By Deborah Macomber
The text to this song was written by Isaac Watts. He has written many, many of our hymns. All of Watts hymns are are strong and triumphant statements of the Christian faith. However, none of them expresses such a good image of faith as does this stirring hymn.
This hymn has been labeled the greatest hymn in the English language. It was written in 1707 for a communion service which was conducted by Watts.
When Watts wrote this hymn, only Psalms were thought appropriate for church use. He was inspired to write the text after studying Galatians 6:14, "May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." Other verses used in this hymn are Philippians 3:7, "Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ," and Galatians 2:20, "And it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me".
Watts originally titled this song "Crucifixion to the World". He wrote in to try to cause Christians to seriously think about the importance of Christ’s death and resurrection, and the effect it should have on our lives. It demands "my soul, my life, my all."
The tune was written by Lowell Mason. He adapted the melody from a Gregorian chant, the earliest music known, in 1824.
Lowell Mason is often called "father of American public school and church music."
It is of interest to note that this melody only uses five notes of the scale.
Endnotes
Kenneth W. Osbeck, "Hallelujah, What a Savior!" pp. 108-110
LindaJo H. McKim, The Presbyterian Hymnal Companion, pp. 90-91
