How Do You Love Me? Let Me Count the Ways — An Analysis of the ‘Lobe Den Herren’ Text

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. However, instead of using…

Joachim Neander: The Wild Hymn Writer

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,…

SDAH 001: Praise to the Lord

Text 1Praise 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! 2Praise to the Lord, Who o’er all things so wondrously reigneth,Shieldeth thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!Hast thou…