Friday, December 17, 2004

"He Is Altogether Lovely"

My friend Eric Schumacher has written a Christmas hymn entitled "He Is Altogether Lovely." It was written to be sung to the tune Hyfrydol ("Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus"), and is based upon Jonathan Edwards' 1736 sermon "The Excellency of Christ," the subject of which was: "There is an admirable conjunction of diverse excellencies in Jesus Christ," such as:
  • Lion and Lamb
  • infinite highness and low condescension
  • infinite justice and infinite grace
  • infinite glory and lowest humility
  • infinite majesty and transcendent meekness
  • equality to God and deepest reverence to God
  • infinite worthiness of good and greatest patience in suffering
  • supreme dominion over heaven and earth and a spirit of obedience
  • absolute sovereignty and perfect resignation
  • self-sufficiency and entire trust and dependence upon God
  • Judge and Savior
Eric's hymn was written to be sung to the tune Hyfrydol ("Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus"). Enjoy.

He Is Altogether Lovely

He is altogether lovely,
Jesus Christ, the Risen Lord.
We delight to see His glory
As unfolded in His Word.
In one person are conjoining
Attributes diverse and grand.
The eternal God and Maker,
In the flesh and form of man.

High, we see the Lion of Judah
Coming in His might to reign.
Low, we see Him condescending
As the Lamb who would be slain.
Perfect justice, endless glory,
And unrivaled majesty
Meet transcendent grace and meekness,
Perfect in humility.

One and equal with the Father,
Absolute in sov'reignty,
He resigns in full submission;
Deepest rev'rence bends His knee.
He, whose is supreme dominion,
Does obey His Father's will.
He, the self-sufficient fountain,
Trusts in God His needs to fill.

He is worthy of all honor.
He is worthy of all praise.
Yet with patience in His suff'rings,
No complaint do His lips raise.
He, our Judge, the Lion of Judah,
Is our Savior and God's Lamb.
He is altogether lovely,
Jesus Christ, the great I AM!

Text: Eric Schumacher
Tune: HYFRYDOL, 8.7.8.7.D., Rowland H. Prichard (1811-1887)

(c) 2004, Eric Schumacher. Permission granted to reproduce for temporary use in worship services. All other duplication requires the permission of the author.


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