In 1702, he became pastor. In 1712, he accepted an invitation to visit Sir Thomas Abney, at his residence of Abney Park, and at Sir Thomas' pressing request, made it his home for the remainder of his life. It was a residence most favourable for his health, and for the prosecution of his literary… Go to person page >

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Related Texts

First Line:	Jesus shall reign where'er the sun
Title:	Jesus Shall Reign Where'er the Sun
Author:	Isaac Watts (1719)
Meter:	8.8.8.8
Language:	English
Notes:	German translation: "Jesus hat seine Herrschaft bestellt" by Johann Christoph Hampe; French translation: "Tant que le monde darera"; Spanish translation: See "Dominará Jesús el Rey" by Thomas M. Westrup
Copyright:	Public Domain

English

10 shown out of 1249

French

Evangelisches Kirchengesangbuch: Ausgabe für die Landeskirchen Rheinland, Westfalen und Lippe #488

German

Hungarian

The Book of Praise #275

Spanish

Welsh

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Notes

Scripture References:
st. 1 = Ps. 72:5, 8, 17
st. 2 = Ps. 72:15
st. 3 = Ps. 72:10-11
st. 4 = Ps. 72:12-14
st. 5 = Ps. 72:19, Rev. 5:11-14

Isaac Watts (PHH 155) based this hymn text on Psalm 72:12-19 and referred to verses 5 and 8 of the psalm as well. (For general comments on this psalm see PHH 72.) Originally in eight stanzas entitled "Christ's Kingdom among the Gentiles," the text was published in Watts' Psalms of David, Imitated (1719). The original stanzas 2, 3, and 7 are omitted, as is customary in modern hymnals.

Watts' text is a strong Christological interpretation of Psalm 72. We sing of the worldwide reign of Christ (st. 1), who is praised by all creatures (st. 2 and 5) , and whose rule results in blessings on people "of every tongue" (st. 3) and redemption for the outcasts (st. 4). The text has a strong missionary focus.

Liturgical Use:
Advent; Epiphany; Ascension; with mission themes; stanza 5 as a doxology; (see also suggestions at PHH 72).

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook

======================

Jesus shall reign where'er the sun. I. Watts. [Foreign Missions.] This is one of the most popular hymns by Watts, and was given in his Psalms of David, 1719, as Pt. ii. of his version of Ps. lxxii., in 8 stanzas of 4 lines. Although it has attained to a high position in modern Hymns, it is rarely found in the collections published before the present cent. It increased in popularity with the growth and development of Foreign Missions, and is now used most extensively in all English-speaking countries. One of the earliest to adopt it for congregational use was Rowland Hill. It is found in his Psalms & Hymns, 1st edition, 1783; but abbreviated to 6 stanzas.

This was followed by some compilers in the Church of England, including Cotterill in Psalms & Hymns, 1810-1820; Bickersteth, 1833, and others; by the Wesleyans in their Supplement, 1830; the Baptists, and other denominations, until at the present day it is given in almost every English hymn-book of any standing or merit. As an example of the way in which The Psalms of David were imitated in the language of the New Testament, by Watts, it is unusually good. It is also in his best style. In modern collections it is generally given in an abbreviated form, ranging from 4 stanzas, as in Hymns Ancient & Modern to 6 stanzas, as in the Wesleyan Hymn Book. Changes are also introduced in the text, but most of these date from the beginning of the present century. It has been rendered in full and in part in many languages, including "Omnibus in terris Dominus rognabit Iesus," by the Rev. R. Bingham, in his Hymnologia Christiana Latina, 1871, p. 103. In this rendering stanzas ii., iii., and vii. are omitted. Mr. G. J. Stevenson gives, in his Methodist Hymn Book Notes, 1883, p. 351, an account of the striking and historical use which was made of this hymn when various islands in the South Seas officially renounced heathenism and embraced Christianity:—

"Perhaps one of the most interesting occasions on which this hymn was used was that on which King George, the sable, of the South Sea Islands, but of blessed memory, gave a new constitution to his people, exchanging a Heathen for a Christian form of government. Under the spreading branches of the banyan trees sat some thousand natives from Tonga, Fiji, and Samoa, on Whitsunday, 1862, assembled for divine worship. Foremost amongst them all sat King George himself. Around him were seated old chiefs and warriors who had shared with him the dangers and fortunes of many a battle; men whose eyes were dim, and whose powerful frames were bowed down with the weight of years. But old and young alike rejoiced together in the joys of that day, their faces most of them radiant with Christian joy, love, and hope. It would be impossible to describe the deep feeling manifested when the solemn service began, by the entire audience singing Dr. Watts's hymn, “Jesus shall reign where'er the sun"... Who so much as they could realize the full meaning of the poet's words? for they had been rescued from the darkness of heathenism and cannibalism, and they were that day met for the first time under a Christian constitution, under a Christian king, and with Christ Himself reigning in the hearts of most of those present. That was indeed Christ's kingdom set up in the earth."

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

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Tune

DUKE STREET

First published anonymously in Henry Boyd's Select Collection of Psalm and Hymn Tunes (1793), DUKE STREET was credited to John Hatton (b. Warrington, England, c. 1710; d, St. Helen's, Lancaster, England, 1793) in William Dixon's Euphonia (1805). Virtually nothing is known about Hatton, its composer,…

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For Leaders

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In 2007, author Sally Loyd-Jones released the Jesus Storybook Bible. This book for children (but loved by adults, too) tells forty-four Bible stories from the Old and New Testament in such a way that each story points to Jesus. It teaches all who read it that the story of Jesus is really the story of the entire Bible.

While Loyd-Jones’ book captured the hearts of millions, her message is not a new one. In 1719, Isaac Watts published a hymnal entitled The Psalms of David, Imitated. In this hymnal, he paraphrased many of the Psalms, but in a very different style than many of his predecessors. The order of the day was to keep any paraphrase as close to the text as possible. Watts decided to do otherwise, and his interpretations of the psalms are quite loose, in an effort to write something new while keeping the spirit of the Psalm. His versification of Psalm 72 is no different. He interprets the psalm using a Christological lens. The king referenced in the psalm is Christ, and could be no one else. Watts, like Loyd-Jones, understood that the Old Testament makes sense in light of the New, and vice versa. There are many different stories in the Bible, but they are all part of the one great Story.

Text:

Isaac Watts wrote this text for his 1719 publication, Psalms of David, Imitated. It originally had eight stanzas and was titled, “Christ’s Kingdom among the Gentiles.” The original second, third, and seventh stanzas are omitted from most modern hymnals. These verses have references to Europe, Persia, India, and “barbarous nations,” and are perhaps the reason Albert Bailey could write this about Watt’s text: Watts made “David speak like King William III; England and Scotland take the place of Israel and Judah. Thus the Psalmist became ‘an orthodox and patriotic English Christian of the early eighteenth century’” (The Gospel in Hymns, 49). It is laudable that Watts contemporized a psalm to fit the times, but his text goes much further than a nationalistic twist on a familiar text. With those three stanzas dropped, this text is much more a global hymn proclaiming Christ’s dominion over the whole world.

Tune:

The tune DUKE STREET is credited to John Hatton. There is a generic resemblance between this tune and TRURO, an anonymous tune to which the text is set in the Lutheran Hymnal Handbook. DUKE STREET has a long meter, which, according to Austin Lovelace, “lends itself readily to majestic subjects and stately treatment” (The Anatomy of Hymnody, 25). With Watts’ text, this is indeed a very majestic hymn, and should be sung in such a manner. Accompany with organ, trumpets, stately piano, or any other strong accompaniment.

When/Why/How:

This proclamation of Christ’s reign and assurance of our hope in the Kingdom can be sung at many times during the Liturgical year. It would be very comforting during the season of Advent, when we profess our longing for, and hope of, Christ’s eternal reign, and as a hymn of assurance on New Year’s Day. It can also be sung as a hymn of celebration during Epiphany or Ascension, or on Christ the King Sunday. It’s a beautiful opening hymn or processional. You could also sing the first three or four verses (depending on which hymnal you use), and sing the last verse as a doxology at the end of the service.

Choral Resource:

Dobrinski, Cynthia. I Know That My Redeemer Lives (Jesus Shall Reign) includes both hymns, for Choir, organ and/or handbells or trumpet
Hopson, Hal. Concertato on Jesus Shall Reign Where'er the Sun

Organ resources:

Burkhardt, Michael. As Though the Whole Creation Cried
Alleluia! Alleluia! (Easy Organ Settings for Eastertide)

Piano resource:

Sing It Simply (25 Congregational Hymn Accompaniments for Piano, with opt. Guitar, Bass, and Handbells

Laura de Jong,
Hymnary.org

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Piano/Organ Let Praises Ring: 18 Introductions and Hymn Accompaniments for Handbells, Organ, and Congregation, Volume 1 ORGAN-PIANO ACCOMPANIMENTS FOR CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS Festive Hymns for Four Hands (Dynamic Favorites for Piano) More Piano/Organ...
Choral Concertato on Jesus Shall Reign Where'er the Sun Jesus Shall Reign! Sing to the King More Choral...
Instrumental Voices on High, Set 2 Festive Hymn Settings for Congregational Singing - Set 2: Easter/General Sing It Simply (25 Congregational Hymn Accompaniments for Piano, with opt. Guitar, Bass, and Handbells) More Instrumental...
Handbells Seasons of Praise (Artistic Hymn-Based Medleys for Solo Ringing and Piano) Seasons of Praise (Artistic Hymn-Based Medleys for Solo Ringing and Piano) Ring for Joy! (Easy Reproducible Hymn Medleys for Prayer and Rejoicing) More Handbells...
PowerPoint JESUS SHALL REIGN (Gray Psalter 412) JESUS SHALL REIGN WHERE'ER THE SUN (The Singing church 479) JESUS SHALL REIGN WHERE'ER THE SUN (Psalms for All Seasons 72B) More PowerPoint...

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Psalms and Hymns to the Living God (2023), p.281

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