Great Hymnwriters: Isaac Watts

People have been writing hymns of praise to God for at least thousands of years. From the Bible's book of Psalms through the Gregorian chants to the hymns of the past few centuries, a beatiful and rich tradition is now available to us.

In the English language at least, there are three people who immediately come to mind as the "giants" of Christian hymnwriting. These are Isaac Watts, Charles Wesley, and Fanny Crosby. Although there are many people who have written truly great hymns, these three are notable for the quantity of their hymns that are still among the most beloved today. In my hymnal, Watts and Wesley and Crosby each account for 15 or more of the ~600 entries. We often tend to sing hymns as self-contained units, or as part of a service along with other hymns of similar topic, but I think it is also worthwhile to look at the hymns that come from a common author, and to draw from their life story, as well as their words, the ways in which they experienced God in their lives.

Isaac Watts was born in England in 1674. This was a period in history when various rights were denied to "non-conformist" Christians (i.e., those who were not part of the state-sponsored Church of England), and Watts' father was twice imprisoned for his non-conformity. Watts showed great promise while studying for the ministry as a young man, and could have had an easy and prosperous life as a minister in the established church. But he rejected this path, instead following his conscience and serving in Nonconformist churches. He then spent 50 years as a humble pastor, though he was often in ill health.

Of the many hymns that Isaac Watts wrote, the most famous is probably Joy to the World. Laura and I have recently become fond of I Sing the Mighty Power of God, with its affirmation that "everywhere that man can be [even Ithaca!!], thou God art present there." But my favorite of Isaac's hymns, and possibly my favorite of all hymns, is When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, which weaves together a meditation on our Savior's death with an imperative to forsake all boasting in myself and to offer Christ "my soul, my life, my all." To me, many of Isaac's hymns have a keen sense of thoughtfulness, and I feel that if I were ever to meet him, I would find him a quiet but incisively thoughtful man. An important theme of his hymns is the need to examine ourselves and to reaffirm our commitment to live for Christ.

Some of the best hymns by Isaac Watts (my favorites first):

• When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
  
• I Sing the Mighty Power of God
  
• O God, Our Help in Ages Past
  
• Give to Our God Immortal Praise
  
• Joy to the World
  
• Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed?
  
• Jesus Shall Reign Where'er the Sun
  
• Am I a Soldier of the Cross?

Part Two: Charles Wesley
Part Three: Fanny Crosby
 

Posted by Matt on 7/22/2004 10:06:00 AM