Marilyn's Musings
May 12, 2026
“Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee, God of Glory, Lord of Love” – This is the best way to start off a week. Giving God love and praise. When we started singing that hymn on Sunday, I knew I would start my musing with those words this week. I’d like to go through this hymn and talk about each line because, to me, this is the story of a journey of faith and realizing what is possible from our God who loves every one of us.
"The Hymn of Joy" (often called "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee" after the first line) is a poem written by Henry van Dyke in 1907 in being a Vocal Version of the famous "Ode to Joy" melody of the final movement of Ludwig van Beethoven's final symphony, Symphony No. 9.
Van Dyke wrote this poem in 1907 while staying at the home of William College president Harry Augustus Garfield. He was serving as a guest preacher at Williams at the time. He told his host that the local Berkshire Mountains had been his inspiration.
Van Dyke wrote of this hymn: “These verses are simple expressions of common Christian feelings and desires in this present time—hymns of today that may be sung together by people who know the thought of the age, and are not afraid that any truth of science will destroy religion, or any revolution on earth overthrow the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, this is a hymn of trust and joy and hope.”
"This hymn is generally considered by hymnologists to be one of the most joyous expressions of hymn lyrics in the English language." It is also used as a Christian song for children.
The 2nd line of the first verse saying “hearts unfold like flowers before thee, opening to the sun above” leads me to picturing a child on a sunny day looking up at the clouds and smiling. When we were young, we used to find pictures in the shape of the clouds. How long has it been since you laid on the cool grass and watched the clouds? If you are like me, it’s been quite a while, but……we could still sit outside in our lawn chairs and look up in amazement at the “skies above”. I wonder what God would see if we all did that? Smiling faces in awe of his love.
As we move on to the 2nd verse saying “All thy works with joy surround thee, earth and heaven reflect thy rays, stars and angel sing around thee, center of unbroken praise. Field and forest, vale and mountain, flowery meadow, flashing seas, chanting bird and flowing fountain call us to rejoice in thee”. Does the description of our beautiful world get any better than those words? Are you tempted to go outside and feel God’s presence as you think of these words, or even sing this line to yourself – or, sing it to the birds so they can hear it.
The 3rd and last verse says it all “Thou art giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blest, well-spring of the joy of living, ocean depth of happy rest! Thou our Father, Christ our Brother – all who live in love are thine; teach us how to love each other, lift us to the joy divine”.
Whatever title you want to give this beautiful piece of music – whether it be “Ode to Joy”, or “The Hymn of Joy” or “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”, the common thread for all of these is the word “Joy” that we will find living with God in our lives. In our hymnbooks where there is printed a bible verse that goes with the hymn, this is what is chosen for “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”
1 John 4:16 "And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him."
Let’s start this week singing the praises of our God and Savior – “Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine”
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=FfVPnEhjKB4&si=nq7mIlX1IkmZuAFQ
This is a soft, gentle version of this hymn of praise, but when I get to the chorus I have to admit – I do sing it a little bit louder (just a little bit)
