Charles Wesley grew up in a home with 19 children and he was the 18th. His mother had a big part in his education at home and soon he and his brother, John attended Oxford in England. They had a desire to be holy and started meeting with a group of young men to study the Bible and focus on holy living. This group was often mocked but they remained pious. It wasn’t until 1738 that both men came to a decisive moment of salvation by faith alone. Both went on to talk to and encourage others to take their faith in Christ as well.
While John is known for his great desire to preach, Charles is known for the many many song he has composed and ones that we still sing today.
One such song is,
Rejoice The Lord Is King. Most of our hymnals today give us four verses but the original actually has six verses. The theology found in these verses can be seen through this hymnal,
Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs (find it
here). This is so encouraging as we sing praises to God to know that these hymns are steeped in Bible.
Charles Wesley was in a time of people rioting and trying to break down meeting places. He was in one such meeting place when he wrote this song. Trials all around him and still he was challenging us to rejoice in the Lord!
Rejoice, the Lord is king! Your Lord and king adore;
Mortals give thanks and sing, and triumph evermore;
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
David gave us a similar challenge in Psalm 47:1-2 when he said,
“O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. For the Lord most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.”
Here are two siblings playing a piano duet on two pianos that just is amazing. This is a definite must to listen to, enjoy and feel encouraged by. It is a medley of songs starting with Rejoice, the Lord is King and then followed by Rejoice In the Lord. Enjoy!
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