O GOD BEYOND ALL PRAISING

          "O God Beyond All Praising" is a beautiful hymn that speaks of praising God no matter what life brings our way, for God is so amazing that no song can truly express the depth of our gratitude.

          This song is a relatively recent work, written in 1982 by Michael Perry (1942 - 1996), an Anglican priest.  Perry was born in Beckenham, Kent, England, where he served as Vicar of Tonbridge and a canon of Rochester Cathedral. One of England's most promising hymn writers, he worked as editor and director of Jubilate Hymns until an inoperable brain tumor led to his untimely death in December 1996.  He is said to have written more than 200 hymns and versifications.

          "O God Beyond All Praising" was written specifically for the melody THAXTED in 1982, a composition by the early 20th-century British composer Gustav Holst (1874-1934). This tune is normally associated in the U.K. with a more patriotic text. Perry composed the text, he said, "in response to a call for alternative words that would be more appropriate for Christian worship."

          This hymn which inspires much fervor in the British homeland is often sung at Remembrance Day services, and Princess Diana requested it for her wedding in 1981. The song was repeated for her funeral in 1997 and again for the 10th anniversary observance of her death in 2007.

          Perry created a majestic hymn of praise that is biblically rooted.   For example, line "our sacrifice of praise," come directly from Psalm 116:17 and Hebrews 13:15. In stanza one, the phrase, "wait upon your word," echoes Psalm 130:5. Another phrase from stanza one, "for we can only wonder at every gift you send," resounds in the spirit of James 1:17.

          The hymn expresses simple gratitude and the firm determination to turn that gratitude into trusting endurance, particularly as expressed in the words "Whether our tomorrows, be filled with good or ill, we'll triumph through our sorrows and rise to bless you still."  It's good to be reminded – regularly - that God is great, and God is good, and that His ways are perfect. People today are struggling under heavy burdens of all kinds but we can all be strengthened in the knowledge that Someone is greater than all these things, so great that He can use them for our benefit.  And he loves us

          Rejoice and praise our great God as you meditate on this hymn this week.

 

1.            O God beyond all praising,

We worship you today

And sing the love amazing

That songs cannot repay;

For we can only wonder

At every gift you send,

At blessings without number

And mercies without end:

We lift our hearts before you

And wait upon your word,

We honor and adore you,

Our great and mighty Lord.

2.     Then hear, O gracious Savior,

Accept the love we bring,

That we who know your favor

May serve you as our king;

And whether our tomorrows

Be filled with good or ill,

We'II triumph through our sorrows

And rise to bless you still:

To marvel at your beauty

And glory in your ways,

And make a joyful duty

Our sacrifice of praise.

 

Listen to it here.   PRAISE