Cast the Crowns

"David took the crown... and it was set upon David's head" (1 Chronicles 20:2).  "The reproaches of them that reproached Thee are fallen upon Me... I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving" (Psalm 69:9,30).  "The four and twenty elders fall down before Him that sat on the throne, and worship Him that liveth forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power" (Revelation 4:10,11). 

May every crown received on earth

Now glorify our Lord alone,  

Proclaiming thus our Savior's worth,

That we may make His Gospel known! 

The crown once placed on David's head

For battles that he didn't win

Might have been declined instead,

In view of David's recent sin.

Let crowns that fill our hearts with pride

Be recognized as vanity,

Recalling why our Savior died:

To purge us from iniquity! 

Our sins' reproaches fell on Christ;

He bore the wrath that we deserved! 

For us our Lord was sacrificed

With faithful love that never swerved. 

Now let us therefore gather round

Our Savior in His congregation  

That He may lovingly be crowned

With gratitude for His salvation.

No wonder all the elders fell

And cast their crowns at Jesus' feet!  

How rightly, then, we should as well

Whenever we around Him meet! 

Lord, You are worthy to receive

All glory, honor, praise, and power. 

In You alone our hearts believe;

We need Your mercy every hour.

Receive, O Lord, our praise at last

For endless blessings from above!

Let every crown received be cast

Now at Your feet with grateful love.