Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies

“Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies” was written by Charles Wesley, an 18th-century Englishman. The hymn was considered as one of the best texts that he’s written. The hymn first appeared in the Wesley collection Hymns and Sacred Poems in 1740 under the title “A Morning Hymn” in three stanzas. The text was first paired with RATISBON in Hymns Ancient and Modern in 1861, and it is the most commonly used tune to this day.

Wesley talked about light and night on the hymn. There is a personification of "Sun," "Dayspring," and "Daystar" throughout the first stanza of the song. The lyrics and representation of these objects allow the imagination of the singer to create vivid pictures in their mind.

Wesley talked about the story of redemption using the first words of each line of the entire second stanza. "Dark," "Unaccompanied," and "Joyless" were the first words found on the first three lines. The hope of salvation was presented on the next two lines that begin with “till.” Lastly, our redemption through Jesus Christ was shown in the sixth line as it starts with the word “Cheer.”

Wesley personified “radiancy divine” in lines three and four, which represents a more profound meaning so that it might have life in the singer’s imagination. He was able to create a cheerful picture of scattering our unbelief. He closed the text employing the technique of epizeuxis (“more and more”) to show the excitement of the writer as well as the singer. The repeating of “more” means that the “Radiancy divine” which has “[pierced] the gloom of sin and grief” will never be seen enough.

The text was referenced to the Scripture. According to the editor of the UM Hymnal Rev. Carlton Young, the “true light” in line two was referenced to John 1:9. The rest of the first stanza was referenced to Isaiah 2:6 and the third line concerning the “Sun of Righteousness” is to Malachi 4:2.