How many
times did this composer-author repeat this songwriting method, given what
happened one mid-afternoon in his basement in 1977? It must have been memorable
for David Moody, because he remembers the day of the week and the month that he
first sang “All Hail, King Jesus” in Vancouver (see its flag here). Did one of
his music students that afternoon possibly here David on his piano and his
voice searching for the words as they came out of his mouth that first time? It
was his free time, but David may have thought that something that would endure for
long would take a more deliberate effort and more than just a few minutes to
generate, so that others would be inspired to sing it with him. Maybe that’s
what made it special, and so obviously from the Spirit that inhabited Moody as
he sat alone. He just doesn’t need a warmup, does He?
A
Wednesday afternoon in January 1977, in his basement in Vancouver, with a
piano, and some time for nothing else, really. That was the recipe that 28-year
old Dave Moody used to cook up ‘All Hail…’ the first time. He was a music
teacher, awaiting the arrival of some students, so Dave took advantage of the
gap in his schedule and the feeling that he just wanted to sing and laud the
Master. So, that’s what he was after – just a one-on-one session, himself and
God. That’s kinda what he was preparing to do with his students in just a
little while, so why not set his mind in the right place? He was thinking of
what the scene would resemble in the afterlife, as earth’s believers gathered
to witness this never-before-seen picture. What vista could compare to the one
that is to come, when He descends and calls the devoted followers to join Him
at last? This mental imagery must have been constantly abiding inside him, close
to the surface with little urging necessary to coax its emergence. Dave says it
happened in about five minutes, and so he was quite unprepared when it dawned
on him that he’d just sung something brand new and quite special. Writing
something this way had certainly not occurred to him moments before, but here
it was! It didn’t quiet down, but stuck with him the rest of the week, so that
he was eager to share it with others. Though he thought initially its premiere
that Sunday at the church was a failure, he discovered that the church members
were actually only temporarily daunted by the song’s message. After all, who
can resist imagining His return and how we will address the Redeemer when He
appears to call each of us by name? Dave suggests there will be not less than five
names by which we’ll know Him – King Jesus, Emmanuel, King of Kings, Lord of
Lords, Bright Morning Star. Each name builds the reputation of Him in the
believer’s spirit, so that an irrevocable bond adheres each of us to Him. In
His presence, in that day which is to come, I won’t be able to ignore His
majesty and His true nature any longer. Does any moment have more overwhelming clarity
for the human soul?
Dave Moody
had already answered the above paragraph’s questions for himself as he sat and
composed, straight from his heart to the musical score page. Dave says he’ll
never forget the scene at the church that first Sunday morning for ‘All Hail’s …’
debut. The believers there that morning undoubtedly had probably sung something
with a similarly moving idea before. But, Moody’s song was unique, its nuances in
words and notes different than anything else. A certain writer has said that we’ll
sing something new in that never-ending day (Revelation 5:9; 14:3), so it must
be a good warmup for each of us to appreciate a new song here on earth before
we do the same in His presence forevermore, right? That’s what David Moody found
one Wednesday afternoon in January 1977. He, and I, and all of us, will do that
again together, someday.
A source
for the song story is the book “Our God Reigns: Stories behind Your Favorite
Praise and Worship Songs”, by Phil Christensen and Shari MacDonald, Kregel
Publications, 2000. See more information on the song story in The Complete
Book of Hymns – Inspiring Stories About 600 Hymns and Praise Songs by
William J. Petersen and Ardythe Petersen, Tyndale House Publishers, 2006
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