Psalter Hymnal (Gray) ‎#359

359. Christ Is the King and He Shall Reign

1 Christ is the King and he shall reign
from sea to utmost sea,
and unto earth's remotest bounds
his peaceful rule shall be.

2 Tribes that in farthest deserts dwell
shall bow before his throne;
his enemies shall be subdued,
and he shall rule alone.

3 Kings all shall come from distant lands
and islands of the sea;
their offerings they shall bring to him
and wait on bended knee.

4 He will deliver those in need,
the weak who cry in fear;
he shall redeem them from all wrong;
their life to him is dear.

5 Long shall he live, so bring to him
your gifts of finest gold;
to him shall constant prayer be made,
his praise each day be told.

Text Information

• First Line: Christ is the King and he shall reign
• Title: Christ Is the King and He Shall Reign
• Meter: CM
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1987
• Scripture:
  Psalm 72:8-15
  ;
  Revelation 7:9-17
• Topic: Epiphany & Ministry of Christ; King, God/Christ as; Kingdom; Missions; Nation; Offering
• Source: Psalter, 1912, alt.

Tune Information

• Name: NATIVITY (Lahee)
• Composer: Henry Lahee (1855)
• Composer (desc.): Peggy Spencer Palmer (1965)
• Meter: CM
• Key: B♭ Major

Text Information:

Scripture References:
st. 1 = Ps. 72:8
st. 2 = Ps. 72:9
st. 3 = Ps. 72:10-11
st. 4 = Ps. 72:12-14
st. 5 = Ps. 72:15

A paraphrase of Psalm 72:8-15, this Epiphany text comes from the 1912 Psalter. (For general comments on this psalm, see PHH 72.)

The text begins with a Christological interpretation of what was originally a Hebrew royal psalm (st. 1). It goes on to say that distant tribes and foreign kings (all nations) will bring tribute to Christ, and he will subdue his enemies (st. 2-3), that Christ's rule will bring redress for the poor and needy (st. 4), and that like those foreign kings, we too may bring our "gold" and our offerings of praise to Christ (st. 5). Psalm 72:8-15 fits well with the Epiphany gospel of the wise men bringing their gifts to the infant Jesus. It is also fitting testimony to Christ's cosmic rule, which should spur us to ongoing missionary work.

Liturgical Use:
For any worship service (see PHH 72 for other comments on use); Epiphany Sunday, especially stanzas 3 and 5.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook

Tune Information:

Henry Lahee (b. Chelsea, London, England, 1826; d. Croydon, London, 1912) composed NATIVITY, which was first published in 1855 and set to a nativity hymn (thus the tune's title), "High let us swell our tuneful notes," by Philip Doddridge (PsH 335). Because NATIVITY was published with Isaac Watts' (PsH 155) "Come let us join our cheerful songs" in the 1875 edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern, it has often been set to that text. NATIVITY is the only Lahee tune still in common use.

After studying music privately, Lahee became organist at several churches. His most prominent position was at Holy Trinity Church, Brompton, England, where he was organist from 1847-1874. While in that position he joined his vicar, W. J. Irons, in producing The Metrical Psalter (1855); NATIVITY was included in an appendix to that collection. A composer of cantatas and many madrigals and glees, Lahee also compiled One Hundred Hymn Tunes (1857) for use with a collection of hymn texts edited by Irons.

A cheerful tune, NATIVITY is distinguished both by its brevity and by its opening dramatic "rocket" figure. Sing in two long lines with stanzas 1 and 5 in unison and stanzas 24 in harmony. The fanfare-like opening and royal character of this psalm invite brass accompaniment.

For the final stanza, add the fine descant by Florence Mary Spencer Palmer ("Peggy"; b. Thornbury, Gloucestershire, England, 1900; d. Bristol, England, 1987) from the Anglican Hymn Book, 1965. Palmer studied piano and composition in her youth and later taught those disciplines, both privately and at various schools in the Bristol area. In addition to her many hymn tunes she composed music for piano, cello, and voice.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook