O GOD, MY JOY
Words by Paul Keew & Brian Pinner; Music by Paul Keew
Tune name: GOD MY JOY
O God, my joy, You reign above
In radiant splendor and beauty.
Your Word has drawn my heart to love
The awesome sight of Your glory.
Your blazing light and gospel grace
Shine brightly from my Savior’s face.
No other wonder would I see
Than Christ enthroned in His glory!
Sustained by joy in trial and pain,
I trust Your wisdom and mercy.
Through suff’ring that Your love ordains,
More like Your Son You will make me.
For Christ embraced the cross of shame,
Beholding glorious joys to come.
O give me faith like His to see
That suff’ring lifts me to glory!
Compelled by joy, I fight the sin
That turns my gaze from Your glory.
Your Holy Spirit dwells within;
His presence arms me for vict’ry.
Let death and hell against me rise;
Through death I’ll gain eternal joys.
All pow’rs of hell will bend the knee
Before my great King of Glory!
© 2008 Watchsong (admin. Church Works Media). All rights reserved.
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NOTES
by Paul Keew
When I was a grad student, God got my attention through his loving discipline and showed me that he was not the ultimate joy and treasure of my life. Other loves had stolen my affection and his glory had grown dim in my eyes. As he drew me back to himself, he gave me this song. I still remember exactly where I was driving when my meditations turned into the opening line and melody which became “O God, My Joy.” I shared it with my good friend Brian Pinner, who helped me significantly in shaping the themes of each stanza. It has become a kind of theme song for me, constantly reminding me of God’s rescue in my life and of where I need to be—fighting to keep my eyes on God and his glory. We are all fellow-strugglers in the fight for true joy.
I don’t even remember how it first got shared, but somehow, I realized that this song resonated with others. I decided to start a website to share some of my music, and I called it Watchsong (now merged with Church Works Media). In the years since it was written, “O God, My Joy” has been sung by thousands, recorded, and even published in several hymnbooks and songbooks. Most recently, it made it to the west coast in Hymns of Grace, the hymnal put out by Grace Community Church, pastored by John MacArthur. I am grateful that God has chosen to expand the ministry of this song. My he be glorified and his people encouraged!
