Joyful Adoration

Imagine yourself in Vienna, Austria, on May 7, 1824.

Without explaining why, a friend takes you to the Theater am Kärntnertor. As soon as you enter the concert hall, you sense great excitement and eager anticipation at the huge event. The orchestra is larger than usual.

At the appointed time, the conductor comes to the stage —none other than the great Ludwig van Beethoven, about to premiere his Symphony no. 9.

Some criticized him for adding a choir and soloists to a symphony, which he did in the final movement. By that time, Beethoven was completely deaf! He couldn’t even hear his own musical composition performed.

A hidden conductor (Michael Umlauf) sat out of sight, secretly keeping time for the musicians. When the performance ended, Beethoven was several bars behind and still conducting. Seeing this, the contralto soloist approached him and turned him around to accept the audience’s enthusiastic cheers and applause.

Even without hearing the applause, he could at least see the gestures of ovation. He left the stage with tears in his eyes, deeply touched.

The Ninth Symphony’s lyrics were originally from “Ode to Joy” (1785) by the famous German poet Friedrich Schiller.

The poem speaks of all people being united in universal brotherhood and ends with the majestic words, Brothers, above the starry canopy There must dwell a loving Father. Do you fall in worship, you millions? World, do you know your creator? Seek Him in the heavens; Above the stars must he dwell. Later, the lyrics “Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee” by Henry van Dyke,were put to the melody. Today, it is considered one of the most beautiful hymns of all time. Distracted by so many activities, we can easily lose the spirit of adoration derived from a true Creator-creature relationship.

But Psalm 95:1 invites us, “Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.” The hymn “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” calls all creatures and even creation itself to joyfully adore their Creator.

If you know the hymn, why not sing it now and keep it in mind today? Have a joyful time with your Creator-Redeemer!