Oh Praise the Lord My Soul
Oh praise the Lord my soul
The hymn expresses Lutheran emphasis on God's complete sovereignty, mercy, and providential care over all creation, reflecting the confidence in divine election and grace. It articulates the joy of salvation that flows from recognizing God's majesty and trustworthiness.
History & Background
Written by Henry Francis Lyte in 1834, this hymn was published in his collection 'Spirit of the Psalms' and represents a paraphrastic approach to Psalm 146. The text has been widely adopted in Lutheran hymnals since the 19th century.
A hymn to God’s love and compassion, Psalm 103 is a carefully crafted song. Not only is it composed of twenty-two lines, the number of letters in the Hebrew alphabet, but its opening and closing calls to praise (w. 1-5,20-22; st. 1, 5) also frame a uniquely structured center (w. 6-19). Six verses honor God’s compassionate and forgiving grace toward the Israelites as sinners (w. 7-12; st. 23), and six verses celebrate God’s everlasting love for these chosen 236 Scripture References st. 1 =w. 1-5 st. 2 = w. 6-10 st. 3 = w. 11-14 st. 4 = w. 15-18 st 5 =w. 19-22 PSALMS people, whose “days are like grass” (w. 13-18; st. 3-4). Further framing this exposition of God’s love are two verses (6,19) that proclaim God’s righteousness and justice, upon which the LORD has established his throne in heaven so that his kingdom rules over all. Moreover, according to the principle of describing the outer limits of something in order to refer to its whole (as one refers to a whole tree by speaking of its fruit above and its roots below, cf. Amos 2:9), the psalmist’s opening call to “my soul” to praise the LORD and the closing call on God’s angels to do the same invites all creation to praise its Maker and King. Helen Otte versified this psalm in 1986 for the Psalter Hymnal. Other settings of Psalm 103 are at 297,475,583, and 627.
Hymnal Appearances
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 888
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 538
- Lutheran Worship — 355
- Psalter Hymnal — 103
Liturgical Use
Covenant renewal/profession of faith services; conclusion of the Lord’s Supper; Christian worship focusing on illness or other distresses that emphasize the frailty of human life; worship focusing on God’s love and compassion.
Bulletin Note
Written by Henry Francis Lyte in 1834, this hymn pairs the meter and tune LAUDA ANIMA with the psalmist's call to praise. It reflects deep Reformed and Lutheran confidence in divine sovereignty and grace.
Preaching Connection
This hymn transforms the Law's demand for obedience into the Gospel's invitation to joyful praise by anchoring exhortation in God's demonstrated acts of redemption and providential care.
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: From personal redemption and grateful praise, through God's consistent mercy toward His people, to His tender care and protection, culminating in the cosmic vision of angels and saints in eternal adoration
Themes
Praise and worship Providence of God Divine majesty Gratitude Trust in God's care