Each week, during our traditional services, our family of faith stands and sings the Doxology. The words of this wonderful hymn of praise are from the hymn Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow, written by Bishop Thomas Ken in the late 1600’s. The words of this hymn are
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him, all creatures here below;
Praise him above, ye heavenly host:
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
This ancient and treasured song is now over 300 years old. It is not only sung by our congregation, but these words and lifted in praise in various churches, each week, around the world.
These famous lines are actually part of a larger set of hymns written by Bishop Thomas Ken. While teaching at Winchester College at Oxford he wrote several small hymns to lift praise to God throughout the day. There was a verse to sing after waking up, one for mid-day one for the arrival of night and the final verse is the now famous verse know around the world as the Doxology.
Both the early morning hymn and the last hymn of the evening began with the now famous phrase, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow.” Bishop Thomas Ken understood that our day was a gift of God. I can only image that he remembered the scriptures that read, “Every good endowment and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:17) or perhaps he was thinking about the words from Psalm 9:1 the reads, “I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will tell of all thy wonderful deeds.” Either way Bishop Thomas Ken knew God should receive our gratitude for the gift of each and every day.
I want to encourage you as you begin today and as you prepare to go to sleep tonight, take a moment to express your gratitude to God. As a people of faith our practice of gratitude begins with our thanksgiving to God. You may even want to join with the saints around the world and sing your praise and thanksgiving to our God from whom all blessings flow.
Rev. Keith King, Online Campus Pastor
