April 9, 2024 • 40 mins
Our host, Andy Peavyhouse, recalls how, since starting this podcast, it has been a constant reminder of the power hymns have played in his journey of faith. He remembers how each hymn paints another picture of his walk with Christ and how hymns can be the cornerstone of our faith journey. One hymn that paints quite a vivid picture of Christ's triumphant victory through his finished work on the cross is Thomas Kelly's "Look Ye Saints, the Sight is Glorious." It unfolds in a symphony of poetic majesty. Each verse is a brushstroke of truth, painting the ultimate victory of Christ. We'll explore the richness of this hymn, as we dive into its authorship, history, and theology.
This episode is a heartfelt tribute to hymnody's ability to capture the soul's deepest cries and loftiest praises, to strike that tender chord within us that resonates with God's truth. We'll see how this hymn echoes Scripture, inviting us all to acknowledge Jesus as the Lamb who was slain and now reigns victorious. Join us, as we honor the Lenten and Easter seasons by amplifying the joyous acclamation of Christ's triumph, encouraging listeners to reclaim the hymns that have shaped our faith, and to carry their powerful messages of truth to a lost and dying world.
SHOW CREDITS AND LINKS:
Andrew Peterson’s “Is He Worthy?”
Red Mountain Church Music
Red Mountain Hymn Collective
"Crown Him"
Taken from This Breaks My Heart of Stone: A Collection of Hymns from Red Mountain Church
Download the entire Red Mountain Music catalogue of songs in one PDF Songbook (does not include hymns from Silent Night, Demos & B-sides).
The PDF download includes everything Red Mountain Music has available.
THIS BREAKS MY HEART OF STONE ALBUM CREDITS:
Jon Black - acoustic guitar, vocals
Chris Campbell - mandolin
Tim Carroll - double bass
Karl Digerness - vocals
Tripp Ethridge - drums
Dan Hames - bgvs
Drew Holcomb - vocals, bgvs
Ellie Holcomb - vocals, bgvs
Jeff Irwin - bass
Jeremy Meyer - bgvs
Evan Munger - bgvs, hand claps
Brian T. Murphy - pads, piano, vocals, bgvs, hand claps, loops
Brooke Murphy - hand claps
Pete Nice - pedal steel
Benj Pocta - acoustic guitar, banjo, vocals, bgvs, hand claps
Stokes Skellie - vocals
Tom Slinger - bgvs
Ashley Spurling - vocals, bgvs
Matt Terrell - vocals
Clint Wells - acoustic and electric guitars, slide guitar, bgvs, hand claps, loops
Produced by Brian T. Murphy and Clint Wells
Mixed and mastered by Paul Scodova
Project management by Bradley N. Cordell
Graphic design and layout by Justin Pocta
Recording and engineering by Brian T. Murphy at Red Mountain Studios - Birmingham, AL
Additional recording on Track 7 by Luke Brodine - Pendleton, SC
Additional recording and engineering on track 9 by Karl Digerness - San Francisco, CA
Additional re
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Life is wasted if we do not grasp the glory of the
cross, cherish it for thetreasure that it is and cleave
to it as the highest price ofevery pleasure and the deepest
comfort in every pain.
(00:21):
What was once foolishness to us, a crucified God, must become
our wisdom and our power and ouronly boast in this world.
John Piper, this is the BrightForever.
(00:45):
Hello and welcome to the BrightForever where each week, we
(01:07):
rediscover the power andrichness found in some of the
greatest hymns of the faith.
My name is Andy Peavyhouse andI am your host and guide on this
, our adventure through hymnody.
In our last episode, we doveinto the profound theological
depth of.
There is a Fountain Filled withBlood and reflected on the
(01:30):
redemption it proclaims throughthe sacrifice of Jesus Christ
and his miraculous resurrection,and we declared we are a
resurrection people are aresurrection people.
It was a great week and I hopeand pray that each of you had a
wonderful and very happyEastertide.
(01:51):
I can't think of a betterfollow-up to Easter than our
hymn for today, and I know someof you are already out there
going.
I don't know if I've ever heardof this hymn before.
It's okay, it's okay, don'tworry, just follow me here.
With its stirring imagery,profound lyrical symphony, our
(02:14):
hymn today paints a beautifulpicture of a savior that has
completed his mission and wehave crowned him King of Kings
and Lord of Lords.
Today we are going to bediscussing Look Ye Saints, the
(02:35):
sight is glorious, by ThomasKelly.
Let's take a minute to justreflect on the significance of
hymns in worship.
I know a lot of you areprobably out there and you're
like man.
I miss the hymns in worship andI would agree with you.
Hymns have a unique ability tocapture profound theological
(03:01):
truth in a very poetic andmelodic way.
It allows us to express ourdeepest beliefs and emotions in
song and they serve as a vehiclefor conveying timeless truth
(03:21):
and the message of the gospelfrom one generation to the next,
reminding us of God'sfaithfulness and grace
throughout history.
Hymns are so important and ifyou have a church and if you
have the ability to talk to yourworship pastor not in a mean
(03:49):
way please don't go up and belike, oh, we need to do more
hymns and you're ruining church.
That's not what I'm talkingabout, because there are some
amazing choruses out there.
There are some amazing songsthat are being written even
today, so I'm not saying justthrow everything out except old
hymns, but don't neglect them,because I just in the past
(04:17):
couple of years doing thispodcast, I have been overwhelmed
and I have been reminded of howmuch and how deeply to talk to
the one person who, I believe,kind of inspired all of this,
(05:06):
and that is my aunt, fayePeavyhouse, who taught me in
Young Musicians Choir when I wasin elementary school, and so I
just wanted to throw that outthere.
I I I don't usually talk aboutit, but I'm I just have this
feeling that we need to rememberthese hymns.
We need to remember the powerthat these hymns have in the
(05:30):
words that they convey.
So with that, let's journeythrough the history of this
amazing hymn, the theology thatwe will uncover, the story
behind its creation and thetruths that it proclaims.
So grab your favorite hymnal,grab your Bible, settle into a
(05:54):
comfortable spot and let'sjourney together as we explore
this hymn.
Look ye saints, the sight isglorious, this hymn Look ye
saints, the sight is glorious.
But before we dive in, don'tforget to hit that subscribe
(06:18):
button and follow us so younever miss an episode.
Now that we've set the stage,let's dive into the authorship
and the history behind.
Look, ye Saints, the sight isglorious.
This hymn, written by ThomasKelly, holds a powerful story of
conversion and the author'sdeep faith and enduring hope in
(06:40):
the promises of God.
Thomas Kelly was born in Irelandin 1769.
As a child, kelly was broughtup in the Anglican tradition In
the early 19th century.
As an adult, kelly underwent aspiritual transformation.
He experienced a profoundencounter with God that led to
(07:02):
his conversion to evangelicalChristianity.
This spiritual awakeningprofoundly influenced his life
and ministry.
Inspired by the evangelicalrevival that was sweeping across
Europe at the time, he feltcompelled to share the message
(07:23):
of salvation through Christ andChrist alone.
Despite facing opposition fromhis family, who continued to
follow in the Anglican tradition, he became deeply involved in
the evangelical movement,embracing its emphasis on
personal faith, biblicalauthority and the need for
(07:45):
spiritual renewal.
Kelly's newfound faithcompelled him to abandon his
legal career and pursue ministryas a preacher and hymn writer.
It was during this time offervent devotion that Kelly
penned the words to our hymn fortoday.
(08:08):
Throughout his life, thomasKelly composed numerous hymns
that reflected his evangelicalconvictions and desire to
proclaim the gospel message.
His hymns often emphasizedthemes of redemption, grace and
the supremacy of Christ.
But probably one of his mostwell-known hymns Look Ye Saints,
(08:31):
the Site is Glorious capturedeach of these themes and serves
as a testament to Kelly'scommitment to sharing the
message of salvation with others.
And it continues to impactworshipers still today.
The hymn first published in1806, exudes a sense of
triumphant anticipation andjoyful exaltation in the victory
(08:56):
of Christ over sin and death.
Its stirring imagery andvibrant language paint a vivid
picture of the glorious returnof the Savior, filling believers
with hope and assurance in thepromises of God.
As we reflect on the history ofLook Ye Saints, the site is
(09:20):
glorious, the sight is gloriouswe're reminded of the enduring
power of hymns to inspire anduplift the hearts of believers
across generations.
Thomas Kelly's legacy lives onthrough this timeless hymn and
continues to resonate withworshipers around the world.
(09:51):
As we explore the theologicaldepth of Look Ye Saints, the
Sight is Glorious, we see thateach verse of this hymn offers a
rich portrayal of Christ'sexaltation and the response it
evokes from believers.
Look ye saints, the sight isglorious.
(10:17):
See the man of sorrows, nowFrom the fight returned
victorious.
Every knee to him shall bow.
Crown him.
Crown him.
Crowns become the victor's brow.
(10:50):
Crown the savior angels.
Crown him rich the trophies.
Jesus brings in the seat ofpower.
Enthrone him while the vault ofheaven rings.
Crown him, crown him.
Crown the Savior, king of Kings.
Sinners in derision crowned him, mocking thus the Savior's
claim.
Saints and angels crowd aroundhim.
(11:13):
Own his title, praise his name,crown him, crown him.
Spread abroad the victor's fame.
Hark those bursts ofacclamation, hark those loud
(11:36):
triumphant chords.
Jesus takes the highest station.
Oh, what joy the sight affords.
Crown Him, crown Him, crown him.
King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
(12:00):
In the first stanza we'reinvited to behold the glorious
sight of the victorious man ofsorrows.
Some versions change man ofsorrows to the exalted savior, I
assume in an effort to focusthe song more on the exaltation
of Christ and less on the actualpicture of crucifixion.
(12:23):
For more on the imagery drawnthrough man of Sorrows, you can
check out episode 16 from a fewweeks back, called man of
Sorrows what a Name.
The term is from the SufferingServant passage in Isaiah 53,
which portrays Christ's agonyand subsequent triumph over sin
(12:46):
and death.
It tells that Jesus was indeedacquainted with our sorrows and
our grief, but through hisvictory, according to
Philippians 2, every knee shallbow and every tongue confess
that he is Lord.
(13:07):
Moreover, revelation, chapter19, verses 11 and 12, depict
Jesus as the one crowned withmany crowns there's another song
for you We'll probably do thatsong soon Signifying his
(13:29):
authority and sovereignty.
In the second stanza, we'recalled to crown the Savior with
rich trophies as he takes hisseat of power and authority.
This picture echoes Daniel'svision in the book of Daniel,
(13:49):
chapter seven, verses 13 through14, where the son of man
receives dominion and glory fromthe ancient of days.
It says and behold, with theclouds of heaven.
There came one like a son ofman, and he came to the ancient
of days and was presented beforehim, and to him was given
(14:11):
dominion and glory and a kingdomthat all peoples, nations and
languages should serve him.
His dominion is an everlastingdominion which shall not pass
away, and his kingdom one thatshall not be destroyed.
Then we see in Ephesians 1,verses 19-23, it says and what
(14:37):
is the immeasurable greatness ofhis power towards us who
believe, according to theworking of his great might, that
he worked in Christ when heraised him from the dead and
seated him at the right hand inthe heavenly places, far above
all rule and authority and powerand dominion, and above every
(15:01):
name that is named, and aboveevery name that is named, not
only in this age but also in theone to come.
And he put all things under hisfeet and gave him as head over
all things to the church, whichis his body, the fullness of him
(15:30):
who fills all in all.
Paul reveals that Jesus wasenthroned in the heavenly places
after his resurrection,signifying his reign as King of
Kings and Lord of Lords, asdescribed in Revelation 11.15.
Then the seventh angel blew histrumpet and there were loud
voices in heaven saying thekingdom of the world has become
the kingdom of our Lord and ofhis Christ, and he shall reign
(15:54):
forever and ever.
The third stanza highlights thecontrasting responses of
Christ's kinship.
While sinners mock him at hiscrucifixion, saints and angels
now gather to praise his name.
Man.
(16:16):
I feel this verse.
I feel this verse so painfully.
I put myself in that place.
I was once one of those sinnerswho mockingly put a crown of
thorns on his head.
My sin, through my sin, Imocked and laughed at God and
(16:46):
just kept on sinning, not caringwhat it did to him, not caring
what he'd done for me.
But now my life has been turnedaround and because of grace,
(17:08):
because of what he did on thecross, now I stand with the
saints and angels and exalt myGod for his son and for the
grace that I do not deserve.
The mocking crown of thorns hasbecome a regal crown of glory
(17:36):
as I bow down and worship thevictorious king.
Worship the victorious King.
The transformation depicted inthe song so vividly reflects
that of scripture, where, inMark 15, we see Jesus endure
ridicule and scorn, and then, inrevelation, chapter seven,
(18:01):
verses nine through 15, amultitude of saints and angels
worship and bow down before him.
It closes the verse with thereason for this praise.
It lies in the victor, jesus'svictory over death, over sin,
(18:25):
over hell, over the grave,through his resurrection, and
his victory is affirmed inRomans 1 3-6.
Concerning his son, who wasdescended from David according
to the flesh and was declared tobe the son of God in power
(18:47):
according to the spirit ofholiness, by his resurrection
from the dead.
Jesus Christ, our Lord, throughwhom we have received grace and
apostleship to bring about theobedience of faith, for the sake
of his name, among the nations,including you, who are called
(19:10):
to belong to Jesus Christ.
What's interesting about thisthird verse is I didn't even
hear it until I started lookingat this for the podcast.
I've always loved this song doneby Red Mountain Church Crown
(19:31):
Him.
I couldn't even find it.
It took me like weeks to findthe actual hymn.
I didn't know it wasn't calledCrown Him.
And I type in Crown Him intoall these different searches,
google and all these otherplaces, and all I find is Crown
Him.
And I type in Crown Him intoall these different searches,
google and all these otherplaces, and all I find is Crown
Him with many crowns.
I'm going.
Okay, maybe I'm just makingthis up, maybe this hymn doesn't
(19:54):
actually exist, and so I startgoing.
Okay, well, let me just type inthe lyrics of the song and see
what pops up.
And I type in the very firstlyric of the song Look ye,
saints, the sight is glorious.
And boom, I find all of this.
Well, this third verse I didn'teven know existed In the Red
(20:16):
Mountain Church version there'sonly verses one, two and four
and they don't do three.
And so I didn't know this evenexisted.
And I'm looking at it, goingman, I see myself in this verse.
So much I see myself.
I see my sin and my mocking.
(20:37):
And sinners in derision crownedhim mocking.
Thus the Savior's claim.
Saints and angels crowd aroundhim.
Own his title, praise his name,crown him.
Crown him, spread abroad thevictor's fame.
My sin, my mocking is what puthim on that cross.
(21:05):
But saints and angels crowdaround him to see what he has
done, to see the grace that hehas purchased, own his title and
praise his name, own that titleof the man of sorrows, own that
(21:25):
title the son of man, own thattitle as savior and king of
kings and Lord of lords, andspread abroad the victor's fame.
Ah, love it.
(21:48):
And it sets up verse four soperfectly because, finally, the
fourth stanza comes along andresounds with bursts of
acclamation as Jesus takes hishighest station, seated at the
right hand of God.
Ah, I love the phrase bursts ofacclamation.
I love that this scene pointsus to so many different
(22:13):
scriptures, but Hebrews, chaptertwo, verse nine, that he is
crowned with glory and honor.
Acts, chapter two, verses 29 to36, confirm that Jesus has been
exalted to the highest position.
He is seated at the right handof the father and fulfills the
prophecy of Psalm 110, verse onesit at my right hand until I
(22:39):
make your enemies your footstool.
This is Jesus.
Make your enemies yourfootstool.
This is Jesus.
He is at the right hand of theFather and the enemy is defeated
under his feet.
I remember this song that I usedto sing.
(23:00):
It became like an inside jokewhen I was on staff at First
Baptist Brandon that it's likethe only song that I ever sang
with the choir.
It's called we Are United.
It says we are united in JesusChrist.
We are the soldiers of thelight.
We don't wrestle flesh andblood, but principalities of the
dark.
We do our marching to one beat,crushing the enemy under our
(23:23):
feet.
We are mighty in our stand,with God's word in our hand.
And this idea that God is at hishighest station.
Jesus has been placed at hishighest station, just like the
verse says.
Hark those bursts ofacclamation, hark those loud,
(23:44):
triumphant chords.
Jesus takes the highest station.
Oh, what joy the sight affords.
Crown him, crown him, king ofKings and Lord of Lords.
But even more so than any ofthese scriptures, it mirrors the
heavenly worship depicted inRevelation, chapter five, verses
(24:09):
eight through 12, where Jesusreceives honor and glory from
all of creation.
You want to hear a burst ofacclamation?
Check this out.
And when he had taken the scroll, and when he had taken the
scroll, the four livingcreatures and the 24 elders fell
down before the lamb, eachholding a harp and golden bowls
(24:33):
full of incense, which are theprayers of the saints.
And check this out.
And they sang a new song.
And they sang a new song sayingworthy are you to take the
(24:54):
scroll, to open its seals, foryou were slain and by your blood
you ransomed people for Godfrom every tribe and language
and people and nation, and youhave made them a kingdom and
priests to our God, and theyshall reign on the earth.
(25:17):
Then I looked and I heardaround the throne and the living
creatures and the elders, thevoice of many angels numbering
myriads of myriads and thousandsof thousands, saying with a
loud voice Worthy is the lambwho was slain, lamb who was
(25:54):
slain to receive power andwealth and wisdom and might and
honor and glory and blessing.
You know I've done this a coupleof times lately, but as I'm
reading this I am reminded ofanother Andrew Peterson song.
I think this is like the thirdtime this season, if you haven't
grasped it quite yet.
He is one of my probably mymost favorite singer songwriters
(26:14):
.
But I digress.
I'm reminded of his song Is heworthy, which, if it weren't for
copyright, I'd play it for youright now because it is an
amazing song.
But instead I'm going to readit to you, or at least I'm going
to pick up at verse three.
(26:34):
It says does the Father trulylove us?
He does.
Does the Spirit move among us?
He does.
Does the Spirit move among us?
He does.
And does Jesus, our Messiah,hold forever those he loves?
He does.
(26:59):
Does our God intend to dwellagain with us?
He does.
Is anyone worthy?
Is anyone whole?
Is anyone able to break theseal and open the scroll.
The lion of Judah who conqueredthe grave.
He is David's root and the lambwho died to ransom the slave
From every people and tribe,every nation and tongue.
(27:19):
He has made us a kingdom andpriests to God to reign with the
Son.
Is he worthy?
Is he worthy of all blessingand honor and glory?
Is he worthy?
Is he worthy?
(27:40):
Is he worthy of this?
He is.
If any of you out there arefriends of, or no friends of,
andrew Peterson, I'd love totalk to him on the podcast.
(28:03):
So if you want to make thathappen, please feel free.
But seriously, hark thosebursts of acclamation, hark
those loud triumphant chords.
Jesus takes the highest station.
Oh, what joy the sight affords.
(28:25):
Crown him, crown him, king ofKings and Lord of Lords.
As we reflect on the theologywoven into each verse of this
hymn, may we be reminded toacknowledge Jesus as King and
(28:52):
Lord, as our King and our Lord.
May we be reminded that he isworthy of all blessing and honor
and glory, and may we join thesaints and angels in exalting
(29:13):
his name now and for alleternity.
I know that with Easter and GoodFriday and the season of Lent,
it's a lot of from the depths ofwoe.
Man of sorrows, were you therewhen they crucified my Lord?
(29:34):
There's a fountain filled withblood drawn from Emmanuel's
veins, and it's hard to thinkabout, sometimes hard to think
about.
Sometimes these are some prettyheady type songs, but then you
get a reminder like this oneLook ye, saints, the sight is
(29:59):
glorious, the sight is gloriousFrom the depths of my woe.
Look ye, saints, the sight isglorious.
Man of sorrows hanging on thecross.
Look ye, saints, the sight isglorious.
Were you there when theycrucified my Lord?
(30:22):
Look ye, saints, the sight isglorious.
Look you, saints, the sight isglorious.
There's a fountain filled withblood.
Look you, saints, the sight isglorious.
(30:42):
That man of sorrows on thecross, look, look and see what
he's done.
Look you, saints, the sight isglorious and it causes us to
burst with acclamation as wecrown him King of Kings and Lord
(31:08):
of.
Lords.
Speaker 3 (31:20):
Look ye, saints, the sight is glorious.
See the exalted Savior.
Now, from the fight, returnvictorious.
Every knee To him shall bow.
Crown him, crown him, crowns,become the victor's crown.
(31:46):
Become the victor's crown.
Crown the Savior.
Saints adore Him, rich thetrophies Jesus brings.
Saints and angels bow beforeHim While the vault of heaven
(32:08):
rings.
Crown him, crown him.
Crown the Savior, king of kings.
Hark those bursts ofacclamation, hark those loud
(32:31):
triumphant chords.
Jesus takes the highest station.
Oh, what joy the sight affords.
Crown Him.
Crown Him King of kings andLord of Lords.
(32:52):
Crown Him.
Crown Him King of Kings andLord of Lords of love.
Speaker 1 (33:33):
That was Crown Hymn performed by Red Mountain Church
from their 2007 album thisBreaks my Heart of Stone.
For more information about thissong and all of the amazing
resources available from RedMountain Church, check out the
links in the show notes for thisepisode.
(33:54):
Before we wrap up today'sepisode, I want to leave you
with this Look, ye, saints, thesight is glorious, reminds us of
the hope we have in what Christhas done, his triumphant return
and the assurance we have inhis victory over sin and death.
It calls us to fix our eyes onJesus, the author and perfecter
(34:22):
of our faith, and to live witheager expectation of the day
when we will see him face toface.
As we listen to this beautifulhymn, let it stir our hearts to
worship and praise and let itspur us on to live boldly for
(34:47):
the kingdom of God.
May we, like the saints of old,proclaim the glorious truth of
Christ's resurrection andeagerly await his coming again.
Thank you for joining me thisweek on the Bright Forever, and
(35:08):
I hope you've been encouragedand inspired by this amazing him
and the timeless truths itcontains.
Remember the hope we have inChrist is our anchor in the
storms of life.
Is our anchor in the storms oflife, and it is our privilege to
(35:30):
share this hope with a lost anddying world around us.
You can also share with peopleabout an amazing podcast that
you listen to, called the BrightForever.
So please remember to follow us, review us and, of course,
subscribe and check us out onour website at
(35:52):
thebrightforevercom.
Post a comment on our Facebookor a review on our website or
any of the other myriad ofplatforms you can find us on.
I'd love to hear from you.
Consider sending us an email atpodcast at the bright
forevercom Again, that's podcastat the bright forevercom or
(36:13):
send us a message through ourcontact form on our website.
You can even tell us what youthink by clicking the radio
microphone in the bottom rightcorner of our website and
recording a message of up to twominutes, and let us know what
you think of the show.
I have been blown away over thelast couple of weeks by your
(36:41):
financial support.
We received multiple one-timegifts this past week and I I
really don't know what to sayother than thank you.
These gifts come at just theright time when we need them
(37:03):
most and I I just want to saythank you.
Thank you for believing in whatwe're doing.
If you feel a call to help usreach a greater audience with
these amazing hymns, take amoment.
Go to thebrightforevercom.
Click on the Support thepodcast tab in the menu.
(37:26):
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(37:47):
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(38:07):
Thank you again and thank youfor listening, and I hope you
all have an amazing week.
Before we go, let me close thisout in prayer.
Lord, as we close today'sepisode, we are so grateful for
(38:29):
songs like today's, as itreminds us that even the agony
and pain we see brings the mostglorious acclamation to your son
for all he has done for us.
Continue to remind us of thedeep truths of our faith and the
hope we have in Christ'sfinished work on the cross.
(38:51):
We pray that the music andwords we've heard today would
continue to resonate in ourhearts throughout the days and
weeks ahead.
May we be inspired to liveboldly for your kingdom and to
eagerly await the day ofChrist's return.
(39:12):
We ask all of these things inthe precious name of your son,
Jesus Christ.
Amen, Amen.
God bless you all.
Have a great week and we'll seeyou back here next week.
We're out.
(39:32):
Thank you.
Life is wasted if we do not grasp the glory of the
cross, cherish it for thetreasure that it is and cleave
to it as the highest price ofevery pleasure and the deepest
comfort in every pain.
(00:21):
What was once foolishness to us, a crucified God, must become
our wisdom and our power and ouronly boast in this world.
John Piper, this is the BrightForever.
(00:45):
Hello and welcome to the BrightForever where each week, we
(01:07):
rediscover the power andrichness found in some of the
greatest hymns of the faith.
My name is Andy Peavyhouse andI am your host and guide on this
, our adventure through hymnody.
In our last episode, we doveinto the profound theological
depth of.
There is a Fountain Filled withBlood and reflected on the
(01:30):
redemption it proclaims throughthe sacrifice of Jesus Christ
and his miraculous resurrection,and we declared we are a
resurrection people are aresurrection people.
It was a great week and I hopeand pray that each of you had a
wonderful and very happyEastertide.
(01:51):
I can't think of a betterfollow-up to Easter than our
hymn for today, and I know someof you are already out there
going.
I don't know if I've ever heardof this hymn before.
It's okay, it's okay, don'tworry, just follow me here.
With its stirring imagery,profound lyrical symphony, our
(02:14):
hymn today paints a beautifulpicture of a savior that has
completed his mission and wehave crowned him King of Kings
and Lord of Lords.
Today we are going to bediscussing Look Ye Saints, the
(02:35):
sight is glorious, by ThomasKelly.
Let's take a minute to justreflect on the significance of
hymns in worship.
I know a lot of you areprobably out there and you're
like man.
I miss the hymns in worship andI would agree with you.
Hymns have a unique ability tocapture profound theological
(03:01):
truth in a very poetic andmelodic way.
It allows us to express ourdeepest beliefs and emotions in
song and they serve as a vehiclefor conveying timeless truth
(03:21):
and the message of the gospelfrom one generation to the next,
reminding us of God'sfaithfulness and grace
throughout history.
Hymns are so important and ifyou have a church and if you
have the ability to talk to yourworship pastor not in a mean
(03:49):
way please don't go up and belike, oh, we need to do more
hymns and you're ruining church.
That's not what I'm talkingabout, because there are some
amazing choruses out there.
There are some amazing songsthat are being written even
today, so I'm not saying justthrow everything out except old
hymns, but don't neglect them,because I just in the past
(04:17):
couple of years doing thispodcast, I have been overwhelmed
and I have been reminded of howmuch and how deeply to talk to
the one person who, I believe,kind of inspired all of this,
(05:06):
and that is my aunt, fayePeavyhouse, who taught me in
Young Musicians Choir when I wasin elementary school, and so I
just wanted to throw that outthere.
I I I don't usually talk aboutit, but I'm I just have this
feeling that we need to rememberthese hymns.
We need to remember the powerthat these hymns have in the
(05:30):
words that they convey.
So with that, let's journeythrough the history of this
amazing hymn, the theology thatwe will uncover, the story
behind its creation and thetruths that it proclaims.
So grab your favorite hymnal,grab your Bible, settle into a
(05:54):
comfortable spot and let'sjourney together as we explore
this hymn.
Look ye saints, the sight isglorious, this hymn Look ye
saints, the sight is glorious.
But before we dive in, don'tforget to hit that subscribe
(06:18):
button and follow us so younever miss an episode.
Now that we've set the stage,let's dive into the authorship
and the history behind.
Look, ye Saints, the sight isglorious.
This hymn, written by ThomasKelly, holds a powerful story of
conversion and the author'sdeep faith and enduring hope in
(06:40):
the promises of God.
Thomas Kelly was born in Irelandin 1769.
As a child, kelly was broughtup in the Anglican tradition In
the early 19th century.
As an adult, kelly underwent aspiritual transformation.
He experienced a profoundencounter with God that led to
(07:02):
his conversion to evangelicalChristianity.
This spiritual awakeningprofoundly influenced his life
and ministry.
Inspired by the evangelicalrevival that was sweeping across
Europe at the time, he feltcompelled to share the message
(07:23):
of salvation through Christ andChrist alone.
Despite facing opposition fromhis family, who continued to
follow in the Anglican tradition, he became deeply involved in
the evangelical movement,embracing its emphasis on
personal faith, biblicalauthority and the need for
(07:45):
spiritual renewal.
Kelly's newfound faithcompelled him to abandon his
legal career and pursue ministryas a preacher and hymn writer.
It was during this time offervent devotion that Kelly
penned the words to our hymn fortoday.
(08:08):
Throughout his life, thomasKelly composed numerous hymns
that reflected his evangelicalconvictions and desire to
proclaim the gospel message.
His hymns often emphasizedthemes of redemption, grace and
the supremacy of Christ.
But probably one of his mostwell-known hymns Look Ye Saints,
(08:31):
the Site is Glorious capturedeach of these themes and serves
as a testament to Kelly'scommitment to sharing the
message of salvation with others.
And it continues to impactworshipers still today.
The hymn first published in1806, exudes a sense of
triumphant anticipation andjoyful exaltation in the victory
(08:56):
of Christ over sin and death.
Its stirring imagery andvibrant language paint a vivid
picture of the glorious returnof the Savior, filling believers
with hope and assurance in thepromises of God.
As we reflect on the history ofLook Ye Saints, the site is
(09:20):
glorious, the sight is gloriouswe're reminded of the enduring
power of hymns to inspire anduplift the hearts of believers
across generations.
Thomas Kelly's legacy lives onthrough this timeless hymn and
continues to resonate withworshipers around the world.
(09:51):
As we explore the theologicaldepth of Look Ye Saints, the
Sight is Glorious, we see thateach verse of this hymn offers a
rich portrayal of Christ'sexaltation and the response it
evokes from believers.
Look ye saints, the sight isglorious.
(10:17):
See the man of sorrows, nowFrom the fight returned
victorious.
Every knee to him shall bow.
Crown him.
Crown him.
Crowns become the victor's brow.
(10:50):
Crown the savior angels.
Crown him rich the trophies.
Jesus brings in the seat ofpower.
Enthrone him while the vault ofheaven rings.
Crown him, crown him.
Crown the Savior, king of Kings.
Sinners in derision crowned him, mocking thus the Savior's
claim.
Saints and angels crowd aroundhim.
(11:13):
Own his title, praise his name,crown him, crown him.
Spread abroad the victor's fame.
Hark those bursts ofacclamation, hark those loud
(11:36):
triumphant chords.
Jesus takes the highest station.
Oh, what joy the sight affords.
Crown Him, crown Him, crown him.
King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
(12:00):
In the first stanza we'reinvited to behold the glorious
sight of the victorious man ofsorrows.
Some versions change man ofsorrows to the exalted savior, I
assume in an effort to focusthe song more on the exaltation
of Christ and less on the actualpicture of crucifixion.
(12:23):
For more on the imagery drawnthrough man of Sorrows, you can
check out episode 16 from a fewweeks back, called man of
Sorrows what a Name.
The term is from the SufferingServant passage in Isaiah 53,
which portrays Christ's agonyand subsequent triumph over sin
(12:46):
and death.
It tells that Jesus was indeedacquainted with our sorrows and
our grief, but through hisvictory, according to
Philippians 2, every knee shallbow and every tongue confess
that he is Lord.
(13:07):
Moreover, revelation, chapter19, verses 11 and 12, depict
Jesus as the one crowned withmany crowns there's another song
for you We'll probably do thatsong soon Signifying his
(13:29):
authority and sovereignty.
In the second stanza, we'recalled to crown the Savior with
rich trophies as he takes hisseat of power and authority.
This picture echoes Daniel'svision in the book of Daniel,
(13:49):
chapter seven, verses 13 through14, where the son of man
receives dominion and glory fromthe ancient of days.
It says and behold, with theclouds of heaven.
There came one like a son ofman, and he came to the ancient
of days and was presented beforehim, and to him was given
(14:11):
dominion and glory and a kingdomthat all peoples, nations and
languages should serve him.
His dominion is an everlastingdominion which shall not pass
away, and his kingdom one thatshall not be destroyed.
Then we see in Ephesians 1,verses 19-23, it says and what
(14:37):
is the immeasurable greatness ofhis power towards us who
believe, according to theworking of his great might, that
he worked in Christ when heraised him from the dead and
seated him at the right hand inthe heavenly places, far above
all rule and authority and powerand dominion, and above every
(15:01):
name that is named, and aboveevery name that is named, not
only in this age but also in theone to come.
And he put all things under hisfeet and gave him as head over
all things to the church, whichis his body, the fullness of him
(15:30):
who fills all in all.
Paul reveals that Jesus wasenthroned in the heavenly places
after his resurrection,signifying his reign as King of
Kings and Lord of Lords, asdescribed in Revelation 11.15.
Then the seventh angel blew histrumpet and there were loud
voices in heaven saying thekingdom of the world has become
the kingdom of our Lord and ofhis Christ, and he shall reign
(15:54):
forever and ever.
The third stanza highlights thecontrasting responses of
Christ's kinship.
While sinners mock him at hiscrucifixion, saints and angels
now gather to praise his name.
Man.
(16:16):
I feel this verse.
I feel this verse so painfully.
I put myself in that place.
I was once one of those sinnerswho mockingly put a crown of
thorns on his head.
My sin, through my sin, Imocked and laughed at God and
(16:46):
just kept on sinning, not caringwhat it did to him, not caring
what he'd done for me.
But now my life has been turnedaround and because of grace,
(17:08):
because of what he did on thecross, now I stand with the
saints and angels and exalt myGod for his son and for the
grace that I do not deserve.
The mocking crown of thorns hasbecome a regal crown of glory
(17:36):
as I bow down and worship thevictorious king.
Worship the victorious King.
The transformation depicted inthe song so vividly reflects
that of scripture, where, inMark 15, we see Jesus endure
ridicule and scorn, and then, inrevelation, chapter seven,
(18:01):
verses nine through 15, amultitude of saints and angels
worship and bow down before him.
It closes the verse with thereason for this praise.
It lies in the victor, jesus'svictory over death, over sin,
(18:25):
over hell, over the grave,through his resurrection, and
his victory is affirmed inRomans 1 3-6.
Concerning his son, who wasdescended from David according
to the flesh and was declared tobe the son of God in power
(18:47):
according to the spirit ofholiness, by his resurrection
from the dead.
Jesus Christ, our Lord, throughwhom we have received grace and
apostleship to bring about theobedience of faith, for the sake
of his name, among the nations,including you, who are called
(19:10):
to belong to Jesus Christ.
What's interesting about thisthird verse is I didn't even
hear it until I started lookingat this for the podcast.
I've always loved this song doneby Red Mountain Church Crown
(19:31):
Him.
I couldn't even find it.
It took me like weeks to findthe actual hymn.
I didn't know it wasn't calledCrown Him.
And I type in Crown Him intoall these different searches,
google and all these otherplaces, and all I find is Crown
Him.
And I type in Crown Him intoall these different searches,
google and all these otherplaces, and all I find is Crown
Him with many crowns.
I'm going.
Okay, maybe I'm just makingthis up, maybe this hymn doesn't
(19:54):
actually exist, and so I startgoing.
Okay, well, let me just type inthe lyrics of the song and see
what pops up.
And I type in the very firstlyric of the song Look ye,
saints, the sight is glorious.
And boom, I find all of this.
Well, this third verse I didn'teven know existed In the Red
(20:16):
Mountain Church version there'sonly verses one, two and four
and they don't do three.
And so I didn't know this evenexisted.
And I'm looking at it, goingman, I see myself in this verse.
So much I see myself.
I see my sin and my mocking.
(20:37):
And sinners in derision crownedhim mocking.
Thus the Savior's claim.
Saints and angels crowd aroundhim.
Own his title, praise his name,crown him.
Crown him, spread abroad thevictor's fame.
My sin, my mocking is what puthim on that cross.
(21:05):
But saints and angels crowdaround him to see what he has
done, to see the grace that hehas purchased, own his title and
praise his name, own that titleof the man of sorrows, own that
(21:25):
title the son of man, own thattitle as savior and king of
kings and Lord of lords, andspread abroad the victor's fame.
Ah, love it.
(21:48):
And it sets up verse four soperfectly because, finally, the
fourth stanza comes along andresounds with bursts of
acclamation as Jesus takes hishighest station, seated at the
right hand of God.
Ah, I love the phrase bursts ofacclamation.
I love that this scene pointsus to so many different
(22:13):
scriptures, but Hebrews, chaptertwo, verse nine, that he is
crowned with glory and honor.
Acts, chapter two, verses 29 to36, confirm that Jesus has been
exalted to the highest position.
He is seated at the right handof the father and fulfills the
prophecy of Psalm 110, verse onesit at my right hand until I
(22:39):
make your enemies your footstool.
This is Jesus.
Make your enemies yourfootstool.
This is Jesus.
He is at the right hand of theFather and the enemy is defeated
under his feet.
I remember this song that I usedto sing.
(23:00):
It became like an inside jokewhen I was on staff at First
Baptist Brandon that it's likethe only song that I ever sang
with the choir.
It's called we Are United.
It says we are united in JesusChrist.
We are the soldiers of thelight.
We don't wrestle flesh andblood, but principalities of the
dark.
We do our marching to one beat,crushing the enemy under our
(23:23):
feet.
We are mighty in our stand,with God's word in our hand.
And this idea that God is at hishighest station.
Jesus has been placed at hishighest station, just like the
verse says.
Hark those bursts ofacclamation, hark those loud,
(23:44):
triumphant chords.
Jesus takes the highest station.
Oh, what joy the sight affords.
Crown him, crown him, king ofKings and Lord of Lords.
But even more so than any ofthese scriptures, it mirrors the
heavenly worship depicted inRevelation, chapter five, verses
(24:09):
eight through 12, where Jesusreceives honor and glory from
all of creation.
You want to hear a burst ofacclamation?
Check this out.
And when he had taken the scroll, and when he had taken the
scroll, the four livingcreatures and the 24 elders fell
down before the lamb, eachholding a harp and golden bowls
(24:33):
full of incense, which are theprayers of the saints.
And check this out.
And they sang a new song.
And they sang a new song sayingworthy are you to take the
(24:54):
scroll, to open its seals, foryou were slain and by your blood
you ransomed people for Godfrom every tribe and language
and people and nation, and youhave made them a kingdom and
priests to our God, and theyshall reign on the earth.
(25:17):
Then I looked and I heardaround the throne and the living
creatures and the elders, thevoice of many angels numbering
myriads of myriads and thousandsof thousands, saying with a
loud voice Worthy is the lambwho was slain, lamb who was
(25:54):
slain to receive power andwealth and wisdom and might and
honor and glory and blessing.
You know I've done this a coupleof times lately, but as I'm
reading this I am reminded ofanother Andrew Peterson song.
I think this is like the thirdtime this season, if you haven't
grasped it quite yet.
He is one of my probably mymost favorite singer songwriters
(26:14):
.
But I digress.
I'm reminded of his song Is heworthy, which, if it weren't for
copyright, I'd play it for youright now because it is an
amazing song.
But instead I'm going to readit to you, or at least I'm going
to pick up at verse three.
(26:34):
It says does the Father trulylove us?
He does.
Does the Spirit move among us?
He does.
Does the Spirit move among us?
He does.
And does Jesus, our Messiah,hold forever those he loves?
He does.
(26:59):
Does our God intend to dwellagain with us?
He does.
Is anyone worthy?
Is anyone whole?
Is anyone able to break theseal and open the scroll.
The lion of Judah who conqueredthe grave.
He is David's root and the lambwho died to ransom the slave
From every people and tribe,every nation and tongue.
(27:19):
He has made us a kingdom andpriests to God to reign with the
Son.
Is he worthy?
Is he worthy of all blessingand honor and glory?
Is he worthy?
Is he worthy?
(27:40):
Is he worthy of this?
He is.
If any of you out there arefriends of, or no friends of,
andrew Peterson, I'd love totalk to him on the podcast.
(28:03):
So if you want to make thathappen, please feel free.
But seriously, hark thosebursts of acclamation, hark
those loud triumphant chords.
Jesus takes the highest station.
Oh, what joy the sight affords.
(28:25):
Crown him, crown him, king ofKings and Lord of Lords.
As we reflect on the theologywoven into each verse of this
hymn, may we be reminded toacknowledge Jesus as King and
(28:52):
Lord, as our King and our Lord.
May we be reminded that he isworthy of all blessing and honor
and glory, and may we join thesaints and angels in exalting
(29:13):
his name now and for alleternity.
I know that with Easter and GoodFriday and the season of Lent,
it's a lot of from the depths ofwoe.
Man of sorrows, were you therewhen they crucified my Lord?
(29:34):
There's a fountain filled withblood drawn from Emmanuel's
veins, and it's hard to thinkabout, sometimes hard to think
about.
Sometimes these are some prettyheady type songs, but then you
get a reminder like this oneLook ye, saints, the sight is
(29:59):
glorious, the sight is gloriousFrom the depths of my woe.
Look ye, saints, the sight isglorious.
Man of sorrows hanging on thecross.
Look ye, saints, the sight isglorious.
Were you there when theycrucified my Lord?
(30:22):
Look ye, saints, the sight isglorious.
Look you, saints, the sight isglorious.
There's a fountain filled withblood.
Look you, saints, the sight isglorious.
(30:42):
That man of sorrows on thecross, look, look and see what
he's done.
Look you, saints, the sight isglorious and it causes us to
burst with acclamation as wecrown him King of Kings and Lord
(31:08):
of.
Lords.
Speaker 3 (31:20):
Look ye, saints, the sight is glorious.
See the exalted Savior.
Now, from the fight, returnvictorious.
Every knee To him shall bow.
Crown him, crown him, crowns,become the victor's crown.
(31:46):
Become the victor's crown.
Crown the Savior.
Saints adore Him, rich thetrophies Jesus brings.
Saints and angels bow beforeHim While the vault of heaven
(32:08):
rings.
Crown him, crown him.
Crown the Savior, king of kings.
Hark those bursts ofacclamation, hark those loud
(32:31):
triumphant chords.
Jesus takes the highest station.
Oh, what joy the sight affords.
Crown Him.
Crown Him King of kings andLord of Lords.
(32:52):
Crown Him.
Crown Him King of Kings andLord of Lords of love.
Speaker 1 (33:33):
That was Crown Hymn performed by Red Mountain Church
from their 2007 album thisBreaks my Heart of Stone.
For more information about thissong and all of the amazing
resources available from RedMountain Church, check out the
links in the show notes for thisepisode.
(33:54):
Before we wrap up today'sepisode, I want to leave you
with this Look, ye, saints, thesight is glorious, reminds us of
the hope we have in what Christhas done, his triumphant return
and the assurance we have inhis victory over sin and death.
It calls us to fix our eyes onJesus, the author and perfecter
(34:22):
of our faith, and to live witheager expectation of the day
when we will see him face toface.
As we listen to this beautifulhymn, let it stir our hearts to
worship and praise and let itspur us on to live boldly for
(34:47):
the kingdom of God.
May we, like the saints of old,proclaim the glorious truth of
Christ's resurrection andeagerly await his coming again.
Thank you for joining me thisweek on the Bright Forever, and
(35:08):
I hope you've been encouragedand inspired by this amazing him
and the timeless truths itcontains.
Remember the hope we have inChrist is our anchor in the
storms of life.
Is our anchor in the storms oflife, and it is our privilege to
(35:30):
share this hope with a lost anddying world around us.
You can also share with peopleabout an amazing podcast that
you listen to, called the BrightForever.
So please remember to follow us, review us and, of course,
subscribe and check us out onour website at
(35:52):
thebrightforevercom.
Post a comment on our Facebookor a review on our website or
any of the other myriad ofplatforms you can find us on.
I'd love to hear from you.
Consider sending us an email atpodcast at the bright
forevercom Again, that's podcastat the bright forevercom or
(36:13):
send us a message through ourcontact form on our website.
You can even tell us what youthink by clicking the radio
microphone in the bottom rightcorner of our website and
recording a message of up to twominutes, and let us know what
you think of the show.
I have been blown away over thelast couple of weeks by your
(36:41):
financial support.
We received multiple one-timegifts this past week and I I
really don't know what to sayother than thank you.
These gifts come at just theright time when we need them
(37:03):
most and I I just want to saythank you.
Thank you for believing in whatwe're doing.
If you feel a call to help usreach a greater audience with
these amazing hymns, take amoment.
Go to thebrightforevercom.
Click on the Support thepodcast tab in the menu.
(37:26):
You can subscribe and givethree, five, eight or $10 a
month to help support us byjoining the Bright Forever Plus.
Or if you're not ready tocommit to something every single
month, you can click the yellowcoffee icon at the bottom left
(37:47):
of our page and give a $5 orgreater one-time gift through
our buymeacoffeecom supportersaccount.
You can also click on donate onthe website and it will take
you to a link for both thebuymeac Coffee app and also to
PayPal if you would rather gothrough PayPal.
(38:07):
Thank you again and thank youfor listening, and I hope you
all have an amazing week.
Before we go, let me close thisout in prayer.
Lord, as we close today'sepisode, we are so grateful for
(38:29):
songs like today's, as itreminds us that even the agony
and pain we see brings the mostglorious acclamation to your son
for all he has done for us.
Continue to remind us of thedeep truths of our faith and the
hope we have in Christ'sfinished work on the cross.
(38:51):
We pray that the music andwords we've heard today would
continue to resonate in ourhearts throughout the days and
weeks ahead.
May we be inspired to liveboldly for your kingdom and to
eagerly await the day ofChrist's return.
(39:12):
We ask all of these things inthe precious name of your son,
Jesus Christ.
Amen, Amen.
God bless you all.
Have a great week and we'll seeyou back here next week.
We're out.
(39:32):
Thank you.
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