Keep on Praising

Two hymns, two nations, two languages, two centuries and one God the Father Almighty to be praised; this is the continuity of Christian worship and hymnody.  It begins in Geneva, Switzerland and continues in England.  It ties together two different denominations and national churches.  It ties together two distinct musical traditions, psalms and hymns.  OK, what is it?

It is the tune used for the Old Hundredth and the Doxology.  The Old Hundredth is an adaptation of Psalm 100 from the Geneva Psalter of 1551.  In the Reformed Churches only the psalms were sung.  They very idea of introducing hymns was poorly received.  This is why, while early Lutheran hymns are rich and many, early Reformed hymns are nearly non-existent.  The music for the Old Hundredth was written by Louis Bourgeois. The rich melody was easy to sing and adapt to other various lyrics. 

One hundred and twenty years later Thomas Ken, minister in the Church of England, spent several years writing prayers and hymns for contemplation and worship.  Two of these hymns were “Awake My Soul and with the Sun” and “Glory to Thee, My God, This Night”.  The lyrics of both hymns fit very comfortably with the tune by Bourgeois.  Each of these two hymns had the same ending which is now known as the Doxology.  It follows the same tune as the verses.  Of all three of the hymns, the Old Hundredth and Ken’s two hymns, the Doxology, the chorus  of Ken’s two hymns, remains the most often sung and best known. 

One other thing binds all these together.  It is not just their tune.  It is their theme.  Praise is the essence of each one.  Confidence in God and His care marks them all.  That is the recurring theme that God wants us to grasp each day.  Each morning and night I begin my prayer time with this one wonderful song of praise, written for just that occasion. 

Praise God from whom all blessings flow,

Praise Him all creatures here below,

Praise Him above all heavenly hosts, 

Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.  Amen

You can contact me and find inspiring Christian books at my website: www.davidccraig.net

You may also find some of my selected daily devotions at http://blog.febc.org/

You may also enjoy my new Gospel dog blog, The Gospel According to Molly