Crown Him With Many Crowns by Matthew Bridges, 1851.

Verse 1

Crown him with many crowns, the Lamb upon his throne.
Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own.
Awake, my soul, and sing, of him who died for thee,
and hail him as thy matchless king through all eternity.

Observe: Sheep are the most common metaphor for people in the Bible because sheep are among the most clueless, helpless, and direction challenged of all animals. Consider Isaiah 53. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way (Isaiah 53:6a, ESV).

Sheep are helpless, but lambs are especially so because of their innocence, and that is why God chose the lamb as the Passover sacrifice. The Paschal lamb is the visible picture of innocence paying, with blood, the penalty of the guilty. The first Passover brought death everywhere in Egypt, where the atoning blood of the innocent lamb was absent, so Israel would realize God’s wrath against sin and his grace to allow a substitute to pay for the guilty.

That shadow of the innocent in exchange for the guilty was fully realized in the atoning death of Jesus on the cross. When John the Baptist first saw Jesus, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29b). John recognized Jesus as the one Isaiah saw in his vision. like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:7b).

History records that the early church spoke not so much of Jesus’ resurrection, but of his exaltation to his Father, and is what our song for today celebrates. The “Lamb upon his throne” is crowned with “many crowns.” Because after the twenty-four elders cast their crowns at the foot of the throne, all heaven sings, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” (Revelation 5:12).

Verse 2 describes his resurrection crown as the Lord of Life.

Crown him the Lord of life, who triumphed o’er the grave,
and rose victorious in the strife for those he came to save;

his glories now we sing, who died and rose on high,
who died eternal life to bring, and lives that death may die.

Verse 3 is his crown of love.

Crown him the Lord of love; behold his hands and side,
rich wounds, yet visible above, in beauty, glorified;

Verse 4 is his crown of eternity.

Crown him the Lord of years, the potentate of time,
creator of the rolling spheres, ineffably sublime.
All hail, Redeemer, hail! for thou hast died for me;
thy praise shall never, never fail throughout eternity.

Potentate describes a sovereign, infinitely powerful king. Jesus created “rolling spheres” that are “ineffably sublime,” language that means excellence in perfection, and grandeur beyond words. This perfect creator is our Redeemer. He died for you and me. His praise from us “shall never, never fail throughout eternity. May this be your song for today!

Have a blessed Lord’s Day. Pastor Steve’s message, “Wait for the Lord” will be streaming on our website Sunday, and I look forward to seeing you there. The Song for Today will return on Monday.

Blessings, Pastor Don. 

Previous song – Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing