Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee – Henry Van Dyke

May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
   may the LORD rejoice in his works—(Psalm 104:31)

Henry Van Dyke was inspired when he was 59 years old, although what caused his inspiration was probably not unlike what he had probably seen many times before. The hymn’s genesis was over 100 years old already, a timespan that the timeless God might call young, really. Three artists contributed to the hymn “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” over the 125 years of its birth, development, and complete fruition. There was a fourth – he was actually the first -- whose original imagination connected in a unique way with the last of these artists.

Henry Van Dyke apparently saw something in the Berkshire Mountains (see picture) in western Massachusetts that year of 1911, something that motivated him in an artistic way, similar to his two German predecessors who wrote about their emotions in a compelling way. Friedrich Schiller wrote “Ode to Joy” in 1785, nearly 40 years before his compatriot Ludwig Van Beethoven borrowed its theme and many of its words to compose his choral-orchestral Ninth Symphony in 1824. Some 87 years later on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, Van Dyke was visiting a college to preach a message, and wrote the poem that called out to the same sensation that had motivated his ancestors. It’s said he immediately directed the college’s president to use Beethoven’s music in concert with the poem. So, could that have been the hymn’s premier?  What were Van Dyke’s sermons like during that visit? Perhaps someone remembers and has recorded them, but nevertheless this joyful hymn is a sermon all by itself, and one that is well-known both inside and outside of the church. One wonders if Van Dyke insisted on the Schiller/Beethoven connection with his poem in order to appeal to the secular world, as well as to those of Godly faith.  To whom was Van Dyke writing in his hymn?     

The easy answer, looking at his own words, is that he’s addressing God. ‘Thou’ and ‘thee’, the poetic equivalents of ‘you’, are used liberally by Van Dyke as he lauds Him. Consider the first few words he composed. Is ‘Joyful’ a name for God, according to Van Dyke? ‘Joyful, joyful, we adore thee’ – it sounds like an address. If that’s what Van Dyke intended, he indeed created something unique, for God is not addressed this way biblically, at least not directly. Did the composer see something in the Berkshire Mountains that drew him nearer to God’s creative genius? Undoubtedly. Genesis tells us that God saw it was good to create, so He must have felt some emotion, a divine satisfaction. Is it joy when a mood takes me to another plane, next to Him, even? That’s what He does for me, especially those days when I’ve had enough of the ‘here below’. The Creator-Joyful’s mountains communicate volumes, lifting the human spirit. Schiller and Beethoven, though most often considered gifted secularists, also reflect Him. Look at Schiller’s Ode to Joy. He knew joy’s author. Maybe a more perfect joy was what the stone deaf Beethoven – by the time he wrote his Ninth Symphony – was reaching for too, when he composed. Joy. It’s Him, and it’s our way to Him.   

Information on the song was obtained from the books  “Amazing Grace – 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions”, by Kenneth W. Osbeck, 1990; and “The Complete Book of Hymns – Inspiring Stories About 600 Hymns and Praise Songs”, by William J. and Ardythe Petersen, 2006. 

Also see the following websites for information on the hymn’s tune, which was set to music by Beethoven in ‘Ode to Joy’. Ode to Joy was also a poem written by Friedrich Schiller in 1785…see the link to it here:

http://www.raptusassociation.org/ode1785.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ode_to_joy

Surround Us, O Lord -- Bobby Price

‘Is the Bible relevant today?’ someone inquires. It’s probably not a casual question, and might really sound like an accusation coming from someone engaged in a struggle. ‘Listen to this’, you could respond, if you had the recording of “Surround Us, O Lord” on hand. It’s a reprise of a psalm (Psalm 125:2), recalled for us today through the effort of Bobby Price, who wrote the contemporary version of this appeal to God in 1990. If you feel in danger, or sense that your existence is missing something, tune in to this music’s message.

Price must have thought the Psalmist’s words were germane in 1990, although we know not what the specific circumstances were that caused him to compose. The ancient songwriter’s motivation was to inspire worship as the people ‘ascended’, as they made their way to Jerusalem for a festival. The ‘mountains surround(ing) Jerusalem’ in the song evidently remind the writer of God’s protective nature, a bulwark against the evil enemy. God’s chosen people well-knew the peril of their time, and what it was like when God’s shield was missing. The song’s words may have been composed after the nation’s exile ended (according to Bible scholars), and therefore embody a national plea for God’s renewed presence. Were Bobby Price and the people around him having these thoughts in 1990? Had they been far-removed from Him, but were once again looking for covenant renewal? That’s the context that this song’s history lends us today. What would I say if I’m feeling a combination of looking back with shame, but looking forward with submission and petition? That’s what “Surround Us, O Lord” is like.

If I’ve been in a bad place, I shouldn’t want to go back, though there are times when even the evil has its attraction. And so, my Godly mountains (see the picture above, leading to Mount Zion) serve a dual purpose. They protect me and make it difficult for the enemy to creep in, as long as I cooperate with the Protector. And, they also protect me from myself and my evil inclination, preventing me from easily escaping His territory and His notice. Which way are you headed, right now? Are you using the mountains for protection? Or, are they in your way as you try to flee to the outside? His mountains can hurt me as I scuff my knees and elbows in an attempt to climb over them. They’re also magnificent to observe and appreciate at sunset. Mountains are a matter of perspective. And, so is God.

The River Is Here – Andy Park

In 1994 Andy Park received a song idea from someone, although he didn’t know that’s what it was at first. By this time, he had already been involved with music projects in churches for several years in California and in British Columbia in Canada, so he was familiar with song development, composition, and production. Yet, the song “The River Is Here” came to him in a way that caught him off guard. Here’s what he says, in his own words:

‘This song began when I received a picture in my mind's eye of a mountain with a river running down it. I prayed about it, not realizing that it was a word from God to prompt a new song. I did a word study in the Bible for "mountain" and "river" and found imagery in Ezekiel, the Psalms and the book of Revelation which provided the basis for the song. While on a brief personal retreat I wrote the song.’

Andy Park no doubt discovered in his word search that ‘mountain’ and ‘river’ are really important to the Creator, our Holy One. Words like ‘holy’, ‘majestic’, and ‘glory’ describe the mountain of God, and yet He doesn’t stand far up there just to be aloof. No, He sends something from up above that I need. The river, His creation, that ancient songwriters and prophets describe, provides delight, nourishment, and life. This river emanates from the mountain where He lives -- where we’re going. Maybe it looks a little like one you’ve seen here on Earth (like the Yukon, see the picture). Even though the mountain may make me tremble, I can know that His presence will be enchanting, too.

That’s what “The River Is Here” communicates. Listen to the joy this mental imagery provokes. It’s infectious. God is love. He is generous (what an understatement!). And, His gift won’t wear out, but only grows more precious the closer we come to it, and the more people with whom we share this message. The next time you’re in a crowd that doesn’t know the song, teach it to them, and usher in some Eternity. The New Earth awaits, where all will be renewed, His word teaches. Words from Psalmists, Ezekiel, and John (Revelation), repeated by Andy Park, are a great place to begin the celebration.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. (Psalm 46:4)

And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. (Revelation 21:10)

See the following for some background: http://andypark.ca/index.php?fuseaction=site.home http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Park_(musician)

Here’s a good U-Tube video of the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcxdSaxVP_E

Andy Park shared this brief song story above with me in an e:mail on 1/12/2011.

Another source for Andy Park’s song story is the book “Celebrate Jesus: The Stories behind Your Favorite Praise and Worship Songs”, by Phil Christensen and Shari MacDonald, Kregel Publications, 2003.

We Shall Assemble – Twila Paris

What famous people have you met, or seen close up? Were you nervous? Did your voice crack or fumble for words? Those would all be natural reactions to meeting the President, or maybe a movie star, a celebrity whose picture we’ve seen only on screen before. I wonder, how come they don’t get sweaty palms as they come near me? After all, we’re both red-blooded, covered with skin and bones, and ridden with imperfection. A giddy, nervous, or apprehensive response would logically be more appropriate at the sight of an alien, something unfamiliar and potentially dangerous. Maybe that’s what Twila Paris was thinking in 1991 as she wrote “We Shall Assemble”, an expectant, hope-filled encounter with an alien, a being unlike us – God.


Twila Paris has a lot to share about morality and her relationship to God. Both in her music and in her spoken words, you can tell she reveres Him, with her life and her avocation. What she composes for us to sing also shows she has hope, although it long ago might have been considered heresy, not reverence. You see, saying that believers, who are mere humans compared to our divine creator, will be on a mountain with Him would have been unthinkable, even terrifying once upon a time. In scripture, it’s often called a ‘holy’ mountain (Psalm 48:1), a place the average worshipper wouldn’t dare ascend. It was a death sentence to approach and see God’s face. Yet, Twila has us thinking and singing about this very thing. She’s written a book (with co-author Robert Webber) titled “In This Sanctuary: An Invitation to Worship the Savior”, and the album (also called “Sanctuary”) on which “We Shall Assemble” appears also reminds us of our privileged position, compared to our spiritual forefathers. Her thoughts resonate with believers, a fact also borne out in the Gospel Music Association’s award of praise and worship album of the year in 1991 for “Sanctuary”. Her message of an encounter with the Divine One doesn’t stop with the song or her book, either.


Twila Paris tries to live her life in the shadow of the holiness she has observed in the song we sing. You can read on her website that she lives by a moral compass, including when she steps in the voting booth on election day. In her words “Human beings are imperfect. We make mistakes. It’s who we are. We’re not going to find one of us who has all the answers. The only one who has all the answers is the One who created and sustains humankind and the world in which we live. So the most important issue in any election … Do I honor God and acknowledge His authority in my life? … As God’s people, we must continually fall to our knees and find our collective voice.” Falling on our knees will probably be par for the course on the mountain. And, her message for daily living here on earth is one for any believer, not just for one who writes songs. Her music makes me ask myself, ‘Will I be on that mountain with the way I lived this week? Was I the right example today?’ Sure, I have the promise that I will be on high with God, but I need Twila’s reminder, and my Bible, to tell me that God’s home is HOLY. I hope that as I draw closer to home, my trembles will be from anticipation, not foreboding. What’s causing your goosebumps today?


 Information on Twila Paris available at the following website:http://www.twilaparis.com/