Today’s Songs for Saints (SFS) selection is monster length, 10 verse, 9 minute hymn written by 18th century poet and Anglican priest Christopher Wordsworth.
This is a song traditionally sung on Ascension Day which is 40 days following the resurrection of Christ. While the song of course can and should be sung throughout the church calendar, the 40 days following that glorious Easter morning are filled with joy unspeakable, countless alleluias, and hope that does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out as a result of the Resurrection of Christ. His resurrection was a part of His over mission to save the world and the culmination of this mission following Resurrection is Ascension, Enthronement, and glory!
This hymn was given it’s original tune in 1897 by Hubert Perry but I’ve written a different melody for this SFS recording.
The hymn is old. The melody is new. The truth is timeless.
So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.
Mark 16: 19-20
The text
See, the Conqueror mounts in triumph; see the King in royal state,
Riding on the clouds, His chariot, to His heavenly palace gate.
Hark! the choirs of angel voices joyful alleluias sing,
And the portals high are lifted to receive their heavenly King.
Who is this that comes in glory, with the trump of jubilee?
Lord of battles, God of armies, He has gained the victory.
He Who on the cross did suffer, He Who from the grave arose,
He has vanquished sin and Satan, He by death has spoiled His foes.
While He lifts His hands in blessing, He was parted from His friends
While their eager eyes behold Him, He upon the clouds ascends;
He Who walked with God and pleased Him, preaching truth and doom to come,
He, our Enoch, is translated to His everlasting home.
Now our heavenly Aaron enters, with His blood, within the veil;
Joshua now is come to Canaan, and the kings before Him quail;
Now He plants the tribes of Israel in their promised resting place;
Now our great Elijah offers double portion of His grace.
Thou hast raised our human nature On the clouds to God's right hand;
There we sit in heavenly places, There with Thee in glory stand.
Jesus reigns, adored by angels; Man with God is on the throne.
Mighty Lord, in Thine ascension We by faith behold our own.
Holy Ghost, llluminator, shed Thy beams upon our eyes,
Help us to look up with Stephen, and to see beyond the skies,
Where the Son of Man in glory standing is at God's right hand,
Beckoning on His martyr army, succoring His faithful band.
See Him, Who is gone before us, heavenly mansions to prepare,
See Him, who is ever pleading for us with prevailing prayer,
See Him, Who with sound of trumpet, and with His angelic train,
Summoning the world to judgment, on the clouds will come again.
Lift us up from earth to Heaven; Give us wings of faithful love,
Gales of holy aspirations Wafting us to realms above,
That with hearts and minds uplifted We with Christ our Lord may dwell
Where He sits enthroned in glory In His Heav’nly citadel.
So at last, when He appeareth, We from out our graves may spring
With our youth renewed like eagles, Flocking ‘round our Heav’nly King,
Caught up in the clouds of Heaven, We shall meet Him in the air,
Rise to realms where He is reigning, With Him reign forever there.
Glory be to God the Father, glory be to God the Son,
Dying, risen, ascending for us, Who the heavenly realm has won;
Glory to the Holy Spirit, to one God in persons Three;
Glory both in earth and heaven, glory, endless glory, be.
Where to find this SFS
Listen on Qobuz or Spotify below.
Download this SFS
Download .mp3 (.mp3 = great quality)
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See the Conqueror Mounts in Triumph