February 28, 2020 (Friday)
“The hymn, “O Worship the King,” was written by Sir Robert Grant, a Scottish Anglican who was born in India in 1779. Robert wrote this hymn in 1833, a year before being appointed Governor of Bombay, a position that he held until his death.
“This hymn was inspired by a 16th century hymn by William Kethe — a hymn that was, in turn, inspired by Psalm 104. Several parts of the hymn sound much like verses from Psalm 104.
“The first two verses of the hymn celebrate God’s glory. The last two verses celebrate God’s love and providence. God’s greatness and God’s loving providence go together. God’s power makes it possible for him to provide for us “frail children of dust” (v. 4.).”
Oh, Worship the King
William Kethe, pub.1561
recast by Robert Grant, pub.1833
Joseph M. Kraus, ca.1785
arr. by William Gardiner, pub.1815
Oh, worship the King, all-glorious above,
Oh, gratefully sing His pow’r and His love;
Our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days,
Pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise.
Oh, tell of His might, oh, sing of His grace,
Whose robe is the light, whose canopy space;
His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form,
And dark is His path on the wings of the storm.
Thy bountiful care, what tongue can recite?
It breathes in the air, it shines in the light;
It streams from the hills, it descends to the plain,
And sweetly distills in the dew and the rain.
Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
In Thee do we trust, nor find Thee to fail;
Thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end,
Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend!