Written in the 18th century, Charles Wesley’s “Rejoice, The Lord is King” is an excellent song for your church to sing.
It isn’t easy to ascribe a single Scripture verse to this song. The lyrics to the chorus, “Rejoice, again I say rejoice,” is based on Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say rejoice,” so that seems like the apparent Scripture associated with the song.
But on closer look, the lyrics are from a broader range of Scriptural truths. Let’s look at each verse to see the integration of Scripture in this wonderful masterpiece.
Verse 1
Rejoice the Lord is King
Your Lord and King adore
Mortals give thanks and sing
And triumph evermore
The Lord as King echoes Psalm 2:6-7, Psalm 45:6-7, Psalm 110:1, Matthew 27:11, Hebrews 1:8-9, 1 Timothy 6:14-16, and Revelation 17:14.
Verse 2
Jesus the Saviour reigns
The God of truth and love
When He had purged our stains
He took His seat above
The cleansing and purging work of Christ is found in the Old and New Testament: Isaiah 1:18, Psalm 51:7, Acts 3:19, Titus 2:14, 1 John 1:9.
And the Lord exalted and in His heavenly session may be found in these verses: Ephesians 1:20-21, Philippians 2:9-11, Hebrews 10:12.
Verse 3
His kingdom cannot fail
He rules o’er earth and heaven
The keys of death and hell
Are to our Jesus given
See Daniel 2:44, Psalm 103:19, Matthew 28:18, and Revelation 1:18
Verse 4
He sits at God’s right hand
Till all His foes submit
And bow to His command
And fall beneath His feet
See Psalm 2:10-12, 1 Corinthians 15:25-27, Ephesians 1:22.
Verse 5
Rejoice in glorious hope
Jesus the Judge shall come
And take His servants up
To their eternal home
See Romans 5:2, Acts 10:42, John 14:2-3
Conclusion
It seems as though Charles Wesley wrote from a redemptive-historical context, and not merely from Philippians 4:4 only.
And the song leads us all the way to Revelation, where Christ holds the keys to death and Hades as His kingdom advances.
In some ways, this song takes us back to Genesis 3:15. In the garden, God pronounces the promise of a Redeemer who would defeat Satan. In other words, the Redeemer would triumph where Adam failed. This victory would be accompanied by the forgiveness of sins, which was necessary since Adam’s sin was imputed to us. Jesus’ atonement is able to pay for our sins. And now in His exaltation, the better Adam, the true King over creation, is fulfilling the promise of bringing about His consummated Kingdom.
So gather with the saints and sing joyfully about the triumph of Christ. He is the exalted Lord, King, and Judge who, as the great high priest, sacrificed His life for sins.
Your fleshly eyes might show you a different picture – that Jesus is not presently reigning. But nothing can be farther from the truth.
Rejoice that Christ is exalted and seated at the Father’s right hand with all authority in heaven and over the earth.