Charles Wesley - Glory Be To God On High, God (257) Lyrics

Meaning & Inspiration

The enduring hymn "Glory Be To God On High, God (257)" by Charles Wesley finds renewed life and contemporary accessibility through its digital "release" on September 18, 2015, inviting a new generation to immerse themselves in its profound theological richness. This particular presentation allows the timeless words, penned by one of Methodism’s most prolific hymn writers, to continue their work of shaping hearts and minds, focusing less on a modern melody and more on the unshakeable truth embedded in each line.

At its core, this hymn is a magnificent doxology and supplication, a prayer set to poetry that guides the worshiper through a comprehensive declaration of faith. It begins with a universal anthem of praise, proclaiming God's transcendent glory that "fills the skies," an echo of biblical declarations of divine majesty found throughout Scripture, such as in Isaiah 6:3 where the seraphim cry, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!" Wesley then immediately brings this grand truth down to earth, connecting God's glory with "peace on earth to man forgiven," drawing directly from the angelic announcement in Luke 2:14. This initial stanza establishes a foundational truth: God’s supreme glory is intimately tied to His merciful provision for humanity, offering not just a general peace, but a specific peace for those who have received forgiveness through His grace, a concept powerfully articulated in Ephesians 1:7, "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace."

The hymn progresses by addressing God directly as "Sovereign Father, heavenly King," presuming to "sing" His attributes, which are confessed as "glorious all, and numberless." This section invites a deep contemplation of God’s character, recalling Psalm 145:3, which states, "Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom." It’s an invitation to acknowledge His infinite perfections, His power, His wisdom, His holiness, and His goodness. Stanza three builds on this adoration, hailing the "everlasting Lord," recognized through "all thy works." It affirms God not only as the origin of all creation but also as the eternal constant, embodying both immense "power" and boundless "love"—a dual nature beautifully summarized in 1 Chronicles 29:11, "Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours," and solidified by 1 John 4:8, "God is love."

The focus then shifts powerfully to Christ in stanza four, acknowledging Him as "our Lord and God," the "Father's only Son," and crucially, the "Lamb of God for sinners slain, Saviour of offending man." This dense stanza encapsulates the very heart of Christian theology, affirming Christ’s divinity (John 1:1, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God"), His unique Sonship (John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son"), and His atoning sacrifice. The imagery of the "Lamb of God" directly references John 1:29, where John the Baptist proclaims, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" This highlights the substitutionary nature of Christ’s death, a central tenet of salvation found throughout the New Testament, such as in Hebrews 9:28, "so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many."

The hymn then moves into an earnest plea for mercy, with the repeated refrain, "Bow thine ear, in mercy bow," imploring Christ, the "world's atonement," to hear and "take, O take our sins away!" This heartfelt petition underscores the personal application of Christ’s work, acknowledging that His sacrifice is the means by which individual sins are forgiven. This direct appeal for divine intervention echoes the psalmist’s cries, like Psalm 86:1, "Hear me, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy." The title "world's atonement" in 1 John 2:2 further clarifies Christ’s role as the propitiation for our sins and for the sins of the whole world. Stanza six reinforces this plea, identifying Christ as a "Powerful advocate with God," who "justify us by thy blood." This directly references 1 John 2:1, "But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One," and Romans 5:9, which states, "Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!" The repetition of the plea for hearing emphasizes the worshiper's desperate need for Christ’s intercession and the efficacy of His atoning blood for declaring us righteous.

Finally, the hymn culminates in a profound Trinitarian affirmation. Stanza seven declares Christ’s unique unity with the Father, proclaiming, "Art with God the Father one," a clear reference to Jesus' own words in John 10:30, "I and the Father are one." It further extends this unity to "One the Holy Ghost with thee," and ultimately to "One supreme, eternal THREE." This powerful declaration of the Holy Trinity—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit—as distinct yet co-equal and co-eternal, provides a theological anchor for the entire hymn, embodying the unified nature of God in salvation and worship. This echoes key biblical teachings like Matthew 28:19's baptismal formula, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," and 2 Corinthians 13:14's benediction, "May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."

"Glory Be To God On High, God (257)" is far more than a simple hymn; it is a meticulously crafted theological statement, a prayerful journey through core Christian doctrines. It inspires devotion through its clear declaration of God's majesty, Christ's redemptive work, and the unifying presence of the Holy Spirit. Its strength lies in its ability to move individuals from an initial declaration of God's glory to a personal confession of sin, and then to a confident plea for justification through Christ, all while affirming the foundational truth of the Trinity. This hymn continues to offer a rich opportunity for worshipers to deepen their understanding of God's character and His plan of salvation, serving as a powerful reminder of the enduring truths found in Scripture and the boundless grace available through Christ.