Exegeting the Hymns #88 - To God Be The Glory

To God Be The Glory
w/m - Fanny Crosby

To God be the glory great things He has 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

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord let the earth hear His voice
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord let the people rejoice
Come to the Father through Jesus the Son
Give Him the glory great things He has done

O 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

Great things He has taught us great things He has 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

This is our second week in a row for a Fanny Crosby song. This 11th most popular hymn of all time was written in 1872 and was a favorite in our Baptist church growing up. The 5th of the “5 Solas of the Reformation” is Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God alone). We don’t give glory to Mary, or to the saints, or to man for our salvation, all the glory goes to God alone.

To God be the glory great things He has 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. There are so many things in life that we can give God glory for, but clearly the focus of Mrs. Crosby’s hymn is God’s plan and work of redemption. The second line is straight from John 3:16. The theology that Jesus was sent as a sacrifice by the Father, and yet, freely laid down His life is on clear display here. This stanza ends with the call for all men to be saved.

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord let the earth hear His voice. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord let the people rejoice. Come to the Father through Jesus the Son and give Him the glory great things He has done. In the chorus, we see adoration and application. It begins with personal praise to God for His saving us, then shifts to calling all peoples to come to the Father through the Son, so they can give praise as well for their salvation.

O perfect redemption the purchase of blood to every believer the promise of God. Every true believer can lift praise and adoration for their personal redemption. Jesus has bought them out of the slave market of sin with His blood. The vilest offender who truly believes, that moment from Jesus a pardon receives. When the lost see their sin for what it is, and run in faith to the Savior who stands with open arms, they are declared righteous and just by God and pardoned for every sin, past, present, and future.

Great things He has taught us great things He has 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. Of all the blessed truths we have learned and paths our feet have traveled down here, nothing will compare to seeing Jesus face to face and live eternally with Him. The word “transport” initially gives off the impression of the rapture or “catching away”, but more than likely her use of the word means “delight” or “joy”. It will be pure joy when we stand face to face with our Savior and cry, “To God be the glory!”

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