There’s something timeless about the great hymns of the Christian faith. Though many were written generations ago, their words continue to speak to the heart, proclaim the truth of Scripture, and lead us into worship. Hymn of the Week is for everyone who believes these beloved hymns should always have a place in modern worship. Each week, we’ll take a moment to revisit one of these enduring songs of faith and celebrate the message, story, and music that have helped generations of believers worship God.
“Marching to Zion” – Fountainview Academy
Apple Music subscribers: Sign in above to hear the full song.
Marching to Zion – A Song of Joy, Promise, and the Children of the King
Some hymns invite us to worship. Others invite us to sing a little louder. And then there are hymns like “Marching to Zion,” which seem to suggest that if we’re going to heaven, we might as well make a joyful noise along the way!
This week’s Hymn of the Week is one of those timeless favorites that has been encouraging Christians for generations. Our featured presentation comes from Fountainview Academy, whose beautiful outdoor performances have a way of combining wonderful music with some breathtaking scenery. This is another opportunity to sit back, enjoy the surroundings, and appreciate a group of talented young musicians sharing their faith through song.
And this particular hymn has a message worth exploring beyond its wonderfully memorable chorus.
A Verse That Says More Than You Might Think
While the familiar refrain is probably what most people remember, I’d like to spend some time with the second verse:
Let those refuse to sing who never knew our God
But children of the Heavenly King, but children of the Heavenly King
May speak their joys abroad, may speak their joys abroad.
There is something wonderfully confident about those words. Isaac Watts wasn’t suggesting that Christians should keep their faith to themselves, wait for permission to express their joy, or apologize for believing what they believe. Quite the opposite! Those who know God have every reason to let the world hear about it.
But there’s another dimension to this verse that has always interested me.
Throughout human history, there has been a recurring division between those who recognize and honor God’s promises concerning the children of Israel and those who oppose them. That story goes all the way back to the Abrahamic Covenant, when God made His promises to Abraham:
“I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee.” (Genesis 12:3, KJV)
The descendants of Abraham would become a people through whom God would carry forward His promises, and the history of Israel has been intertwined with that divine promise ever since.
The conflict surrounding Israel is certainly nothing new. Across thousands of years, the Jewish people have experienced extraordinary opposition, persecution, displacement, and attempts to deny their place in history. The modern headlines may change, the political arguments may evolve, and the alliances may shift, but the underlying historical story is remarkably persistent.
As Christians, we can recognize that this is a complicated world, with real human suffering on multiple sides of today’s conflicts. We can pray for peace, compassion, and the protection of innocent lives without abandoning our understanding of God’s promises.
And personally, I think there’s a pretty straightforward way to express where I stand:
“I will bless them that bless thee” is good enough for me!
That doesn’t mean we have to agree with every political decision made by any government. It means that God’s promises deserve our respect, and that we shouldn’t be embarrassed to acknowledge the biblical foundation of our faith.
And that brings us right back to the hymn. The children of the Heavenly King have something to sing about. We have a reason for our joy, a reason for our hope, and a reason to make that joy known.
The Story Behind Marching to Zion
One of the interesting things about this hymn is that it actually began its life with a different title.
Isaac Watts (1674–1748), one of the most influential hymn writers in Christian history, originally published the words in 1707 in his collection Hymns and Spiritual Songs. The hymn was titled “Heavenly Joy on Earth” and originally contained ten stanzas.
Watts had a particular gift for taking biblical truths and expressing them in language that ordinary believers could understand and sing. His hymns weren’t simply songs to fill a worship service. They were expressions of theology, biblical instruction, and personal devotion.
In this case, Watts was describing the joy of belonging to God, both in our present lives and in anticipation of the eternal life to come.
The familiar version we sing today, however, owes much of its musical identity to Robert Lowry (1826–1899).
Lowry was an American Baptist minister, professor, and prolific hymn writer and composer. In 1867, he supplied the familiar music and the wonderfully memorable refrain:
We’re marching to Zion, beautiful, beautiful Zion; we’re marching upward to Zion, the beautiful city of God.
That addition transformed the hymn into something especially memorable for congregational singing. The original words of Watts were given a new musical life, and the result has endured for more than 150 years.
The Zion described in this hymn is the heavenly destination of God’s people. It represents the eternal home promised to believers, the place where sorrow gives way to joy and where we will finally experience the fullness of God’s presence.
And if you’ve ever sung this hymn in a church full of enthusiastic believers, you know that the refrain almost sings itself!
From the Hymnal to the Southern Gospel Stage
There is another reason this hymn has remained so recognizable, particularly in Southern Gospel circles.
Southern Gospel has always had a special appreciation for traditional hymns, especially those with strong melodies, memorable refrains, and opportunities for wonderful four-part harmony. “Marching to Zion” checks all those boxes.
Its energetic melody and repeated chorus make it particularly well suited to quartet singing. The words are familiar, the message is unmistakable, and the music practically invites an audience to join in.
It’s also a natural companion to another great processional hymn: “Onward, Christian Soldiers.”
Interestingly, the two hymns came from different generations and different circumstances. “Marching to Zion” began with Isaac Watts in 1707, with Robert Lowry’s familiar musical setting arriving in 1867. “Onward, Christian Soldiers” was written by Sabine Baring-Gould in 1864 for children participating in a church procession in England. Arthur Sullivan, of Gilbert and Sullivan fame, supplied its now-famous “St. Gertrude” melody in 1871.
Both hymns have a strong sense of movement and purpose. One celebrates the Christian journey toward our eternal home, while the other portrays believers moving forward together in their service to Christ.
It’s easy to see why Southern Gospel performers have enjoyed bringing these two songs together.
In fact, Bill and Gloria Gaither have presented a live medley of “Onward, Christian Soldiers” and “We’re Marching to Zion,” featuring Dean Hopper, Ann Downing, and Kim Hopper. It’s a wonderful example of how these two traditional hymns complement each other.
For those who enjoy the traditional Southern Gospel sound, I’ve included an opportunity below to enjoy that performance through Apple Music.
Apple Music subscribers: Sign in above to see the complete video.
It’s a different musical treatment from our Fountainview Academy presentation, but that’s part of the fun of exploring the history of Christian music. The same timeless message can be expressed in so many different ways.
One Destination, One Wonderful Promise
There’s a reason this hymn has survived for more than three centuries.
The world has changed dramatically since Isaac Watts first put these words on paper. Nations have risen and fallen. Political boundaries have shifted. Generations have come and gone. And yet the central promise of the hymn remains just as relevant today.
For Christians, Zion represents something greater than any earthly destination. It is the promise of eternity with God.
And that is something worth celebrating!
Whether you prefer the beautiful outdoor performance from Fountainview Academy, a traditional church congregation singing at full volume, or a Southern Gospel quartet bringing those harmonies to life, the message is the same.
We have a reason to sing. We have a reason to rejoice. And we have a destination toward which we’re all looking.
One final thought about today’s world: With all the disagreements surrounding Israel and Palestine, the Middle East, and the meaning of Zion, perhaps we have finally found something that both sides can agree on.
Marching to Zion!
Of course, they might have somewhat different ideas about the destination, but hey, we’ll let them work that out!
Until then, let’s keep singing, keep sharing the good news, and keep our eyes on the beautiful city of God.
We’re marching upward to Zion!
🐟