The cross and banner was held high at the beginning of the
processional. The first verse of the hymn says, “your glorious banner wave on
high” and “the cross of Christ your King.” The festivals were celebrated in one
of England’s majestic places of worship, with stunning architecture, glorious
medieval artwork, and fascinating history.
This is the atmosphere where Plumptre was raised and lived. He
was born in 1821 to a London solicitor. He was educated at home, and after a
brief stay at Kings College, in London, entered Oxford. He was a distinguished
scholar of his day.
He was ordained and joined the staff at King’s College where
he worked for twenty-one years. He was a chaplain and professor of pastoral
theology. Plumptre took a leading part in
promoting the higher education of women. He was also the dean of Wells
Cathedral.
He was married to Harriet Theodosia, sister of John Maurice. Maurice was an English theologian and
prolific author. For some years the influence of his brother-in-law was
apparent in his religious views, but as he advanced in life, he identified
himself with no party. Edward and Harriet had no children.
Plumptre was a Bible scholar and worked on a revision of the
King James Version. He wrote this hymn at age 44, somewhere between “bright
youth and snow-crowned age,” a line from the third verse. Perhaps his work as a
college professor made him realize that it’s not the magnitude of one’s
scholarship that matters, but the purity of one’s heart.
The music was composed by Arthur Messiter. He was educated
by private tutors in England. He immigrated to the United States in 1863 and
had an active musical career in Philadelphia, which included an organist
position at St. James the Less.
At Trinity Church in New York City, he modeled with
distinction the British cathedral tradition of music. Messiter was an editor of
the Episcopal Hymnal, 1893, compiled the Psalter, 1889 and Choir Office Book,
1891 He wrote a musical history of Trinity Episcopal Church, New York, 1906.
Messiter added the refrain drawn from the first two lines of
stanza one. The words echo Philippians 4:4: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again
I will say, Rejoice.”
Plumptre wrote ten verses to this hymn, but most hymnals
today include only four or five. In the hymn he calls upon the pure in heart to
rejoice. Who are the pure in heart?
Deitrich Bonhoeffer answered this in "The Cost of Discipleship" by
saying, "Only those who have surrendered their hearts completely to Jesus
that He may reign in them alone. Only those whose hearts are undefiled by their
own evil, and by their own virtues too".
This is a joyous hymn from beginning to end, and it lifts our spirits to sing it. Our rejoicing brings just a bit of heaven into our lives here on earth.
Biblehub.com, Barnes’ Notes on the Bible: All people, when
they go to war, have standards or banners, whether flags or some other ensigns,
around which they rally; which they follow; under which they fight; and which
they feel bound to defend.
Studylight.org, Calvin’s Commentary on the Bible: The faithful, in grateful acknowledgement of the grace of God, will celebrate His praises and triumph in His name.
Studylight.org, Clarke’s Commentary: We have an account of the happiness of the justified man; in this, such are taught how to glorify God, and to praise Him for the great things He had done for them . . . It is right they should give thanks to Him, who is the fountain whence they have received all the good they possess, and thankfulness becomes the lips of the upright.
Biblehub.com, Barnes’ Notes on the Bible: It is a light which shines on the road that a man treads, so that he may see the path, and that he may see any danger which may be in his path. The expression is very beautiful and is full of instruction. He who makes the Word of God his guide, and marks its teachings, is in the right way. He will clearly see the path. He will be able to mark the road in which he ought to go, and to avoid all those by-paths which would lead him astray . . . Man needs such a guide, and the Bible is such a guide.
We can rejoice; we should rejoice. Always rejoice.
Age is listed twice in verse two and verse three: “Bright youth and snow-crowned age” and “from youth to age.” In Barnes’ Notes on the Bible it says:
