Break Forth And Sing

Print PDF

1 BREAK forth and sing the song
Of glory to the Lamb;
Wake every heart and every tongue,
To praise the Saviour's name.

2 Sing of His dying love;
Sing of His rising power;
Sing how He intercedes above
For those whose sins He bore.

3 Sing on your heavenly road,
Ye sons of glory, sing;
To the ascended Lamb of God,
Your cheerful praises bring.

4 Soon shall we hear Him say,
"Ye ransomed pilgrims, come;"
Soon will He call us hence away,
And take us to His home.

5 Then shall each raptured tongue
His fullest praise proclaim;
And sweeter voices wake the song
Of glory to the Lamb.

Hymnals:

Hymns of Worship and Remembrance, #4

Hymns of Truth and Praise, #45

Author: Isaac Watts (1674-1748)

Composer: Aaron Williams (1731-1776)

Tune: Listen to the tune set to 'St. Thomas', composed by Aaron Williams : Break Forth And Sing

Biblical Doctrines found in 'Break Forth And Sing This Song'

A. This song does not mention the name of the Lord Jesus, but He is referred to as 'the Lamb', 'the Saviour' and 'Lamb of God', leaving no doubt in the mind of the singer that the person referred to is Jesus, the Christ. Two aspects of the Savior's role in salvation are highlighted in this song: (i) He is the Lamb of God, hence the bearer of sin and the One to be sacrificed. (ii) He is the Savior, hence the One who saves the sinner from sin. He is, thus, both Sacrifice and Savior. 

MESSIAH AS LAMB: The Messiah is presented as a Lamb in many passages of Scripture: Read Isaiah 53: 7; John 1: 29, 36; Acts 8: 32; 1 Corinthians 5: 7; 1 Peter 1: 18, 19; Revelation  5 : 6, 8, 12, 13; Revelation 6: 1, 3, 5, 7, 16; Revelation 7: 9, 10, 14, 17; Revelation 13: 8 etc. CHRIST AS SAVIOR: Christ as Savior is the overall theme of the New Testament. Some of the passages that refer to Jesus, the Christ as Savior are: Luke 2: 11; John 4: 42; Acts 5: 31; Acts 13: 23; Ephesians 5: 23; Philippians 3: 20; 2 Timothy 1: 10; Titus 1: 4; Titus 2: 13; Titus 3: 6; 2 Peter 1: 1, 11; 2 Peter 2: 20; 2 Peter 3: 2, 18; 1 John 4: 14 etc. 

B. The hymn writer describes the worshiper and the worshiper's singing in the following words:

• "those whose sins He bore"
• "sons of glory"
• "ransomed pilgrims"
• "each raptured tongue"
• "sweeter voices"

Clearly, the worshiper is depicted as a sinner who is no longer bearing his or her sins. The Lamb bears the sins of sinners who now find themselves in the company of the "sons of glory".

C. The saved sinner (i.e. the ones referred to in the song as 'those whose sins He bore') are encouraged to remember Christ in His 'dying love', His 'rising power' and in His heavenly intercession, thus setting forth the doctrines of Christ's death, resurrection, ascension and intercession. The song writer implies ascension by referring to the location of Christ's intercession as 'above', i.e. heaven itself. 

(This post is not complete yet)