All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name – a hymn story

The Lord be with you

There are many great hymns, and they often have inspiring stories associated with them. One such hymn is “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name” (LSB 549). The following story was found in The Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal, by W. G. Polack.

An incident in the experience of Rev. E. P. Scott, a missionary in India, illustrates the power of this hymn and tune over even the worst and most dangerous of heathen tribes. He had gone, against the remonstrances of his friends, to take the Gospel to one of the inland tribes noted for their murderous proclivities. He had no sooner arrived than he was met by a dozen pointed spears, and instant death seemed inevitable. While they paused a moment, he drew out his violin (with which he always accompanied his sacred songs) and, closing his eyes, began playing and singing this hymn. When he had finished, he opened his eyes to witness, as he thought, his own death at the point of their spears; but to his joy he found that the spears had fallen, and the murderers were all in tears. This song had saved him from death and opened an effectual door for preaching the Gospel to them. He remained with them many years, doing a great work for them and other surrounding tribes, and finally died among them, beloved and venerated of the whole tribe. He often related this incident.

All hail the pow’r of Jesus’ name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem
And crown Him Lord of all,
Bring forth the royal diadem
And crown Him Lord of all.

Crown Him, ye martyrs of our God,
Who from His altar call;
Extol the stem of Jesse’s rod
And crown Him Lord of all,
Extol the stem of Jesse’s rod
And crown Him Lord of all.

Ye seed of Israel’s chosesn race,
Ye ransomed from the fall,
Hail Him who saves you by His grace
And crown Him Lord of all,
Hail Him who saves you by His grace
And crown Him Lord of all.

Hail Him, ye heirs of David’s line,
Whom David Lord did call,
The God incarnate, man divine,
And crown Him Lord of all,
The God incarnate, man divine,
And crown Him Lord of all.

Sinners, whose love can ne’er forget
The wormwood and the gall,
Go, spread your trophies at His feet
And crown Him Lord of all,
Go, spread your trophies at His feet
And crown Him Lord of all.

Let ev’ry kindred, ev’ry tribe,
On this terrestrial ball
To Him all majesty ascribe
And crown Him Lord of all
To Him all majesty ascribe
And crown Him Lord of all.

Oh, that with yonder sacred throng
We at His feet may fall!
We’ll join the everlasting song
And crown Him Lord of all.
We’ll join the everlasting song
And crown Him Lord of all.

Blessings in Christ,
Pastor