The Doxology[1]
The Doxology is perhaps the most often sung hymn in all of the hymnal. It is
also the ‘shortest’ hymn in most hymnals – even shorter than the “Glory Be.” It
is a pure and unbridled prayer since it asks nothing, but gives all praise to
God Almighty. It was written by Thomas Ken (1637-1711) who was known as
England’s first hymnist. The Doxology was sung at his funeral on March 11, 1711
as he was being buried at sunrise. Up until his day, most hymns, and the
singing of them, were performed by monks; so his was a revolutionary concept
for the time – and that first of all ‘congregational’ hymns in England was only
a prayer of praise and adoration for the God who made them.
Praise God From
Whom All Blessings Flow
(The Doxology)
Praise God from
Whom all blessings flow
Praise Him all
creatures here below
Praise Him above ye
heavenly hosts
Praise Father,
Son, and Holy Ghost
. Amen
Though the concept was new to England (of congregational singing) the words to
the Doxology were shamelessly plagiarized from Holy Writ. O that God would give
us greater numbers of ministers who would plagiarize their works and preaching
from the Holy Bible rather than from other men!
The Doxology is most often sung to the tune, “Old Hundredth” (from the Psalm of
the same number) by Louis Bourgeois (1551). “1 Make a joyful noise unto
the LORD, all ye lands. 2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his
presence with singing. 3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that
hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his
pasture. 4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts
with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5 For the LORD is
good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”
(Psalms 100:1-5) This is fittingly termed a Psalm of Praise. The full meaning
is so very simple, yet exceeds in profundity all other hymns of the Hymnal in
praise and glorification of God.
“Praise God from Whom all blessings flow Praise Him all
creatures here below Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts Praise Father, Son, and
Holy Ghost. Amen” The single verse
of the Doxology is a hymn of praise, but also a creedal statement that
summarizes our whole faith. Not only do His creatures on earth praise Him, but
all in Heaven above as well. Even the lower creatures of earth praise Him in
their strict adherence to His Laws of Nature which He has made an innate part
of their being. The Doxology praises the One God of all living in Three
distinct persons – a prayer that a Muslim, a practicing Jew, a Buddhist, a
Unitarian, a Mormon, a Jehovah’s Witness, or a luke-warm Christian cannot
repeat with full faith and allegiance. There is no good gift that does not
descend directly from the very hand of God. “Every good gift and
every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights,
with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James
1:17)
Though
the one hundredth Psalm is inspiration for this hymn, I believe equal credit
may be given to other of the Psalms such as the 148th:
Psalm 148
1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise
ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights.
2 Praise ye him, all his
angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.
3 Praise ye him, sun and
moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.
4 Praise him, ye heavens of
heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.
5 Let them praise the name
of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created.
6 He hath also stablished
them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.
7 Praise the LORD from the
earth, ye dragons, and all deeps:
8 Fire, and hail; snow, and
vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word:
9 Mountains, and all hills;
fruitful trees, and all cedars:
10 Beasts, and all cattle;
creeping things, and flying fowl:
11 Kings of the earth, and
all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:
12 Both young men, and
maidens; old men, and children:
13 Let them praise the name
of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and
heaven.
14 He also exalteth the horn
of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a
people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD.
There is another great hymn entitled, All People that on Earth Do Dwell,
by William Kethe (Fourscore and Seven Psalms of David - Geneva,
Switzerland: 1561) which incorporates the sentiment of the Doxology with
greater detail. This was the favorite version of my young people at St.
Andrews. We often sang this hymn in lieu of the Doxology:
All people that on earth do dwell,
Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice.
Him serve with fear, His praise forth tell;
Come ye before Him and rejoice.
The Lord, ye know, is God indeed;
Without our aid He did us make;
We are His folk, He doth us feed,
And for His sheep He doth us take.
O enter then His gates with praise;
Approach with joy His courts unto;
Praise, laud, and bless His Name always,
For it is seemly so to do.
For why? the Lord our God is good;
His mercy is for ever sure;
His truth at all times firmly stood,
And shall from age to age endure.
To Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
The God Whom Heaven and earth adore,
From men and from the angel host
Be praise and glory evermore.
AMEN
The importance of the Doxology is no different from that of the Apostle’s or
Nicene Creed – it unites hearts, minds, and souls in the One Trinitarian Faith
so that our song expresses the One Mind of God that unites us in Common Prayer
and Worship. The purest prayer, and the purest hymn, is that which ask nothing
of God except the privilege to worship and adore His Holy Being.
[1]
As a point of
interest, in days of old on Royal Naval vessels without an embarked chaplain, the
Doxology was sung in lieu of the Sunday service, the rest of the day being
dedicated to as much rest as possible on a man of war. It might be considered that the average
Jack Tar appreciated the briefness as much as the Scriptural content, at least
early in his life.
