One of the most heartfelt hymns that we sometimes share is 'Thy kingdom come, O God'.

Thy kingdom come, O God,
Thy rule, O Christ, begin;
Break with Thine iron rod
The tyrannies of sin.

I remember it being sung at a Bible study fifty years ago, the altos and bass blending in the harmony provided by a little harmonium. Hymns do not create biblical understanding, but they can bring things into focus when we are tempted into doctrinal bypaths or enmeshed in technical prophetic discussions. This is such a hymn. It is straight down the line. It comes from the heart. It is based on scripture without being complicated or divisive. Think what well loved and important scriptures it brings to mind.....

Jesus was praying in a certain place... and one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray..." He said to them, "When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come....." (Luke 11.1-2)

For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. (1 Corinthians 15.22-26)

When is thy reign of peace,
And purity, and love?
When shall all hatred cease,
As in the realms above?

He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. (Isaiah 2.4)

When comes the promised time
That war shall be no more,
And lust, oppression, crime
Shall flee Thy Face before?

One like a son of man.... his face was like the sun shining in full strength (Revelation 1.13,16)

We pray Thee, Lord, arise,
And come in Thy great might;
Revive our longing eyes,
Which languish for Thy sight.

Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs in his arms, he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young. (Isaiah 40.10,11)

Men scorn thy sacred Name
And wolves devour thy fold;
By many deeds of shame
We learn that love grows cold.

I know that... fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. (Acts 20.29,30)

O'er heathen lands afar
Thick darkness broodeth yet:
Arise, O morning Star,
Arise and never set.
I, Jesus... am the bright morning star (Revelation 22.16)

And we have the prophetic word made more sure. You will do well to pay attention to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. (2 Peter 1.19)

It is always interesting to learn who wrote a hymn. This one was first published in 1867 - when the horrors of the Crimean war were only recently past, when General Gordon was fighting in China, when the writings of Charles Dickens told of convicts and con men, when the great philanthropists discovered wretchedness in the city streets. The writer was Lewis Hensley, who after doing well at Cambridge University had become curate at Upton-with-Chalvey and then vicar at Ippolyts-with-Great Wymondly. He needed new hymns for his congregation to sing on the 'minor Sundays between Advent and Whitsuntide', and wrote this hymn, among others. Whatever led to its writing, it must have come from his heart. Sadly, the situation it describes is much the same 150 years later. (The tune, incidentally, St Cecilia, was composed by an Oxford educated C of E clergyman, Leighton George Hayne. He was connected with Eton College, succeeded his father as rector of Mistley, Essex, and was well known as a builder of church organs.)

It is fascinating to know a little about these men who created this well loved hymn which appeared in many hymn books for 100 years, and was not much altered by the different compilers. The most significant change to be made has been in the last verse. The confident Victorians had seen the 'thick darkness' as brooding over 'heathen lands afar'. Nowadays we confess that darkness is not confined to distant lands but can be found closer to home. The line has been rewritten 'O'er nations near and far thick darkness broodeth yet'.

So with our hearts we pray, 'Thy Kingdom come O God..... arise O Morning Star!'

GC