I actually can’t recall ever singing this song, but noticed it in my hymnbook and thought, I like the words of this song. It’s simple and yet deep. A good song to read over.
Horatius Bonar is the author is this song. He lived in the 1800’s. A Scotsman pastor he lived to point people to Christ. Music was just one part of his methodology. He sought not to make the most converts, but to always just point people to Christ. He became part of the Free Church when it started. Bonar was known as a man of prayer and song. Sorrow was part of his life in the losing of five of his children, but a widowed daughter bringing her five children to live with him was cause for rejoicing.
Lyrics
Blessing and honor and glory and power,
Wisdom and riches and strength evermore
Give ye to Him who our battle hath won
Whose are the kingdom, the crown, and the throne.
Into the heav’n of the heav’ns hath He gone,
Sitteth He now in the joy of the throne,
Weareth He now of the kingdom the crown,
Singeth He now the new song with His own.
Soundeth the heaven of the heavens with His name;
Ringeth the earth with His glory and fame;
Ocean and mountain, stream, forest, and flower
Echo His praises and tell of His power.
Past are the darkness, the storm, and the war,
Come is the radiance, that sparkles afar,
Breaketh the gleam of the day without end,
Riseth the Sun that shall never descend.
Ever ascendeth the song and the joy;
Ever descendeth the love from on high;
Blessing and honor and glory and praise,
This is the theme of the hymns that we raise.
Life of all life, and true Light of all light,
Star of the dawning unchangingly bright,
Sun of the Salem whose light is the Lamb,
Theme of the ever new, ever glad psalm!
Give we the glory and praise to the Lamb;
Take we the robe and the harp and the palm;
Sing we the song of the Lamb that was slain,
Dying in weakness, but rising to reign.
