Hymn Highlight: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
This hymn was written by Joachim Neander in 1680 and translated into English by Catherine Winkworth in 1863. Neander was a German hymn-writer who died at the age of only 30. Winkworth translated several well-known German hymns into English, eventually compiling her own hymnal.
The hymn in focus is Praise to the Lord, the Almighty. This great hymn finds its basis in the Psalms and carries forth a triumphant melody. The theme of the sovereignty of God is carried throughout the entire songs, evident in lines such as “Praise to the Lord, who o’er all things so wondrously reigneth,” and “All that hath life and breath come now with praises before Him!” The hymn also focuses on the care given by this Sovereign God. Though God is sovereign and reigning above, he takes care to provide for those whom he has befriended in his love. The hymn-writer asks the Christian to examine this beautiful provision in the second verse: “Hast thou not seen how thy desires e’er have been granted in what He ordained?”
Verse three examines God’s faithfulness in daily extending new mercy and grace to those in Christ. When we consider that God is daily showering us with more mercy and grace than we could ever imagine, we can only attempt to ponder what he can do!
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty is calling Christians to praise God for his sovereignty and transcendence, but to draw near to him to experience the provision given by him to his children. The call for the corporate adoration of God rings forth to close the hymn: “Let the amen sound from his people again; gladly forever adore him.”
May the “amen” resound in your own heart and voice today as you ponder what the Almighty has done in your life.