Hymn Desk
Hymn Texts /

Now Praise the Lord

Now praise the Lord, all living things

The hymn embodies Lutheran emphasis on God's sovereign majesty and the corporate nature of worship encompassing all creation. It reflects the Reformed understanding of praise as humanity's chief end and the restoration of proper creature response to the Creator.

History & Background

This hymn derives from the medieval Latin tradition and German Protestant adaptations of Psalms 148 and 150. It appears in various Lutheran hymnals as a congregational paraphrase of the biblical praise psalms.

A post-exilic hymn, Psalm 148 maintains that God’s glory dis­ Scripture References played in creation and redemption is so great that the praise on st. 1 = w. 1-6 Israel’s lips (as in 149) needs to be supplemented by a chorus st. 2 = w. 7-10 from all creation. Let everything created in the heavens praise st. 3 = w. 11-14 God for the majesty and ordered goodness of the celestial realm (st. 1). Let all created things on earth and in the seas praise their Maker (st. 2). Let all people join in praising God for salvation “from sin and shame” (st. 3). The versification of stanzas 1 and 3b is from an anonymous leaflet appended to a collection of psalms, 284 PSALMS hymns, and anthems for the Foundling Hospital in London (1796). Stanzas 2 and 3a (altered) are from the 1912 Psalter. Other settings of Psalm 148 are at 188 and 466.

Scripture References Stanza 1 of “Praise the LORD! ” is directly from Psalm 113:1-2 st. 1 =Ps. 113:1-2 (RSV); Marjorie A. Jillson (b. Detroit, MI, 1931) wrote the st. 2 = Ps. 113:3-4 remaining stanzas in 1970 at the request of Heinz W. st. 3 = Ps. 113:5-8 Zimmermann as a poetic summary of 113:3-9 to be set to his st. 4 = Ps. 113:9 melody for the psalm. It was first sung at the Grosse Point Memorial Church (Presbyterian), where she was a member. for textual commentary on Psalm 113. Jillson was educated at the College of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio, and Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan. She worked as a secretary for the joint chiefs of staff in Washington, D.C., and as a dental secretary in Detroit. Jillson’s hymn texts are paired 314 BIBLE SONGS with previously composed tunes by Heinz W. Zimmerman in Three Simple Melodies (1972) andFiveHymns (1973).

Hymnal Appearances

  • Psalter Hymnal — 148

Liturgical Use

This cosmic call to praise is fitting at the beginning of worship and for many other occasions; especially appropriate for Thanksgiving and for similar services focusing on how the creation around us praises the Lord.

Liturgical Use

Particularly suitable during the Lord’s Supper (eucharista means “thanksgiving,” which is the theme of this psalm) or during the bringing of offerings (esp. st. 4). See also PHH 116.

Bulletin Note

From the German Reformation era (c. 1500), this hymn reflects the Lutheran recovery of congregational singing as central to worship. It embodies the Reformed principle that praising God is humanity's highest calling, made possible through Christ's redemption.

Preaching Connection

This hymn amplifies the Gospel's universal claim: that redemption in Christ restores humanity to our chief end—giving God the praise that is His due—transforming our worship from obligation under the Law into the freedom and joy of grace.

Catechism & Confessional Connections

Themes

Praise and adoration God's creation Eschatological rejoicing All creatures united in worship

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