September 7, 2022 - Good Morning! It's Wednesday, September 7.
This Sunday, our worship teams will call our congregation to worship with one of the oldest hymns in the hymnbook. And it isn't really even a hymn. It's a doxology. The word comes from the Greek "doxa", meaning glory, and "logia", to say. So, literally, a doxology is an expression of praise. And, historically, it has been employed as a "tag" to hymns. The "hallelujah" at the end of many of the Psalms could be considered doxologies.
The Greater Doxology or Gloria in Excelsis Deo takes its inspiration from the song that the angels sang to the shepherds on that night in Bethlehem. The Lesser Doxology or Gloria Patri shares these words of praise -
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Like the Lesser Doxology, many of these praise phrases remind us of the doctrine of the Trinity. And that's true of the famous doxology we'll feature this Sunday. Written by Bishop Thomas Ken in 1674 and set to a tune called "Old 100th", it is the most widely sung song of praise in the English-speaking world.
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.
Sing or recite a favorite doxology today - or improvise one from your heart. He is worthy of our praise!
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
