Of Jesus’ laws I with joy will sing;
They’re precious gifts unto us from our King.
They bring us wisdom and peace of heart;
And glory eternal these laws impart.
In the song, Smith expresses overwhelming gratitude for the joy he has found in living according to Jesus’ teachings. The text is a personal and moving testimony to the life-changing power that lies in believing in and following God’s commandments.
With joyful heart I will thank the Lord
For every law in His lifegiving Word.
The Sermon on the Mount serves as a recurring theme throughout the [original Norwegian] lyrics. The famous sermon Jesus held for his disciples and followers while he was still alive. People who sincerely wanted to hear God’s word and live according to Jesus’ commandments. The Sermon on the Mount is found in the Gospel of Matthew, chapters 5–7, in the New Testament. Because it so clearly summarizes Jesus’ life and teachings, it stands as one of the most powerful texts in the Bible.
With joyful heart I will thank the Lord
For every law in His lifegiving Word.
Upon this rock I my house will build;
In life’s tribulations it will not yield.
Smith expresses great joy at the message of the Sermon on the Mount. The commandments are referred to as gifts, diamonds, and jewels. Through rich imagery and clear references to Jesus’ own words, he summarizes the profound impact Jesus’ teachings have had on his personal life and the foundation upon which he has built his life.
A “Jacob’s ladder” to heaven goes;
The rungs are laws God upon us bestows.
In the third stanza, Smith refers to Jacob’s Ladder. This image of a ladder, where each rung represents a commandment to be followed, brings the text and its message to life and makes them clear. By following each of the commandments, you climb closer and closer to heaven, just like the ladder Jacob saw in a dream in the Old Testament. Many hundreds of years later, Jesus said, “You will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man,” which is a clear reference to Jacob’s ladder. Through the commandments, Jesus established a connection between heaven and earth. A ladder from the earthly realm to the heavenly realm, as referred to in the song. Smith issues a direct call not to waste time. At the top of the ladder, the Master himself awaits.
O let us all up this ladder run,
For there at the top is God’s own dear Son.
The newly recorded version of “Of Jesus’ laws I with joy will sing” is performed by Nancy Ann and Kai Jordan Helgesen, and this production has truly pulled out all the stops. When the choir, band, string section, and wind section bring together nearly 150 performers, it almost goes without saying that the musical experience is elevated to new heights.
Despite being a powerful musical experience, it is the vivid, heartfelt, and personal lyrics that leave the strongest impression in the song. The joy and enthusiasm Smith expresses regarding Jesus’ laws come across crystal clear, both in his words and tone. The true joy you feel in living a life in accordance with Jesus’ words, and the transformative power found in the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount, remain the central message of the song “Of Jesus’ laws I with joy will sing.”