Hymn of the Week: Sunday, August 16, 2026
Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee
Author: Henry Jackson van Dyke (1852-1933)
Composer: Ludwig von Beethoven (1770-1827) 9th Symphony, 4th Movement
Many hymns were inspired by the natural beauty of God’s created Earth. “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” was inspired by the beauty of the Berkshire Mountains in Massachusetts while the author was a visiting preacher at Williams College in 1908. He wrote his faith poem and presented it to Harry Augustus Garfield, the President of Williams College, with the specific instruction that it could be sung to the “Joy Theme” from the 4th Movement of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony. The faith poem was subsequently published in 1911 as part of van Dyke’s Book of Poems, 3rd edition. About the lyrics, van Dyke wrote, “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 that any revolution on earth will overthrow the kingdom of heaven.” These same thoughts were expounded in Van Dyke’s 1896 book, The Gospel in an Age of Doubt.
Henry van Dyke was the son of a Presbyterian minister and was himself ordained after BA and MA degrees from Princeton and study at Princeton Theological Seminary. He served as Pastor of Brick Presbyterian Church in New York City from 1882 to 1899, during which time he officiated at the memorial service for Mark Twain. He left fulltime ministry in 1899 to become Professor of English at Princeton, where he became a friend of Woodrow Wilson, who was President of Princeton before being elected President of the United States. Van Dyke remained a leader within the Presbyterian Church and served as Moderator of the General Assembly and Chairman of the committee that wrote the first Presbyterian Book of Common Worship in 1906. As US President, Woodrow Wilson appointed van Dyke Ambassador to Luxembourg and The Netherlands, a post he held for 3 years just before WWI. During World War I he served as a Navy Chaplain. His poetry, novels, and devotional writings were popular and highly regarded. He was a friend of Helen Keller, who wrote a testimony about the quality of his friendship.
Of course, Beethoven needs no special introduction, other than a reminder that he was completely deaf by the time he wrote his Ninth Symphony, his last and only symphony that included a choral movement. Beethoven himself did not intend any of his symphonic music to become hymn tunes, although he was fascinated by the JOY theme of Schillers poem “Ode to Joy,” which inspired the Ninth Symphony’s Choral Movement.
A sample of the almost 200 “JOY” Scriptures:
Psalm 5:11 KJV:
But let all those that put their trust in Thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because Thou defendest them: let them also that love Thy name be joyful in thee.
Psalm 51: 12a KJV:
Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation . . .
Psalm 66:1 KJV:
Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:
John 15:11 KJV:
These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
Galatians 5: 22 KJV:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness,
Lyrics:
Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee,
Opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the gloom of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day.
All Thy works with joy surround Thee,
Earth and heaven reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee,
Center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Flowery meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting bird and flowing fountain,
Call us to rejoice in Thee.
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.
Mortals, join the happy chorus
Which the morning stars began;
Love divine is reigning o’er us,
Joining all in heaven’s plan.
Ever singing, march we onward,
Victors in the midst of strife,
Joyful music leads us sunward
In the triumph song of life.
