It’s been a while since I heard this hymn sung in church, but something the other day brought it to my mind. So, I decided to share it with you!
Ever have trouble pulling your mind away from the trials and ugliness of our sin cursed life? This hymn will help us refocus on the beauty God still blesses us with every day!
In fact, the power of the natural world to help us see God’s amazing character is one my favorite things about studying creation.
Of course, the whole world has been twisted and broken by our forefather’s sin (Romans 8:20-23), but the marks of God’s love and care are still clearly visible by those willing to see them.
Here’s a lovely short video to help us concentrate on God’s goodness in creation. The words to these and more stanzas are below:
(I found a beautiful video of this hymn, but email won’t send the link. Drop by the website and let the wonder and gratitude of God’s creation wash over you for a few minutes!)
1. For the beauty of the earth,
for the glory of the skies,
for the love which from our birth
over and around us lies;
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.
2. For the beauty of each hour
of the day and of the night,
hill and vale, and tree and flower,
sun and moon, and stars of light;
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.
And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.
3. For the joy of ear and eye,
for the heart and mind’s delight,
for the mystic harmony,
linking sense to sound and sight;
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.
4. For the joy of human love,
brother, sister, parent, child,
friends on earth and friends above,
for all gentle thoughts and mild;
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.
5. For thy church, that evermore
lifteth holy hands above,
offering up on every shore
her pure sacrifice of love;
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.
6. For thyself, best Gift Divine,
to the world so freely given,
for that great, great love of thine,
peace on earth, and joy in heaven:
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.
And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God. I Samuel 30:6