Sing we the king who is coming to reign
Sing we the King who is coming to reign takes me right back to the church choir I belonged to in Leyland in the late 1980s, not initially for the words but for the music. This is an Advent hymn in which the altos finally have their moment in the spotlight!
Written by Congregational minister, Charles Sylvester Horne, this hymn is inspired by Isaiah 11, particularly verses 4 and 5, and looks forward to the time when God’s justice, righteousness and faithfulness shall have their moment too.
There are also references to Isaiah 2:1-5, 1 Corinthians 15 and Revelation 5:12 though you might have to do some work to find them.
This hymn has echoes for me of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and how those who lined the road and waved palm branches longed for the same things, summed up in the line ‘wrong shall be ended when Jesus is King.’
Writing this, I’m just back from Glasgow and the COP26 climate march; a longing for justice was the strong rally cry. ‘What do we want? … When do we want it?’
I wonder, which line in this hymn best describes the hope you have for Jesus’ return?
Pru Cahill
Jesus, our King,
Thank you for a vision of your kingdom
Help us to work today for values of freedom, justice, truth, love.
Amen.