O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing

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O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing
"O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing" is a Christian hymn written by Charles Wesley. Charles Wesley penned over 6,000 hymns, many of which were afterward reprinted, often with modifications, in hymnals, especially those of Methodist churches. The title comes from the first line of this hymn, "O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing." This hymn praises the glory of God, as many of Wesley's hymns did, and calls for worshippers of the Lord to come together in rejoiceful singing. Discover the lyrics and story of this awesome hymn along with music videos below!

1 O for a thousand tongues to sing
my great Redeemer's praise,
the glories of my God and King,
the triumphs of his grace!

2 My gracious Master and my God,
assist me to proclaim,
to spread thro' all the earth abroad
the honors of your name.

3 Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
that bids our sorrows cease,
'tis music in the sinner's ears,
'tis life and health and peace.

4 He breaks the power of cancelled sin,
he sets the prisoner free;
his blood can make the foulest clean;
his blood availed for me.

5 To God all glory, praise, and love
be now and ever given
by saints below and saints above,
the Church in earth and heaven.

Worship & Rejoice, 2003

Songwriters Charles Wesley Published by Public Domain

The Story Behind O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing

Charles Wesley was plagued by an experience of pleurisy in May 1738, while he and his brother were studying under the Moravian professor Peter Boehler in London. Wesley was concerned by extreme doubts about his faith during his sickness. On May 21 Wesley was visited by a gathering of Christians who offered him testimony and health assistance, and he was strongly influenced by this. He read from his Bible and found himself profoundly encouraged by the words, and at peace with God.

One year after his sickness, Wesley was moved to produce another hymn, this one in recognition of his revival of faith. This hymn was created as an 18-stanza poem, beginning with the opening lines 'Glory to God, and praise, and love,/Be ever, ever given' and printed in 1740, named 'For the anniversary day of one's conversion'. The seventh verse starts with, 'O for a thousand tongues to sing', which is now regularly the first verse of a shorter hymn of the same name. The hymn was placed first in John Wesley's A Collection of Hymns for the People Called Methodists published in 1780. 

 

 


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Gateway Worship - O For A Thousand Tongues (Modernized)
Kelly Nelon and Guy Penrod - O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing [Live]

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