The Divine Perfections

Representative Text

1 The Lord Jehovah reigns,
His throne is built on high:
The garments He assumes
Are light and majesty.
His glories shine with beams so bright
No mortal eye can bear the sight,
No mortal eye can bear the sight..

2 The thunders of His hand
Keep the wide world in awe
His wrath and justice stand
To guard His holy law.
And where His love resolves to bless,
His truth confirms and seals the grace.
His truth confirms and seals the grace.

3 Through all His mighty works
Amazing wisdom shines;
Confounds the powers of hell
And all their dark designs,
Strong is His arm, and shall fulfill
His great decrees and sovereign will.
His great decrees and sovereign will.

4 And will this sovereign King
Of glory condescend,
And will He write His name,
My Father and my Friend.
I love His name, I love His word,
Join all my powers to praise the Lord.
Join all my powers to praise the Lord.

AMEN.

Source: The A.M.E. Zion Hymnal: official hymnal of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church #65

All representative texts • Compare texts ^ top

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 >

^ top

First Line:	The Lord Jehovah reigns, His throne is built on high
Title:	The Divine Perfections
Author:	Isaac Watts
Meter:	6.6.6.6.4.4.4.4
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain

^ top

Notes

The Lord Jehovah reigns, His throne is built on high. I. Watts. [Ps. cxlviii.] Although given in his Hymns and Sacred Songs, 1709, Bk. ii., No. 169, as a version of Ps. 148, in 4 stanzas of 8 lines, it did not appear in his Psalms of David, 1719, nor in any subsequent edition of the same. It is in somewhat extensive use.

-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

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

The Lord Jehovah reigns, p. 1153, ii. This is not a version of Psalms 148, but an original hymn.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (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 >

LENOX (Edson)

MILLENNIUM (51117)

All tunes published with 'The Divine Perfections'^ top

Timeline

^ top

Arrangements

Store

Piano/Organ Autumn Praise (Colorful Hymns of Praise and Thanksgiving for Organ) TWELVE TOCCATAS FOR ORGAN Praise...With Stringed Instruments More Piano/Organ...
Choral Wake Every Breath and String!/Let Heaven with Gladness Ring! Rejoice, the Lord is King! - (Choral Score) More Choral...
Instrumental STRING STYLINGS FESTIVAL HYMNS AND PROCESSIONALS More Instrumental...
Handbells With Endless Alleluias (Distinguished Hymn Settings for Lent and Eastertide) With Endless Alleluias (Distinguished Hymn Settings for Lent and Eastertide) Crown Him Lord of All More Handbells...