GOD THE FATHER >> GRACE & MERCY OF GOD
SDAH 105
Sing to the great Jehovah’s praise!
All praise to Him belongs;
Who kindly lengthens out our days,
In spires our choicest songs,
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For Worship Leaders
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Hymn Spotlight: Sing to the Great Jehovah’s Praise
Charles Wesley wrote this hymn specifically for New Year’s Day, first publishing it anonymously in Hymns for New Year’s Day (1750), a small tract containing seven poems. The Wesleys often withheld their names to avoid prejudice against their work. This hymn calls us to begin the new year in praise, recalling God’s promises—like His word to Solomon: “I will lengthen thy days” (1 Kings 3:14). Its joyful tone and forward-looking message made it a staple in nearly every Methodist hymnal since.
The tune LOBT GOTT, IHR CHRISTEN by Nikolaus Herman dates back to 1554. Originally paired with a children’s hymn, it gained popularity for its uplifting contour and dance-like ending. As we sing, may its melody lift our hearts in gratitude, and may its message encourage us to walk into the new year in faith and praise.
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Introductions for Sabbath School Song Service (based on specific lesson quarterlies):
This praise hymn was written especially for use on New Year’s Day. It was first published by Charles Wesley (1707-1788; see Biographies), with no author’s name attached, in a little penny tract of seven poems titled Hymns for New Year’s Day, 1750. The Wesleys printed their hymns anonymously because they knew there would be prejudice and some would turn away if their names were on it. Since then it has been included in every Methodist hymnal except the 1882 edition. Minor alterations have been made. The original had three eight-line stanzas. At the turning of the year, when there is a sense of new beginnings, the hymn recalls the Lord’s promise to King Solomon: “I will lengthen thy days” (1 Kings 3:14).
The tune LOBT GOTT, IHR CHRISTEN was written by Nikolaus Herman in 1554 and included in his Ein Christlicher Abendreihen (A Christian Service for Evenings), Leipzig, matched with a children’s hymn about the life of John the Baptist. In 1560 he put it in his Die Sonntags Evangelia iiber das ganze Jahr (The Gospel for Sundays Throughout the Whole Year) to “Lobt Gott, Ihr Christen alle gleich” (Praise God All Together, Ye Christians), hence the tune name. Much of our enjoyment of this tune comes from the rising scale passage in the final score, and the refrain-like ending.
Herman was born c. 1490 in Altdorf, near Nuremburg, Germany. For the greater part of his life he was organist-choirmaster at St. Joachimstal in Bohemia. Often a good sermon by his pastor would inspire a new hymn on the same subject, which Herman wrote mainly for the children of the school. It is believed that the fine chorales he published with these poems were of his own composition. After he died, on May 3, 1561, his pastor recorded this on the church register: “Nikolaus Herman, a good musician who wrote many fine chorales and German songs, rests in the Lord.”
The Lutheran Hymnal, Concordia, 1941, uses eight of his hymns, the most found in any recent collection. This tune appears in many hymnals, some with a slightly different form of the melody.
Stanza:
1 – Psalm 106:2
I Kings 3:14
Text
1
Sing to the great Jehovah’s praise!
All praise to Him belongs;
Who kindly lengthens out our days,
Inspires our choicest songs,
Inspires our choicest songs.
2
His providence hath brought us through
Another various year;
We all, with vows and anthems new,
Before our God appear,
Before our God appear.
3
O God, Thy mercies past we own,
And Thy continued care;
To Thee presenting through Thy Son
What e’er we have and are,
What e’er we have and are.
Hymn Info
Biblical Reference
(a) Ps 106:2; 1 Kgs 3:14
Author
Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
Theme
GRACE AND MERCY OF GOD
Hymn Tune
LOBT GOTT IHR CHRISTEN
Metrical Number
C.M.
Composer
Nikolaus Herman (c. 1485-1561)
Theme
FAITHFULNESS OF GOD
Recommended Reading
Charles was the other Wesley. Alongside his brother John who was considered the main guy behind the founding of Methodism, it was Charles’ hymns that pushed through the envelope of being “just another religion.” His lasting and well-known hymns have captivated Christians all around the world. Through his poetic lines, we are able to sing many hymns with such deep theology.
It was said that he wrote 8,989 hymns. That’s 10 lines of poetry every single day for 50 years. And we are privileged to have sung some of those hymns. Tell me, don’t these hymns ring a bell for you?
