You Servants of God

Revelation 7:9-10

      After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying,
‘Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!’

 You Servants of God LBW 252

 1    You servants of God, your master proclaim, and publish abroad his wonderful name;
     the name, all-victorious, of Jesus extol; his kingdom is glorious and rules over all!

2    Our God rules on high, almighty to save; and still he is nigh, his presence we have.
      The great congregation his triumph shall sing, ascribing salvation to Jesus, our king!

3    Salvation to God who sits on the throne! Let all cry aloud and honor the Son.
      The praises of Jesus the angels proclaim, fall down on their faces, and worship the Lamb.

4    Then let us adore and give him his right, all glory and pow’r and wisdom and might,
      all honor and blessing, with angels above, and thanks never ceasing, and infinite love!

Text: Charles Wesley, 1707-1788, alt.

{NOTE: This will be my last devotion on hymns for a while. Next, I will begin a new series on Martin Luther’s ideas, teachings and theology.}

       In 1744, England was at war with France, and expecting an invasion at any moment to unseat George II and reestablish the throne to the House of Stuart. People at that time suspected Methodists of being in cahoots with the French, so many a Wesleyan meeting was broken up and disrupted by “patriotic” citizens.  Even Charles and John Wesley were thrown into prison on suspicion of sedition!  In the midst of all this turmoil, the Wesleys published a collection of hymns meant to encourage their followers.  This one, “You Servants of God”, was among them.

      The version we use in the LBW may not seem to reflect the turmoil surrounding its publication, but one omitted verse might reveal more; “Men, devils engage, the billows arise, and horribly age, and threaten the skies, their fury shall never our steadfastness shock; the weakest believe is built upon a rock!”

      Built upon a rock, this is the kind of song we need to be singing amidst the turmoil of our day and age!

 Prayer:  Lord of the turmoil, you who bring order out of chaos and a firm foundation to every believer: protect, defend and empower us as we engage the devil in battle and seek to do your will!  Establish us firmly upon the rock of Jesus. Amen.