PRAISE TO THE LORD, THE ALMIGHTY
PRAISE TO THE LORD, THE ALMIGHTY
In March 2020, just before the global lockdown following the onset of the COVID 19 pandemic, a service was held at the Westminster Abbey, London, on Monday 9th March in commemoration of the Commonwealth Day. The opening hymn sang at this event was the very popular “Praise to the Lord, The Almighty, The King of Creation.” This hymn was originally inspired by a Psalm of David, the Psalm 103. It was written in German by Joachim Neander in 1680 and was translated to the English language by Catherine Winkworth in 1863.
This hymn has evolved over the years and has had more verses added to the original German script of four stanzas. But on this day mentioned above I observed a stanza in particular, which I believe was written for a specific event. Please see below:
“PRAISE TO THE LORD, WHO WHEN TEMPESTS THEIR WARFARE ARE WAGING
WHO, WHEN THE ELEMENTS MADLY AROUND THEE ARE RAGING
BIDDETH THEM CEASE, TURNETH THEIR FURY TO PEACE,
WHIRLWINDS AND WATERS ASSUAGING”.
I think of how far we have come from that day in 2020, where there was still a crowd at Westminster Abbey to this 13th day of July in 2021 where there are all kinds of restrictions and barriers to large gatherings of such magnitude. Indeed there have been tempests waging their warfare but Praise to the Lord who has kept and preserved our souls. The elements have raged but Praise to the Lord who bid them cease and who kept their storms quiet. Now another wave or variant of the corona virus is rearing its head but Praise to the Lord who will not allow any plague to come near our dwelling. The security situation in my country Nigeria is a cause for concern but Praise to the Lord who is our refuge and our fortress. The prices of consumer goods continue to be on the rise but Praise to the Lord who is our Shepherd and shall not let us lack. It might look like there is no end in sight to the oppression but Praise to the Lord who has raised up a mighty Deliverer for us in the house of David his servant. Whatever we are going through now that is painful and hurting let us give Praise to the Lord who brings joy in the morning. If the challenges look insurmountable, let us give praise to the Lord who will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear.
There are always reasons to Praise the Lord. He daily loads us with benefits; His loves us very much; He gives His angels charge over us so we do not hurt ourselves, He has given us the gift of righteousness, He has given us an abundance of grace and by His mercy we have not been consumed. As we continue our journey into the second half of this year, please join me and give Praise to the Lord who is good and whose mercies endure forever.
PRAISE TO THE LORD, THE ALMIGHTY, THE KING OF CREATION.
OLUYINKA EGO-MARTINS©