Hymns & Hymn Writers: We Shall See The King Some Day by David R. Kenney

There are two hymns in V. E. Howard’s Church Gospel Songs & Hymns by L. E. Jones:  “There is Power in the Blood” and “We Shall See the King Some Day”.  This song’s date is 1906.

Lewis Ellington Jones (1878-1917), Lyricist & Composer

There is conflicting information about personal details of Lewis Jones on the Internet.  For example, some sources mistakenly state his middle name as Edgar.  His name is actually Lewis Ellington Jones.  He was born in Yates City, IL.  Some sources state his date of birth as February 8, 1865; however, his tombstone has 1878.  Some sources state he died September 1, 1936 in Santa Barbara, CA; but his tombstone has 1917.

Supposedly, he was a Baptist and classmate of Billy Sunday at the Moody Bible Institute.  He worked with the YMCA while it was designed to provide refuge for young men to study the Bible and engage in prayer.  Jones’ work with this organization would take him to Davenport, IA; Fort Worth, TX; and Santa Barbara, CA. 

While “There Is Power in the Blood” was his most published hymn according to Hymnary.org, the song “We Shall See The King Some Day” was popular too.  It was the second most published hymn of his composing career (as counted by Hymnary.org.)  Jones also wrote under pseudonyms including:  Lewis Edgar, Edgar Lewis, and even Mary Slater. 

His grave marker is located in the Walnut Grove Cemetery in Altoona, Etowah County, Alabama and reads:

Lewis Ellington Jones

1878-1917

Author of

There Is Power in the Blood

We Shall See the King Some Day

And other songs

An ancestry site, which has the correct dates, reports he married Mary Scott (1879-1954), and they had one daughter named Beulah Mae Jones.

We Shall See The King Some Day

Life is a journey.  Some journeys are shorter than others.  Some journeys are more difficult than others.  Some journeys start out hard, but matters improve over the course.  Some journeys start out easy, but adversities arise.  Life is a journey, but where are we headed?

Some think that the grave is the final destination; however, they are very much mistaken.  The one who went into the grave, came out, seen by witnesses, and ascended to heaven removes all doubt that the grave is not our final destination.  This One taught:  “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation” (John 5:28-29, NKJV.)

For some, this reality may be something they dread or fear, but not for the Christian.  The chorus re-emphasizes this point:  “We shall see the King some day. We will shout and sing some day.”  It will be a great reunion with others of God’s family:  "There with all the loved ones who have gone before.”  I look forward to that day; although I enjoy life among loved ones present.  Life is a gift of God, both now and eternal life. 

It is a tragedy for those who refuse to obey the gospel, and their loss will be a source of pain and anguish.  That being said, think of all the redeemed from all the ages who will be there in heaven.  You would not want to miss that number!  Often, I am at a loss of words of comfort for those who have lost those who never obeyed the gospel.  My heart aches for them, it aches for me when it happens in my life too.  I do not understand how God can remove the sorrow we will feel for those whom we have lost, but I have hope and confidence in these words:  “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”  (Revelation 21:4, NKJV.)  The phrase is also repeated:  “They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters.  And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Revelation 7:16-17, NKJV.)

We shall see the King some day, but are you ready for that day?

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SOURCES:

Howard, V. E., and Broadus E. Smith, eds.  Church Gospel Songs & Hymns. Texarkana, TX:  Central Printers & Publishers, 1983.

“Lewis E. Jones.” No pages. Cited 25 September 2016. Online: http://www.hymnary.org/person/Jones_Lewis.

“Lewis Edgar Jones.”  No pages. Cited 25 September 2016. Online:  http://www.cyberhymnal.org/bio/j/o/jones_le.htm.

“Lewis Ellington Jones.” No pages. Cited 25 September 2016. Online: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=85056617&PIpi=69163812.

“Lewis Ellington Jones.” No pages. Cited 25 September 2016. Online: http://mykindred.com/cloud/TX/getperson.php?personID=I36731&tree=mykindred01.

Wiegand, John P., Editor. Praise for the Lord. Nashville, TN:  Praise Press, 1997.