The Lively Blog of Thoughts

Title: “The Power of Doxology: Praising God Beyond Measure”

Introduction:
Welcome to today’s podcast, where we’ll explore the concept of doxology, a profound expression of praise and worship. In a world filled with challenges and uncertainties, doxology serves as a beacon of light, reminding us of the eternal and unchanging nature of our Creator.

Body:

1. Understanding Doxology:
Doxology, derived from the Greek words “doxa” (meaning glory) and “logos” (meaning word), is a form of praise that acknowledges and magnifies the glory, majesty, and sovereignty of God. It is a declaration of the greatness of our Heavenly Father, emphasizing His attributes, goodness, and unwavering love.

2. The Transformative Power of Praise:
Doxology isn’t just a ritual; it’s a transformative practice that shifts our focus from ourselves to God. In times of joy and sorrow, praising God changes our perspective, reminding us of His faithfulness even amidst challenges. Psalm 34:1-3 encourages us to continually bless the Lord and magnify His name, reminding us that praise has the power to dispel fear and anxiety.

3. Doxology as a Response:
Doxology is a response to God’s grace and mercy. When we consider the gift of salvation through Christ, gratitude naturally wells up within us, leading to heartfelt praise. Our praise reflects the depth of our understanding of God’s love and sacrifice.

4. Beyond Words:
While doxology often involves words of praise, it can transcend human language. The Apostle Paul’s words in Romans 8:26 remind us that the Spirit intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words, highlighting that even our deepest emotions can be expressions of doxology.

5. Cultivating a Lifestyle of Doxology:
Doxology is not confined to a specific time or place. It’s a lifestyle that infuses our everyday actions with gratitude and worship. From our interactions with others to our work and creativity, our lives become a continuous symphony of praise to God.

6. Unity in Diversity:
Doxology is universal, uniting believers across cultures, languages, and denominations. As we praise God, we experience a glimpse of the unity that transcends our differences, reminding us that we are all part of the larger body of Christ.

Conclusion:
Doxology is a powerful practice that enriches our relationship with God. It lifts our spirits, deepens our faith, and reminds us of the eternal truths in a world that is ever-changing. As we live lives filled with doxology, we become beacons of hope and light, reflecting the glory of our Creator to a world in need. May our lives resound with praises that honor the One who is worthy of all honor and glory.

You faithful servants of the Lord,
sing out his praise with one accord,
while serving him with all your might
and keeping vigil through the night.

Unto his house lift up your hand
and to the Lord your praises send.
May God who made the earth and sky
bestow his blessings from on high.

This song is sung with the tune of the Doxology hymn.

Old 100th is commonly used to sing the lyrics that begin “All People That on Earth Do Dwell,” Psalm 100, a version that originated in the Anglo-Genevan Psalter (1561) and is attributed to the Scottish clergyman William Kethe.^[5]

Kethe was in exile at Geneva at this time, as the Scottish Reformation was only just beginning. This version was sung at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, with harmonization and arrangement by the composer Ralph Vaughan Williams. The first verse is as follows:^[6]

All people that on earth do dwell,
Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice;
Him serve with mirth, His praise forth tell;
Come ye before Him and rejoice.

A hymn commonly sung to Old 100th is “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow,” using the text often referred to as the Doxology, written in 1674 by Thomas Ken, a bishop in the Church of England.^[7]This hymn was originally the final verse of a longer hymn entitled “Awake, My Soul, and With the Sun,”^[8] though it is most commonly sung by itself as a doxology. The traditional text is:

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.

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise him, all creatures here below. Praise him above, ye heav’nly host Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Text: Thomas Ken, 1637–1711. Music: Louis Bourgeois, ca. 1510–1561. From Genfer Psalter,16th century.

Copied from: https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-best-known-hymn-in-history

These 25 words, known to many around the world today as “The Doxology,” comprise what is likely the single best-known verse of all Christian hymnology and poetry.

On the surface, these lyrics are surprisingly modest and memorable. Few of us remember first hearing them, and few recall straining to learn them. Yet, as simple and accessible as these four lines are, Christians have been singing them now for more than three centuries. Because simple doesn’t mean shallow. Plain does not exclude profound. Which is one of the striking truths at the heart of our faith — and one of the great evidences for its truth — from the Gospel of John, to the early creeds, to the most widely known and enduring lyrics we share with the global church today. 

“The greatest realities about God and his world can be captured in the humblest of terms.”

The greatest realities about God and his world, when understood aright, can be captured in the humblest of terms, even as they are bottomless in their depth. And yet we find an enduring quality in “The Doxology” absent from many of our passing modern choruses. Substance hides in the brevity and singability. Though short, the hymn is a coherent progression, rather than a loosely connected attempt at memorable phrases, and turns on the profound theological truths of God’s aseity and generosity, and God as Trinity.

Morning, Evening, Midnight

Thomas Ken (1637–1711), who crafted these plain and profound words in the late 1600s, wrote them as the final and “doxological” stanza of three hymns he published, first for students at Winchester College at Oxford University. 

Ken, who was an Anglican minister, royal chaplain, and eventually bishop, first penned verses for his students at Winchester to sing upon arising in the morning, and at bedtime each evening. Later he added a third hymn, to rehearse at midnight, were students to have trouble sleeping. Each hymn was a confession of faith, and an invocation of divine blessing, tailored to its particular moment of the day. And each hymn ended with the same 25-word doxological verse in praise of God, three in one.

Ken’s hymns have by no means been lost today. However, it is his final verse — our beloved “Doxology” — that has endured, so well-known is it that it needs no placeholder in our hymnbooks. Christians the world over simply know it, almost without fail — both Ken’s timeless words and the tune, which Ken did not write, but which much later began to accompany the song. The tune, called Old One-Hundredth, originally designed to accompany the singing of Psalm 134, and later Psalm 100, first appeared in the Geneva Psalter in 1551 and was written by Louis Bourgeois (1510–1561), who served as head of choirs and music, alongside famous pastor and theologian John Calvin.

Source of All Good

What, then, has been the power of these 25 words? Why have they endured, and for many become one of the most basic and repeated expressions of the Christian faith?

For one, our God is indeed the one from whom all genuine blessings flow. He himself is the Blessed One (1 Timothy 1:11; 6:15), the only one in whom is fullness of joy and pleasures forever (Psalm 16:11). Yet, unshakably happy as he is, he is not a God inclined to keep to himself but gives generously. He is happy enough to be outgoing.

God delights to give, to overflow with joy, to bless his creatures and share his own happiness in them and then with them. He is the giver of “every good gift and every perfect gift” (James 1:17). “From him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen” (Romans 11:36).

Three in One

This blessed God is also sovereign over all. He is both the singular source of all true good, and he is the Almighty. He is the Creator and Sustainer of all nature, and all the heavenly hosts above, and “all creatures here below.” Here and there, above and below, he is God and “does all that he pleases” (Psalm 115:3). As the great humbled king of Babylon learned to declare in his own doxology, our God “does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand” (Daniel 4:35).

“God is glorified in our heartfelt expression of praise. God made us for praise. He made us for doxology.”

Still, this God, utterly complete in goodness and power, has revealed himself to his people. He is one and three — one God, three persons, working in history to redeem and restore his people from their sin and rebellion. He is a God three times for us in a great salvation, which is arranged by the Father, accomplished by the Son, and applied by the Spirit.

And so, we praise him as three in one, and one in three, just as we baptize “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19), and pray with the apostle, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Corinthians 13:14).

Our Joy, His Glory

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. “The Doxology” has served as a ready-made form, and occasion, for Christians to connect the very purposes of God in all he does with our heart’s deepest desire. God made our hearts to ache for happiness. And he made the world, and us, to glorify him. And in this act of praise (which “The Doxology” directs and assists), our souls both rejoice and go public in expressing their delight in him.

God is glorified in our heartfelt expression of praise. God made us for praise. He made us for doxology. He made the world that he might be praised. And these simple yet profound words serve that simple yet most profound human act of devotion — and all the more when we join our voices and sing together.

Lyrics: 

Open my eyes, Lord
Help me to see your face
Open my eyes, Lord
Help me to see

Open my ears, Lord
Help me to hear your voice
Open my ears, Lord
Help me to hear

Open my heart, Lord
Help me to love like you
Open my heart, Lord
Help me to love

And the first shall be last
And our eyes are opened
And we’ll hear like never before
And we’ll speak in new ways
And we’ll see God’s face in places we’ve never known

I live within you
Deep in your heart, O Love
I live within you
Rest now in me

Author: Jesse Manibusan with scripture reference Mark 8:22-25

Hebrews 13:5-8 NIV
[5] Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” [6] So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” [7] Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. [8] Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Ecclesiastes 9:11-18 NIV
[11] I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all. [12] Moreover, no one knows when their hour will come: As fish are caught in a cruel net, or birds are taken in a snare, so people are trapped by evil times that fall unexpectedly upon them. [13] I also saw under the sun this example of wisdom that greatly impressed me: [14] There was once a small city with only a few people in it. And a powerful king came against it, surrounded it and built huge siege works against it. [15] Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man. [16] So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded. [17] The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools. [18] Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

The Bible defines wisdom as the ability to apply knowledge and understanding in a way that leads to righteous living and a reverence for God. It involves discernment, sound judgment, and the pursuit of God’s truth, righteousness, and guidance in all aspects of life. Proverbs 9:10 states, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Further:

1. James 3:17: “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” 2. Proverbs 4:7: “The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.” 3. Proverbs 2:6: “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” 4. Proverbs 3:13-18: “Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed.” 5. Proverbs 9:10: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

These verses emphasize the importance of seeking wisdom, recognizing its value, and acknowledging that true wisdom comes from God. It is described as a virtuous and transformative quality that brings blessings and guides one’s conduct in accordance with God’s will.

As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after thee
You alone are my hearts desire
And I long to worship thee

Chorus
You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my hearts desire
And I long to worship thee

You’re my friend and You are my brother,
Even though you are a king.
I love you more than any other,
So much more than anything.

Chorus

I want You more than gold or silver,
Only You can satisfy.
You alone are the real joy Giver,
And the apple of my eye.

Jesus was fully God and fully man. He was perfect. He was born to die (1 Jn. 4:9-10) according to God’s plan (Acts 2:23-24; cf. Acts 3:13-17; 4:27-28). The cross is the greatest manifestation of God’s love and holiness/justice/wrath. John captured Jesus’ love for is own in that “he loved them to the end” (Jn. 13:1), which could also be said of his love for the Father, in that he delighted to do his will (Heb. 10:5-7; cf. Ps. 40:8) and he submitted to his will, which is seen supremely in the Garden of Gethsemane on his way to the cross (Matt. 26:39, 42). These words of Jesus must be read and understood with all of this in mind.

1. Luke 23:34: And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
2. Luke 23:43: And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
3. John 19:26-27: When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
4. Matthew 27:45-46: Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Mark 15:33-34: And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
5. John 19:28: After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.”
6. John 19:30a: When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
7. Luke 23:45b-46: And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.

Romans 8:11-17 NIV
[11] And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. [12] Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. [13] For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. [14] For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. [15] The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” [16] The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. [17] Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV
[8] For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— [9] not by works, so that no one can boast. [10] For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.