Singing through the Hymnal: week 33

Verse: Psalm 104:1

Hymn: O Worship the King

     
 
    Continuing with our theme of praise, we will sing O Worship the King. My children love this hymn! We are working on all the stanzas, but I'd start with the first. One of their favorite things is to act out the words as we sing them - shield, defender, ancient of days - so fun to engage their hands and feet to help them remember the words.

    I am coming off a discouraging weekend. I am constantly reminded of the broken world we live in where it seems that hatred and sin reign, BUT the truth is that "though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet" (This is My Father's World). This hymn presents us with a wonderful opportunity to remind our children (and ourselves) that God is on the throne. The last stanza states the truths I need to hear today so well:

 Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,

 in Thee do we trust, nor find Thee to fail;

Thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end, 

our Maker, Defender, Redeemer and Friend.

                                                                  Fun Facts

Text: Sir Robert Grant (1779-1838)

• Has been called one of the six finest hymns in the English language because of its beauty and grace (Eric Routley)
• Both he and his father were members of parliament
• Was knighted and went back to India to become the governor of Bombay
• The text was inspired by Psalm 104 when comparing God's heavenly majesty to the current earthly monarch. My hymnal states it this way:

                "Grant was well acquainted with power and privilege. His father was the chairman of the East India Company and later a member of the Parliament. But the greatest legacy he left his son was his strong Christian commitment, which helped the younger Grant discern the contrast between earthly power and the true King of Heaven" (HLH p. 190)

Tune: Joseph Martin Kraus (1756-1792) LYONS

• LYONS has long been thought to be written by Johann Haydn (brother to Franz), however, recent study shows differently.
• This is a much loved and powerful melody which demonstrates the regal nature of the text (ascending lines)

Remember to order you copy of the hymnal we are singing through if you still need a hymnal!

    Things to think about ...

• We pick a hymn for each of our children at birth - this happens to be the hymn we chose for my third baby, because his name means defender and friend. We wanted his name to point him to the One who is the true Defender and Friend. He knows this hymn by heart and is only 2! They are never too young!!
• Talk about the character of God with your children - this great and glorious God is our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend! You can talk about the entire Gospel with your children using those words.
• Read Psalm 104 and talk to your children about a saint (Robert Grant) who sat reading this Psalm more than 200 years ago