“Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”
The October Hymn of the Month is chosen by Karin Renner:
“One of my favorite ageless faith foundation hymns has always been "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty." As an alto for 4 years in Augie's Concert Choir, we sang F. Melius Christiansen's arrangement of this staple at the end of every concert. There was nothing that ever gave me goosebumps like standing on the choir risers hand in hand with fellow choir members singing this anthem! It was the song in our repertoire that literally raised the roofs of the churches and cathedrals the choir performed in while I was in college--from the Mormon Tabernacle to the US Air Force Academy Cathedral, to Lincoln Center in NYC to 1000+ year old cathedrals in Norway, Sweden, Germany and London. Tim and I chose it as one of the congregational hymns for our wedding here at West Nidaros. I'll never forget hearing our wedding organist pull out all the stops on the organ until the church was literally vibrating!
The hymn calls on us to praise and thank our God with ALL that is in us.”
THE COMPOSER:
Joachim Neander (1650-1680)
Joachim was born in Bremen Germany and while the 4 generations preceding Joachim were preachers of the gospel, Joachim had more interest in being wild and rebellious. When Joachim was 20, he and group of other students went to St. Martin’s Church in Bremen with the intention of ridiculing the worshipers there. However, the preacher that day resonated with him and ultimately led to his conversion. Joachim later became the assistant preacher at that same church. Joachim lived as a hermit and was known for taking long “worship walks” near his home in Hochdal, Germany, and during these times was when he would find the inspiration for the many hymns that are attributed to him. He wrote 60 hymns, with most of these being hymns of praise. The stunning beauty of the rocky cliffs, verdant slopes, and peaceful river are reflected in many of his stanzas. Joachim died of tuberculosis at the age of thirty.
TRANSLATOR:
There are several English translations of this hymn, but Catherine Winkworth’s is possibly the most well known as her translation appears in at least 330 English language hymnals. Winkworth captures Neander’s expressive emotion in the first stanza:
Praise to the LORD, the Almighty the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation~
Join the full throng; Wake, harp and psalter and song;
Sound forth in glad adoration!
THE HYMN:
This great hymn was published in 1680, the same year of Neander’s death. The melody “LOBE DEN HERREN” composed in 1665, is the tune chosen for this hymn, however Neander altered the tune to fit his text, and this is the tune associated with his text ever since.
This beloved tune was later used by Bach as the foundation of his Cantata 137, where it is especially dominant in the trumpet and choir towards the end.
THEOLOGY OF THE HYMN:
This hymn presents a musical collage of the attributes of God.
Stanza 1: Psalm 103:1
It opens with the hymnwriter praising the Almighty, who is the "King of creation," the One who is our health and salvation.
Stanza 2: Psalm 17:8
The second stanza focuses on God's sovereignty. He is the God, who "o'er all things so wondrously reigneth." We feel the mighty sheltering wings and the gentle sustaining arms of the Almighty and know that all our desires.
Stanza 3: Psalm 23:6
The third stanza focuses on God as our "Defender" and "Befriender." He prospers our work, defends us, and attends to us daily with goodness and mercy.
Stanza 4: Psalm 106:48, Psalm 150:6
Finally, the hymn crescendos its praise into the fifth stanza with a call to ALL creation, "all that hath life and breath," to come and to join in the praise of the Almighty. The praises resound with a happy "amen" over and over again on into eternity as "gladly fore'er we adore him."
