May 31, 2023 - Hello! It's Wednesday, May 31.
When we think about children's hymns, the first that comes to mind, of course, is "Jesus Loves Me." And maybe "All Things Bright and Beautiful," "Fairest Lord Jesus", and a few others. What doesn't come to mind is the mighty and majestic "Doxology." But this great hymn of the faith was written for kids.
Thomas Ken was born in England in 1637. As a boy he attended the Winchester School and after finishing college and being ordained he returned to Winchester as chaplain. While there, he wrote three English hymns for his young students - one for morning, one for evening, and one for midnight. And each ended with the same glorious expression of praise, a "doxology."
"He wrote three English hymns" - that sentence may not seem important or particularly interesting to us today - but it is, in fact, revolutionary. When Thomas Ken wrote the "Doxology" - an English hymn - there was no such thing AS an English hymn. British Christians were restricted to singing only the Psalms in their worship services. The very idea of someone putting their own thoughts on paper as a song of worship... was heresy.
And so, before there was Isaac Watts ("O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing") and before there was Charles Wesley ("When I Survey the Wondrous Cross") - there was Thomas Ken. And his lyrics of praise are sung today to the oldest tune in our hymnal - The Old Hundredth - written in 1551.
Worship changes over time - the tools, the styles - but the theme and purpose remain the same. And these ancient words continue to echo through the ages...
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. Amen!
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
