WORSHIP >> Adoration & Praise
SDAH 1
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near;
Join ye in glad adoration!
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Hymn Spotlight: Praise to the Lord
A timeless call to worship, Praise to the Lord was originally written by Joachim Neander (1650–1680) in 1680 while he was serving as assistant preacher at St. Martin’s Church in Bremen, Germany. Inspired mainly by Psalm 103:1-6 and Psalm 150, Neander’s hymn was published in Alpha and Omega, Practice of Faith and Love of Joachim Neander. The well-known English translation we sing today was completed by Catherine Winkworth (1827–1878) in Chorale Book for England (1863), though some stanzas from Neander’s original text have been omitted.
The hymn tune, LOBE DEN HERREN (meaning “Praise the Lord”), was adapted from a melody first published in a 1665 songbook in Stralsund, Germany. The arrangement found in many hymnals, including the SDA Hymnal, was harmonized by William Sterndale Bennett and Otto Goldschmidt.
For generations, this hymn has stirred hearts with its majestic praise, calling all that has life and breath to adore the Lord.
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General Introduction:
This hymn is a call to wholehearted worship—a reminder that God is not only the King of creation but also the One who provides, sustains, and protects us. Psalm 150:6 says, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!” That includes each of us, right here, right now. As we sing, let’s reflect on how God has guided our lives, answered prayers, and surrounded us with His love. This isn’t just a song; it’s an invitation to rejoice in the God who blesses and upholds us daily. So let’s lift our voices together and praise the Lord!
Introduction highlighting the first stanza:
This hymn opens with a powerful invitation: “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!” It’s a reminder that our worship is directed to the One who rules over all, the source of life and salvation. It continues with a personal call—“O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!” How often do we pause to recognize God as the One who sustains us, both physically and spiritually? And then, a call to community—“All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near; join ye in glad adoration!” We’re not just here to sing songs; we’re here to respond to God’s goodness together. So as we lift our voices, let’s not just sing—let’s truly praise the Lord with all our hearts!
Introduction highlighting the second stanza:
As we sing this next hymn, let’s take a moment to reflect on the incredible ways God watches over us. The second verse reminds us that He “reigns over all things so wondrously”—not from a distance, but as a loving and personal God. It paints a beautiful picture of His care: “Shieldeth thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth.” How often do we pause to recognize His hand in our lives, guiding, protecting, and providing exactly what we need? And then comes a challenge to our faith: “Hast thou not seen how thy desires e’er have been granted in what He ordaineth?” Sometimes we don’t see it in the moment, but looking back, we realize—God has been working all along. So let’s sing with confidence and gratitude, praising the Lord who reigns, sustains, and provides for us each day!
Introduction highlighting the third stanza:
As we come to this hymn, we’re reminded that God is not only our Creator and Sustainer—He is also the One who prospers, defends, and walks with us each day. The final verse proclaims, “Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee.” What a promise! It then challenges us: “Ponder anew what the Almighty can do, if with His love He befriend thee.” Have we truly considered what God can do in our lives when we trust Him fully? His power is limitless, and His love is unshakable. So as we lift our voices, let’s sing with faith, joy, and expectation—praising the Lord who blesses, protects, and pours out His mercy on us each day!
Joachim Neander (1650-1680) wrote these words in 1680 when He was assistant preacher at St. Martin’s, Bremen, basing it mainly on Psalm 103:1-6 and Psalm 150. Many translations have been made of this hymn, the present one by Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878), appearing in her Chorale Book for England, 1863, Neander’s words were published in Alpha and Omega, Joachimi Neandri Glaub- und Libesübung, Bremen, 1680 (Alpha and Omega, Practice of Faith and Love of Joachim Neander) in five stanzas of five lines each. Miss Winkworth omitted his stanza 4 in her translation, and SDAH further omits Neander’s last stanza, which was:
Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him!
Let the Amen sound for His people again;
Gladly for aye we adore Him!
The tune LOBE DEN HERREN (Praise the Lord) is named for the opening words of Neander’s German hymn, but he adapted it from a similar melody that appeared in Ander Teil des Erneuerten Gesangbuchs, printed in Stralsund, a Baltic port of East Germany, in 1665. There it had secular words, which raises the possibility of its having been used for an even earlier secular song. In Winkworth’s Chorale Book for England the melody, as with the other hymns in the book, has been harmonized by the musical editors, William Sterndale Bennette (1816-1875), professor of music at Cambridge, conductor of the Philharmonic Society, and principal of the Royal Academy of Music, and Otto Goldschmidt, the husband of Jenny Lind, the famous Swedish vocalist known as the “Swedish nightingale.”
Stanza:
1 – Psalm 42:11
2 – Psalm 36:7
3 – Psalm 23:6
Text
1
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near;
Join ye in glad adoration!
2
Praise to the Lord, Who o’er all things so wondrously reigneth,
Shieldeth thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not seen how thy desires e’er have been
Granted in what He ordaineth?
3
Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;
Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
If with His love He befriend thee.
Hymn Info
Biblical Reference
Psalm 103:2-5
Author
Joachim Neander (1650-1680)
Translator
Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878)
Year Published
1863
Hymn Tune
LOBE DEN HERREN
Metrical Number
14.14.4.7.8.
Arranger
Wm. S. Bennett
Tune Source
Chorale Book for England, 1863
Theme
ADORATION AND PRAISE
Recommended Reading
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One of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s most popular sonnets is “How Do I Love Thee” where she lists the depth of her love for her husband through hyperbole, or exaggeration. Joachim Neander wrote “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” in the same vein by listing the reasons why we should praise God.
For the past few days, I’ve been waking up with this tune in my head. And it’s actually a very beautiful tune that perfectly matches Joachim Neander’s hymn about extolling praises to God. So I tried googling around to see any arrangements that fits the grandiose, majestic, and yet devoted nature of God when it comes to relating with us.
The year was 1670. The Pietist movement was sweeping fast across the Protestant areas of Germany. Many sermons placed an emphasis on personal religion. And at St. Martin’s church in Bremen, it was no different. Using 1 Peter 1 as a basis of his sermon, the preacher gave a powerful call to a real spiritual rebirth, a true inward holiness.
