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There is a beautiful piece of music together with lyrics that has been brought to my attention recently entitled “Will there be any stars in my crown?” So many vocalists over the years have sung forth their version with heartfelt melodies including a delightful rendition by Alison Krauss. After a little investigative delving via the Google search engine I came across the original version of this song which was written by Eliza Edmunds Hewitt (1851-1920) with the tune (Crown of Righteousness or Stars in My Crown) composed by John Robson Sweney (1837-1899). This song was first published in 1897 and has been placed in many a church hymnal. If one enters the title of a song on YouTube there is a wide variety of selections to choose from where you can decide which version you like the best. Mine is from Jimmie Davis with the rich timbre in his baritone voice, who incidentally wrote “You Are My Sunshine”.
The lyrics of the song “Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown?” are provided here for reference.
I am thinking today of that beautiful land
I shall reach when the sun goeth down
When through wonderful grace by my Saviour I stand
Will there be any stars in my crown.
Will there be any stars, any stars in my crown
When at evening the sun goeth down
When I wake with the blest in those mansions of rest
Will there be any stars in my crown.
In the strength of the Lord let me labor and pray
Let me watch as a winner of souls
That bright stars may be mine in the glorious day
When his praise like the sea billow rolls.
Will there be any stars, any stars in my crown
When at evening the sun goeth down
When I wake with the blest in those mansions of rest
Will there be any stars in my crown.
Oh, what joy it will be when his face I behold
Living gems at his feet to lay down
It would sweeten my bliss in the city of gold
Should there be any stars in my crown.
Will there be any stars, any stars in my crown
When at evening the sun goeth down
When I wake with the blest in those mansions of rest
Will there be any stars in my crown…
The repetition of the phrase “stars in my crown” found liberally throughout this hymn refers to the crowns given to God’s faithful as stated in 2 Timothy 4:8 which reads “In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing”. Throughout the Bible there are so many references to crowns but not even one of these scriptures states that there will be stars in those crowns. The song writer used this terminology for symbolism meaning that the stars represent souls or others who have come to know God because of their efforts while labouring in the word. However, we know as Christians called out of the world, that stars refer to angels (Revelation 12:4; Daniel 8:10) and not to people. Most likely the imagery could also be based on the glistening of jewels, brightly shining like stars such as gemstones including diamonds, which are most often set as decorative highlights into the gold crowns that royalty wear upon their coronation.
Furthermore when studying the use of the words “crown” and “crowns” in the Bible it is revealed that they are referred to in various ways and given various titles. In the above scriptural reference in Timothy the crowns are associated with righteousness. The crown of life is mentioned in Revelation 2:10 and in James 1:12 “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him”. The “unfading” crown of glory is spoken of in 1 Peter 5:4, and in Zechariah 9:16 we read “The Lord their God will save them in that day, as the flock of His people. For they shall be like the jewels of a crown, lifted like a banner over His land”. We simply do not know what our crown will look like when we receive this crown from our Saviour except to say, whether it is solid gold and plain, engraved, or encrusted with many fine gemstones shimmering in the light, we will be so ecstatically grateful and humble because we will be righteous, that its appearance will not be our first or only thought. Rather, being in the presence of God our Father and Jesus Christ will be so gloriously wonderful, all else will pale by comparison. However, knowing that God is absolutely perfect, we know that He will provide the right crown for each individual and it will be perfect to the wearer.
In the body of the lyrics further down there is a phrase “living gems at His feet to lay down” is symbolic of God’s people, His gems or jewels, laying down their lives for others, not living for themselves like they once did before their baptism or conversion to God’s way. Gems are precious, beautifully precious like the scripture we can read in Malachi 3:17 “They shall be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts, “On the day that I make them My jewels”. Living gems is an apt description of living treasure, of which we are.
As beautiful as the lyrics are to this hymn, we can see that the reference to stars is not biblical. We can still enjoy the hymn correctly identifying the error but it is not appropriate for us to have this in our hymnals for use in services as it is not biblically sound. The author, Eliza Hewitt, taught Sunday school and was a committed member of the Calvin Presbyterian Church. After reading about her life in Pennsylvania it is mentioned that while disciplining a young male student at the local school, she was hit in the back with a piece of slate which injured her spine causing a long period when she was bedridden. Apparently she did not become bitter but took on the pain and suffering with patient dignity. This is when Eliza turned to singing and writing hymns of praise in those long, lonely hours. Miss Hewitt must have had many moments in time where she pondered whether any of her Sunday school students may have turned to God in a life of service to others...hence the reference to “stars in my crown”. The school teacher must have seen children as bright, shiny, twinkling gems, and as stars in her crown of life. It will be wonderful when all will know God’s Truth.