Composer: Ellen Koehler
Arrangement Samples - Click pdf link(s) below to view
Sheet Music Category:
Available Arrangements:
- Hymn
- Lead Sheet
Blest Are the Pure in Heart
Blest are the pure in heart,
For they shall see our God;
The secret of the Lord is theirs;
Their soul is Christ’s abode.
The Lord, who left the heavens
Our life and peace to bring,
To dwell in lowliness with men,
Their Pattern and their King.
Still to the lowly soul
He doth Himself impart;
And for His cradle and His throne,
Chooseth the pure in heart.
Lord, we Thy presence seek;
May this our blessing be:
Give us a pure and lowly heart,
A temple meet for Thee.
Give us a pure and lowly heart,
A temple meet for Thee.
Copyright ©2013 Ellen Koehler. All Rights Reserved.
Text: verses 1 and 3, John Keble, 1819;
verses 2 and 4, Mitre Hymn Book, 1836.
Music: Ellen Koehler, 2013
Commentary -
“The secret of the Lord is for those who fear Him, and He will make them know His covenant.” – Psalm 25:14
This simple hymn in four verses begins by quoting the sixth of the Beatitudes with which Jesus begins the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:8). All of the beautiful and meaning-filled lyrics are based directly on Scripture. Blest Are the Pure in Heart is not one of the best known hymns, but once it is introduced or learned it quickly becomes a favorite.
In hymnals, the text has been set to a number of hymn tunes. The music here is newly-composed, just lightly referencing the first few notes of the most often used tune, Franconia. The harmonies of the first verse are simple, but become more complex with the succeeding verses.
We usually sing Blest Are the Pure in Heart as part of a time of Confession, or sometimes as a response to the Profession of Faith. Throughout the Christian year, we often use just verses 1, 2 and 4. During the Season of Light (Advent, Christmas, Epiphany) we always include the third verse, which has the loving admonition that He chooses those of a pure heart for His cradle and His throne.
Categories: Hymn Settings; Liturgical Settings.
Seasons: All, but especially Advent, Christmas, Epiphany and Lent; and Christ the King Sunday.
Liturgical Uses:
Confession; Profession of Faith; Table.
Key: C (verses 1 and 2), D (verses 3 and 4)
Blest Are the Pure in Heart is available as a lead sheet, and scored for keyboard (on request).
Copyright ©2016 Ellen Koehler. All Rights Reserved.
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