JESUS SHALL REIGN

JESUS SHALL REIGN, was written in 1719 by Isaac Watts;  it was one of his more than 600 hymns composed in his lifetime.  Isaac is often called "the father of English hymnody."

This hymn is considered one of the earliest texts written with a missionary emphasis,  however, the missionary movement had scarcely begun.  It was not until 1779 that William Carey began to stir Christians to their responsibility to fulfil the great commission.  It was no doubt very disheartening when a bishop expressed to Carey the attitude of many believers and church leaders at the time when he said, “Young man, if God wants to save the heathen, He will do so without any help from you.”

Isaac’s hymn is still considered one of the finest missionary hymns ever written, and one that remains widely used;  it is a paraphrase of Psalm 72.  It has been sung by countless missionaries in numerous tongues.  There was a story told of an event in South Sea Islands in 1862 when 5,000 natives sang Isaac’s hymn as their native king replaced a pagan constitution with a Christian one.

The tune was composed for this text by John Hatton in 1793.  Nothing much is known of Hatton except that he was born in Warrington, England and that he was killed in a stagecoach accident shortly after this composition.  The tune is entitled "Duke Street," and likely refers to the street Hatton lived on.

The Kingdom of Heaven is now!  Jesus is the King!  He shall reign for all eternity!  JESUS SHALL REIGN!