Rejoice, the Lord is King!

Top Media Text Author Text Info Notes Tune For Leaders Timeline Arrangements Page Scans Instances

Rejoice, the Lord is King: Your Lord and King adore

Author: Charles Wesley (1744)
Published in 736 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF
Playable presentation: Lyrics only, lyrics + music
Audio files: MIDI, Recording

Song available on My.Hymnary

FlexScore
	Rejoice, the Lord Is King

Piano/Organ
	Rejoice This Easter Day (Rejoice, the Lo…

Choral
	Rejoice the Lord Is King

Representative Text

1 Rejoice, the Lord is King:
Your Lord and King adore!
Rejoice, give thanks and sing,
And triumph evermore.
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

2 Jesus, the Savior, reigns,
The God of truth and love;
When He has purged our stains,
He took his seat above;
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

3 His kingdom cannot fail,
He rules o'er earth and heav'n;
The keys of death and hell
Are to our Jesus giv'n:
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

4 Rejoice in glorious hope!
Our Lord and judge shall come
And take His servants up
To their eternal home:
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

Baptist Hymnal, 1991

All representative texts • Compare texts ^ top

Author: Charles Wesley

Charles Wesley, M.A. was the great hymn-writer of the Wesley family, perhaps, taking quantity and quality into consideration, the great hymn-writer of all ages. Charles Wesley was the youngest son and 18th child of Samuel and Susanna Wesley, and was born at Epworth Rectory, Dec. 18, 1707. In 1716 he went to Westminster School, being provided with a home and board by his elder brother Samuel, then usher at the school, until 1721, when he was elected King's Scholar, and as such received his board and education free. In 1726 Charles Wesley was elected to a Westminster studentship at Christ Church, Oxford, where he took his degree in 1729, and became a college tutor. In the early part of the same year his religious impressions were much deepene… Go to person page >

^ top

Related Texts

First Line:	Rejoice, the Lord is King: Your Lord and King adore
Title:	Rejoice, the Lord is King!
Author:	Charles Wesley (1744)
Meter:	6.6.6.6.8.8
Language:	English
Refrain First Line:	Lift up your heart, lift up your voice
Copyright:	Public Domain

Year A, Christmas season, Christmas Day
Year A, Easter season, Ascension of the Lord
Related to Acts 1 (NPM)
Year A, Ordinary Time, Proper 18 (23)
Year A, Ordinary Time, Proper 23 (28)
This is recommended for Year A, Ordinary Time, Proper 23 (28) by 2 hymnal lectionary indexes including Lift Up Your Hearts: psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs #224.
Year A, Ordinary Time, Proper 27 (32)
This is recommended for Year A, Ordinary Time, Proper 27 (32) by 2 hymnal lectionary indexes including Glory to God: the Presbyterian Hymnal #363 and Lift Up Your Hearts: psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs #224.
Year A, Ordinary Time, Proper 27 (32)
Year A, Ordinary Time, Proper 29 (34)
This is recommended for Year A, Ordinary Time, Proper 29 (34) by 4 hymnal lectionary indexes including Glory to God: the Presbyterian Hymnal #363 and Lift Up Your Hearts: psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs #224.
Year B, Epiphany season, Eighth Sunday
This is recommended for Year B, Epiphany season, Eighth Sunday by 2 hymnal lectionary indexes including Glory to God: the Presbyterian Hymnal #363.
Year B, Ordinary Time, Proper 27 (32)
This is recommended for Year B, Ordinary Time, Proper 27 (32) by 2 hymnal lectionary indexes including Glory to God: the Presbyterian Hymnal #363.
Year B, Ordinary Time, Proper 29 (34)
This is recommended for Year B, Ordinary Time, Proper 29 (34) by 4 hymnal lectionary indexes including Glory to God: the Presbyterian Hymnal #363 and Lift Up Your Hearts: psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs #224.
Year C, Advent, Third Sunday
This is recommended for Year C, Advent, Third Sunday by 3 hymnal lectionary indexes including Glory to God: the Presbyterian Hymnal #363 and Lift Up Your Hearts: psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs #224.
Year C, Advent, Third Sunday
Year C, Easter season, Second Sunday
This is recommended for Year C, Easter season, Second Sunday by 2 hymnal lectionary indexes including Lift Up Your Hearts: psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs #224.
Year C, Ordinary Time, Proper 5 (10)
This is recommended for Year C, Ordinary Time, Proper 5 (10) by 2 hymnal lectionary indexes including Lift Up Your Hearts: psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs #224.
Year C, Ordinary Time, Thanksgiving Day
This is recommended for Year C, Ordinary Time, Thanksgiving Day by 3 hymnal lectionary indexes including Glory to God: the Presbyterian Hymnal #363 and Lift Up Your Hearts: psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs #224.
Year C, Ordinary Time, Proper 29 (34)
This is recommended for Year C, Ordinary Time, Proper 29 (34) by 3 hymnal lectionary indexes including Lift Up Your Hearts: psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs #224.
Year C, Ordinary Time, Proper 29 (34)
Thanksgiving hymn

English

10 shown out of 476

French

The Book of Praise #267

Spanish

Santo, Santo, Santo: cantos para el pueblo de Dios = Holy, Holy, Holy: songs for the people of God #213

^ top

Notes

Scripture References:
st. 2 = Rev. 1:18
st. 3 = Acts 5:31, Heb. 1:3
st. 4 = 1 Cor. 15:52, 1 Thess. 4:16, Rev. 20:11-15
ref. = Phil. 4:4

Charles Wesley (PHH 267) wrote this text for Easter and Ascension in six stanzas. First published in John Wesley's Moral and Sacred Poems (1744), the text was also published in Charles Wesley's Hymns for our Lord's Resurrection (1746). The original stanzas 2 and 5 are not included.

The text rejoices in the kingship of Christ (st. 1) whose rule extends "o'er earth and heaven" (st. 2). All will bow the knee to Christ (st. 3) when he returns in glory to judge "the living and dead" (st. 4). The refrain line based on Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice,” is the keynote of the entire text.

Liturgical Use:
Ascension; Easter; a great hymn of praise suitable for any worship service (fits well with the royal psalms in the Old Testament); funeral or memorial service.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook

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

Rejoice, the Lord is King. C. Wesley. [Easter or Ascension.] This is No. viii. of 16 hymns printed in 1746 as Hymns for Our Lord's Resurrection. It is in 6 st.anzas of 6 lines. It had previously appeared in J. Wesley's Moral and Sacred Poems, 1744. (P. Works, iv. p. 140.) It has been included, either in full or in part, in most hymnbooks of any moment from Whitefield’s, in 1753, to Thring's, in 1882, with the result that it is in extensive use in all English-speaking countries. Curiously enough, however, it was not given in the Wesleyan Hymn Book until the revised ed. of 1875.

A cento for harvest beginning with the first stanza is found in some Unitarian hymnbooks both old and new, including Ellen Courtauld's Psalms, Hymns and Anthems, 1860. It is in 5 st., the first stanza and lines5,6, of each of the others being from this hymn, whilst the rest are by John Taylor in Enfield's Norwich Selection of Hymns, 1795. In R. Bingham's Hymno. Christ. Latina, 1871, st. i., ii., iv., vi., slightly altered, are rendered into Latin as, "Rex est Dominus! Laetantes."

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

^ top

Tune

DARWALL

Composed by John Darwall (b. Haughton, Staffordshire, England, 1731; d. Walsall, Staffordshire, England, 1789), DARWALL'S 148TH was first published as a setting for Psalm 148 in Aaron William's New Universal Psalmodist (1770) with only soprano and bass parts. The harmonization dates from the ninete…

Go to tune page >

GOPSAL

All tunes published with 'Rejoice, the Lord is King!'^ top

For Leaders

Bulletin Blurb
Worship Notes
Scores

This hymn opens with a jubilant call to rejoice in the reign of our Lord. The middle stanzas are rich in biblical allusions to the triumphant reign of Christ. We are assured that Jesus has removed the guilt of our sin and is now reigning at God's right hand, in complete control over death and hell (Hebrews 1:3, Revelation 1:18). The final stanza reminds us to look forward in hope of Christ's Second Coming (1 Peter 1:21) In view of this joyful future, the refrain reminds us to “Rejoice, again I say rejoice” (see Philippians 4:4).

Text:

Charles Wesley wrote this hymn, and it was first published in 1744 in his brother John’s Collection of Moral and Sacred Poems. Charles later published it in his own anonymous Hymns for our Lord’s Resurrection in 1746. The theme of the text is celebration of Christ as King and Lord of all the earth.

Wesley originally wrote six stanzas, but hymnals vary on which of these are included today. The original first and third (“His kingdom cannot fail”) stanzas are always included in modern hymnals, while the fourth (“He sits at God’s right hand”) appears only occasionally, and the fifth (“He all His foes shall quell”) is almost always omitted. The other two stanzas (the second, “Jesus the Savior reigns,” and sixth, “Rejoice in glorious hope”) are usually included. Each stanza concludes with a refrain, which is identical for stanzas one through five. Stanza six originally had a unique refrain, but more often today, it is given the same refrain as the other stanzas. This may be due to how the refrain fits the common tune, DARWALL.

Tune:

The most common tune used with this text is DARWALL, named after the composer, John Darwall. It was first published with the text of Psalm 148 in Aaron William’s New Universal Psalmodist in 1770, hence the alternate title DARWALL'S 148TH. This tune may be sung in unison or in parts at a lively tempo. The use of trumpets would add to the theme of regal celebration that is present in the text.

Another tune that is used sometimes is GOPSAL, written especially for this text by G. F. Handel around 1750. His setting was lost for many years, but was rediscovered and published in 1826 by Samuel Wesley, son of Charles Wesley. The tune was named after a place in Leicestershire.

When/Why/How:

This hymn is suitable for occasions where Christ's royal majesty is celebrated, such as Easter, Ascension, and Christ the King Sunday. It could also be used for an opening hymn or call to worship. One possibility for a hymn medley is “Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart,” as in the handbell arrangement “Rejoice! Give Thanks and Sing.” Typically, this hymn is given majestic settings, which suit its royal theme. A concertato setting of “Rejoice, the Lord is King!” opens with a brass fanfare, and uses brass, organ, and optional timpani to accompany the choir and congregation. Other settings provide some contrast and suggest a different consideration of the message. Stan Pethel's original music for the text of “Rejoice, the Lord is King” has a playful feel, in contrast to the broad, majestic settings this text usually receives. A little Baroque flavor to the music is a nod to the time when this hymn was written (and perhaps to Handel as well). An arrangement for choir and piano of “Come, People of the Risen King” blends this contemporary song with Wesley's hymn, with optional brass and rhythm, in a style suitable for blended worship services.

Tiffany Shomsky,
Hymnary.org

FlexScores are available in the Media section below.

Full Score	Bulletin Score	Bulletin Score (melody only)
PDF MIDI file	PDF	PDF

MuseScore is a free music notation program that can open and edit MusicXML scores.

^ top

Timeline

^ top

Media

FlexScores
Additional Scores
Audio

You have access to this FlexScore.
Download:

Are parts of this score outside of your desired range? Try transposing this FlexScore.

General Settings

Stanza Selection

Voice Selection

Text size

Text size:

Music size

Music size:

Transpose (Half Steps)

Transpose (Half Steps):

Capo

Capo:

Contacting server...

This is a preview of your FlexScore.

Baptist Hymnal 1991 #197

Bulletin Score (melody only) (PDF)
Bulletin Score (PDF)
Full Score (PDF)

The Book of Common Praise: being the hymn book of The Church of England in Canada (revised 1938) #392c

MusicXML (XML)

The Cyber Hymnal #5759

Adobe Acrobat image (PDF)
Noteworthy Composer score (NWC)
XML score (XML)

Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #408

Full Score (PDF, XML)
Bulletin Score (PDF)
Bulletin Score (melody only) (PDF)

Urania: or a choice collection of psalm-tunes, anthems, and hymns, from the most approv'd authors, with some entirely new; in two, three, and four parts... #186

MusicXML (XML)

The United Methodist Hymnal #715

Bulletin Score (melody only) (PDF)
Bulletin Score (PDF)
Full Score (PDF)

Worship and Rejoice #342

Bulletin Score (PDF, XML)
Full Score (PDF, XML)
Bulletin Score (melody only) (PDF, XML)

With Heart and Voice: songs for all God's children #104

Full Score (PDF, XML)
Bulletin Score (PDF)
Bulletin Score (melody only) (PDF)

^ top

Page Scans

View Page

Psalms and Hymns to the Living God (2023), p.351

^ top

Instances

Instances (1 - 100 of 106)

Pages

Include 630 pre-1979 instances

All instances ^ top

Piano/Organ Rejoice This Easter Day (Rejoice, the Lord Is King) He Leadeth Me (A budget-stretching resource for the intermediate pianist) Who Is This King? More Piano/Organ...
Choral Rejoice the Lord Is King REJOICE, THE LORD IS KING Who Is This King? More Choral...
Instrumental Praise...With Stringed Instruments Rejoice, the Lord is King! - (Choral Score) REJOICE, THE LORD IS KING More Instrumental...
Handbells REJOICE, THE LORD IS KING REJOICE, THE LORD IS KING Crown Him Lord of All More Handbells...
PowerPoint REJOICE, THE LORD IS KING (Lift Up Your Hearts 224) REJOICE, THE LORD IS KING (United Methodist Hymnal 715) REJOICE, THE LORD IS KING! (Worship & Rejoice 342) More PowerPoint...

$2.99 Purchase the FlexScore for this hymn instance (licensed for a single user) $11.99 Purchase all of the FlexScore instruments/formats for this hymn instance (licensed for all instrumentalists in your church or organization) $39.99 Purchase a Hymnary Pro subscription and get unlimited access to all public domain FlexScores for one year
	Questions? Check out the FAQ

User Links

User Links

Discover

Collections

Connect

Search

Collections

Discover

Rejoice, the Lord is King!

Contents