Lift Every Voice and Sing

AM Psalm 95 for the invitatory & 31 • PM Psalm 35
Ezek. 18:1-4,25-32 • Phil. 4:1-9 • John 17:9-19

When I read the first few verses of Psalm 95 I was reminded of all the songs that I know that have been sung to the Lord. The songs that make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. The songs that make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise.

Given that we are on the heels of Black History Month, I immediately thought of the Black National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

The hymn was written as a poem by NAACP leader James Weldon Johnson in 1900. His brother, John Rosamond Johnson (1873-1954), composed the music for the lyrics. A choir of 500 schoolchildren at the segregated Stanton School, were James Weldon Johnson was principal, first performed the song in public in Jacksonville, Florida to celebrate Abraham Lincoln’s birthday.

At the turn of the 20th century, Johnson's lyrics eloquently captured the solemn yet hopeful appeal for the liberty of Black Americans. Set against the religious invocation of God and the promise of freedom, the song was later adopted by NAACP and prominently used as a rallying cry during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. (NAACP History)

I also immediately thought of Rev. William Herbert Brewster and how blessed I was to be living in Memphis, Tennessee during his time and the joy and privilege of being able to worship occasionally at East Trigg Avenue Baptist Church where he pastored.

Reverend Brewster wrote more than 200 songs during his lifetime; and, as he later observed:

“I wrote these songs for these common people who could not understand political language, common people who didn’t know anything about economics…I was trying to inspire black people to move up higher, don’t be satisfied with the mediocre. That was 1946, before the freedom fights started, before Martin Luther King days, I had to lead a lot of protest meetings. In order to get my message over, there were things that were almost dangerous to say, but you could sing it.”

Of course, our 1982 Hymnal offers beautiful hymns that reflect the beauty of this Psalm especially in number 426, “Songs of Praise the Angels Sang.” There are occasions during worship when my heart is touched deeply by a song we are singing and I weep with joy. But today my heart is touched at the remembrance of Rev. Brewster and I am moved to share his work.

You may learn more about Rev. Brewster by clicking here.

Written by the Rev. Kathy McGregor

...who believes in the power of song.