All You Works of God, Bless the Lord
All you works of God, bless the Lord
The hymn embodies Lutheran theology's affirmation that all creation participates in worship and glorifies God, reflecting the doctrine that creation reveals God's glory. It connects human worship with the cosmic praise of angels and all creatures, affirming the sacramental character of the material world.
History & Background
Vajda wrote this hymn in 1980 as a paraphrase of Psalm 103:20-22 and the Benedicite (Song of the Three Young Men), drawing on the church's rich tradition of creation praise. It was first published in Lutheran Worship (1982) as a contemporary expression of cosmic doxology.
Hymnal Appearances
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 835
- Lutheran Service Book — 930
- Lutheran Worship — 297
Bulletin Note
Written in 1980 by Jaroslav Vajda, this hymn adapts the ancient Benedicite canticle for Lutheran worship, affirming that creation itself reveals God's glory and invites our glad participation in cosmic praise.
Preaching Connection
This hymn proclaims the Gospel truth that all creation is oriented toward blessing its Creator, offering a counter-voice to despair and beckoning the hearer to join the whole cosmos in joyful response to God's majesty and grace.
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Invocation of creation to praise God → enumeration of creatures' gifts → call to gratitude and eternal adoration
Themes
Creation praise God's majesty Angelic worship All creation worship Doxology