Hymns are beautiful truths poetically told, hung on a rhythm, and held in a melody. This makes them memorable. Hymn study is extremely simple. Sing the hymn once a day. We’ve provided you links to different versions to enjoy and a link to download the sheet music for the hymn. This month, we are learning Charles Wesley’s O For A Thousand Tongues to Sing.
Text
1 O for a thousand tongues to sing
my great Redeemer’s praise,
the glories of my God and King,
the triumphs of his grace!
2 My gracious Master and my God,
assist me to proclaim,
to spread thro’ all the earth abroad
the honors of your name.
3 Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
that bids our sorrows cease,
’tis music in the sinner’s ears,
’tis life and health and peace.
4 He breaks the power of cancelled sin,
he sets the prisoner free;
his blood can make the foulest clean;
his blood availed for me.
5 To God all glory, praise, and love
be now and ever given
by saints below and saints above,
the Church in earth and heaven.
Hymn Story
“O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing” was written by Charles Wesley in 1739 as a way to celebrate and remember his own conversion to Christianity. It was originally titled “For the Anniversary Day of One’s Conversion.” When was written, it had seventeen verses. (It’s a good thing it has a fast tempo.) Today, most hymnals only contain about six of the verses. A few are now considered discriminatory, though they certainly were not considered derogatory when they were written. As language changes and words take on new connotations, sometimes edits are necessary.
Source: https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/o-for-a-thousand-tongues-to-sing-18-original-stanzas
