Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. the Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. -- Paul, the Apostle -- from his letter to the Phillipians, Ch. 4, v. 4-7 (NIV)
As I've been following the news about the COVID-19 pandemic -- provincially, federally, within the Diocese of Calgary and abroad -- I've been thinking about our Doxology. You know, the prayer of praise and thanksgiving that we sing at the presentation of the Offering in a Sunday service. It's an ear worm for me now, because of this video of choristers, demonstrating how it's the perfect 20-second piece to sing while one washes one's hands to prevent the spread of that highly contageous virus.
It seemed to me that this was part of a longer hymn, or that I'd sung something like it as a hymn, but I couldn't put my finger on it. Digging around the internet, though, I found the answer.
I was partly right: there is a hymn out there. It's lyrics don't include those from what we refer to as The Doxology -- but it's sung to the same tune, known as Old Hundredth. Written circa 1551 and attributed to Louis Bourgeois, the tune was originally used with the text from Psalm 134, take from the translation of the Psalms for the second edition of the Genevan Psalter.
We know it better as the hymn, "All People that On Earth Do Dwell" -- with text written by William Kethe (or Keithe), one of the editors involved in translating the psalms for the Psalter, and set -- yes -- to that familiar tune, Old Hundredth. The title of the tune is, in fact, taken from the text for Kethe's hymn, which is adapted from Psalm 100 in his translation for the Genevan Psalter.
Thomas Ken, an English cleric, poet and hymnist came along much later. His legacy to us is the text for The Doxology -- again, set to that familiar tune. (Note: The Doxology is not the only one ever written. Simply put, a doxology is 'a short hymn of praise to God', often appended to the end of canticles, psalms and hymns; in the Jewish tradition, a similar sort of response was appended to the end of each section of the Kaddish.)
The lovely thing about these hymns of praise, all using that one tune, is that each and every one is a hymn that exhorts worshippers to give thanks with joy, because we are always to remember that God is our Creator and Preserver; that God is with us always; that God is faithful; and that God's love endures forever -- so God is worthy of our thanks and praise, whatever our current circumstances.
The toughest challenge we face is believing those truths in times like these. We need to resist the temptation to comfort each other by quoting Scripture passages that, when taken out of context, amount to hollow platitudes that aren't comforting at all. It's not a 'given' that because we are Christian, we ought always to be "happy".
But while acknowledging the challenges of our circumstances, we are called in these times to shepherd each other in love, compassion and practical service when and wherever possible. We are to come to God in prayer, casting our cares on the One who created us and cares so very much for us. (see 1 Peter for his counsel to those enduring all manner of difficulty and suffering).
And so...I leave you with three texts and one tune. I invite you to take up the ear worm as you wash your hands (over and over and over again!) -- and may your day be blessed.
Original lyrics, based on Psalm 134 from the Genevan Psalter:
- You faithful servants of the Lord,
- sing out his praise with one accord,
- while serving him with all your might
- and keeping vigil through the night.
- Unto his house lift up your hand
- and to the Lord your praises send.
- May God who made the earth and sky
- bestow his blessings from on high.
All People That on Earth Do Dwell - Lyrics by William Kethe (d. 1594)
Hymn #349 - Common Praise, 1998*
All people that on earth do dwell,
sing to the LORD with cheerful voice.
Serve him with joy, his praises tell,
come now before him and rejoice!
Know that the LOD is God indeed;
he formed us all without our aid.
We are the flock he surely feed,
the sheep who by his hand were made.
O enter then his gates with joy,
within his courts his praise proclaim!
Let thankful songs your tongues employ.
O bless and magnify his name!
Because the LORD our God is good,
his mercy is forever sure.
His faithfulness at all times stood
and shall from age to age endure.
*A question for you: where else do we use these words, this Psalm?
Hint: it's during the Morning Prayer Service (BAS)
The Doxology - Lyrics by Thomas Ken, ca 1674
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Know that the LOD is God indeed;
he formed us all without our aid.
We are the flock he surely feed,
the sheep who by his hand were made.
O enter then his gates with joy,
within his courts his praise proclaim!
Let thankful songs your tongues employ.
O bless and magnify his name!
Because the LORD our God is good,
his mercy is forever sure.
His faithfulness at all times stood
and shall from age to age endure.
*A question for you: where else do we use these words, this Psalm?
Hint: it's during the Morning Prayer Service (BAS)
The Doxology - Lyrics by Thomas Ken, ca 1674
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him all creatures here below.
Praise Him above, ye Heavenly Host.
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost
From the Service to Celebrate the 60TH Anniversary of The Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II -- Westminster Abbey, Tuesday 4th June 2013
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