SING PRAISE TO GOD WHO REIGNS ABOVE

This old hymn of praise dates back to 1675, years after the Protestant Reformation.  During the time of Luther the early Lutherans were full of holy zeal.  But as often happens, a generation later the movement had slowed down and the church life tended to be formal and shallow.  Their doctrine was generally correct but their fire had cooled.  During that time Philip Spencer accepted a call to pastor the Lutheran Church in Frankfort am Main.  But instead of preaching the prescribed texts, he began to preach through the entire Bible.  He called for repentance and serious discipleship.  In 1669 he preached from the Sermon on the Mount and revival broke out in his church.  People were converted and lives and families were transformed.  Johann Schultz, a prominent city attorney who practiced both civil and church law was excited about the growing  revival and suggested that Spencer take some of the converts and disciple them in small home prayer and Bible study groups.  Spencer did this and the groups grew.  These people were called "Pietists", in derision, but the revival continued to spread throughout Germany.  It is now  known in history as the "Pietistic Movement".  And so it is said that out of his joy of what was happening, Johann Schutz wrote this great hymn.  It is sung to a traditional Bohemian melody named "kirchengesange"  As a result of the influence of Spencer, his own pietistic wife, and his belief in millennialism, Schutz eventually left the Lutheran Church in 1686 to become a Separatist and join the Moravians.  He died in Frankfort at the age of 49 in 1690.  Part of his legacy is this hymn of praise in which each verse ends with the proclamation "To God all praise and glory".  And this week may we be reminded that this should be our desire and goal each day of our lives.

(1)   Sing praise to God Who reigns above, the God of all creation,

The God of power, the God of love, the God of our salvation.

With healing balm my soul is filled and every faithless murmur stilled:

To God all praise and glory.

(2)   What God's almighty power hath made His gracious mercy keepeth,

By morning glow or evening shade His watchful eye ne'er sleepeth;

Within the kingdom of His might, Lo! all is just and all is right:

To God all praise and glory.

(3)   The Lord is never far away, but through all grief distressing,

An ever present help and stay, our peace and joy and blessing.

As with a mother's tender hand, God gently leads the chosen band:

To God all praise and glory.

(4)   Thus, all my toilsome way along, I sing aloud Thy praises,

That earth may hear the grateful song my voice unwearied raises.

Be joyful in the Lord, my heart, both soul and body bear your part:

To God all praise and glory.

(5)   Let all who name Christ's holy Name give God all praise and glory;

Let all who own His power proclaim aloud the wondrous story!

Cast each false idol from its throne, for Christ is Lord, and Christ alone:

To God all praise and glory.

Listen to it here.   LISTEN