Hymn Highlight: To God Be the Glory

Fanny Crosby (1820-1915) is one of the most prolific hymn-writers in history. Over her nearly 95 years, she allegedly wrote over 8,000 hymns and songs, including To God Be the Glory. Crosby was a member of the Methodist church and, remarkably, wrote her songs and tunes as a blind woman.

To God Be the Glory is a song written around 1870 and is one of Crosby’s best-loved hymns. The focus of this great hymn is, of course, entirely upon the glory of God displayed in Christ’s atonement for sin, perfect redemption, and ultimate glorification of the believer.

The chorus of the song is simple, repeating the phrase “Praise the Lord” four times over. Because of God’s salvation of his people through Jesus the Son, God deserves all glory and praise from the congregation.

The first verse reminds the congregation of John 3:16, that God so loved the world that he gave us Jesus, “who yielded his life an atonement for sin,” opening the way to eternal life so that any sinner who repents might go in.

The second verse talks of the redemption of sinners through the shed blood of Jesus. The best line of the song is contained herein: “The vilest offender who truly believes, that moment from Jesus forgiveness receives.” Truly, no sinner is out of the reach of Christ’s redemption.

The final verse of the song reminds us that our redemption is not only for our lives here on earth, but will carry us into eternity. Our wonder, our transport, will be far greater than we can ever imagine when we actually behold our glorious savior, Jesus himself.

All of our salvation is for God’s own glory, and I’m thankful that this song reminds us of that.