Christ Rule Our Symphony!

Michael E. Wood
December 29, 2010

“The best, most beautiful and most perfect way that we have of expressing a sweet concord of mind to each other, is by music. When I would form in my mind an idea society in the highest degree happy, I think of them as expressing their love, their joy, and the inward concord and harmony and spiritual beauty of their souls by sweetly singing to each other.”
From the Miscellanies of Jonathan Edwards # 188

“The kingdom of heaven excels in unity. All the inhabitants agree together in love. Love will be the perfume and music of heaven; as love to God will be intense, so to the saints. As perfect love casts out fear, so it casts out envy and discord. …there shall be no vilifying, or censoring one another, or raking into one another’s sores, but all shall be tied together with the heart strings of love. There Luther and Zwingli are agreed.” Thomas Watson, “The LORD’S PRAYER”


While pondering these thoughts by Jonathan Edwards, along with the writings of Thomas Watson concerning the kingdom of heaven, the following came to mind.

Not out of envy, and not out of strife,
But pleasure You’ve given us, here in this life,
That for Your glory with hearts made to sing,
You bind us together in every thing.

With great love to You, above all we put on
With thankful hearts, O God on the throne.
For You, our Father have given the songs
To teach of Christ Jesus, for Whom our heart longs.

In sweetest accord, perfect harmony,
Let the peace of Christ rule our symphony.
As a body of one, to which we were called,
As You by Your grace remove all that’s flawed.

So help us more heartily do every thing,
And give You the glory, through our offering.
To show forth Christ Jesus beyond all our measure,
Our Lord and our Savior, our One greatest Treasure.

A taste of heaven; Oh help us display,
With hearts made pure by Christ, til the day
When all of the earth shall tremble and see,
The King of all Glory in His Majesty.

Help us know more, our great privilege,
With hearts set ablaze, through mercy to pledge,
A greater degree of allegiance alone
To You our King, Jesus, Who sits on the throne.