“TO GOD BE THE GLORY”
- To God be the glory, great things He hath done,
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,
And opened the life-gate that all may go in.
CHORUS:
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the earth hear His voice;
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the people rejoice;
Oh, come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory; great things He hath done.
2 Oh, perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,
To every believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.
CHORUS:
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the earth hear His voice;
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the people rejoice;
Oh, come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory; great things He hath done.
3 Great things He hath taught us, great things He hath done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;
But purer, and higher, and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport when Jesus we see.
CHORUS:
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the earth hear His voice;
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the people rejoice;
Oh, come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory; great things He hath done.
Story behind “To God, Be the Glory”
“To God Be the Glory” was written by blind American hymn writer Fanny Crosby in 1875, with music composed by William H. Doane. It celebrates redemption through Jesus, with lyrics, focusing on praise for salvation. Though popular later, it gained worldwide fame after being sung during Billy Graham’s 1954 London Crusade.
Key Aspects of the Hymn’s Story:
Author and Inspiration: Fanny Crosby (1820–1915), blinded as an infant, wrote over 8,000 hymns. She described her blindness as a gift, allowing her to see God’s work without distraction. The hymn focuses on the theological theme of giving God glory for salvation, rather than seeking human praise.
Composition: The lyrics were paired with a tune by long-time collaborator William H. Doane and published in 1875 in the collection Brightest and Best.
Initial Obscurity and Revival: While popular in some circles, the hymn was relatively unknown until the 1950s. It was brought into the spotlight during Billy Graham’s 1954 London Crusade at the Harringay Arena.
Billy Graham’s Influence: Facing harsh criticism from the British press, Graham was encouraged by song leader Cliff Barrows to use this song. It was sung almost every night to packed arenas, launching its popularity globally.
Meaning Behind the Lyrics:
“The vilest offender who truly believes, That moment from Jesus a pardon receives”: Highlights the promise of salvation available to everyone.
“When Jesus we see”: This line holds particular significance given Crosby was blind and anticipated heaven as the moment her sight would be restored to see Jesus first.
The hymn remains a staple in Christian worship, often described as a “gem” that re-emerged to become one of the most loved hymns in history.
-Debra
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