Hymn Desk
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Oh Worship the King

Oh worship the King all glorious above

This hymn expresses the Lutheran emphasis on God's omnipotent sovereignty and the revelation of His power through creation. It reflects the Reformation principle that God's majesty is evident to all people through the natural world, inviting universal worship.

History & Background

Robert Grant wrote this hymn in 1833 as a paraphrase of Psalm 104, emphasizing God's majesty and providential care over creation. It was first published in Grant's collection and quickly became one of the most popular English hymns of praise.

Scripture References Robert Grant (b. Bengal, India, 1779; d. Dalpoorie, India, st.l = Ps. 18:2 1838) was influenced in writing this text by William Kethe’s Dan. 7:9,13, 22 paraphrase of Psalm 104 in the Anglo-Genevan st. 2 = Ps. 18:9-12 Psalter (1561). Grant’s text was first published in Edward Ps. 104:1-3 Bickersteth’s Christian Psalmody (1833) with several unautho­ st. 3 = Ps. 104:7-10 rized alterations. In 1835 his original six-stanza text was st. 5 = Ps. 145:10 published in Henry Elliott’s Psalms and Hymns. Stanza 3 was omitted in the Psalter Hymnal. Rather than being a paraphrase or versification, the text is a meditation on the creation theme of Psalm 104. Stanzas 1-3, which allude to Psalm 104:1-6, focus on God’s creation as a testimony to his “measureless Might.” More personal in tone, stanzas 4 and 5 confess the compassion of God toward his creatures and affirm with apocalyptic vision that the “ransomed creation, with glory ablaze” will join with angels to hymn its praise to God. Of Scottish ancestry, Grant was born in India, where his father was a director of the East India Company. He attended Magdalen College, Cambridge, and was called to the bar in 1807. He had a distinguished public career as Governor of Bombay and as a member of the British Parliament, where he sponsored a bill to remove civil restrictions on Jews. Grant was knighted in 1834. His hymn texts were published in the Christian Observer (1806-1815), in Elliott’s Psalms and Hymns (1835), and posthumously by his brother as Sacred Poems (1839).

Hymnal Appearances

  • Baptist Hymnal — 57
  • Chalice Hymnal — 17
  • Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 821
  • Glory to God — 41
  • The Hymnal 1982 — 388
  • Lutheran Book of Worship — 548
  • Lutheran Service Book — 804
  • Lift Up Your Hearts — 405
  • Lutheran Worship — 458
  • New Century Hymnal — 26
  • Psalter Hymnal — 428
  • Trinity Hymnal — 2
  • The Lutheran Hymnal — 17
  • United Methodist Hymnal — 73
  • Voices Together — 98

Liturgical Use

An opening hymn of praise; because of the hymn’s relationship to Psalm 104, see suggestions for use at PHH 104.

Bulletin Note

Published in 1833, Robert Grant's "Oh Worship the King" draws from Psalm 104. The stately tune Lyons, paired with its 8.7.8.7.8.7 meter, has made this hymn a cornerstone of Reformed and Lutheran worship traditions.

Preaching Connection

This hymn's movement from God's awesome judgment and power to His gentle providence mirrors the Law-Gospel arc, inviting preachers to show how reverent fear of God's sovereignty becomes the doorway to grateful trust in His sustaining grace.

Stanza Arc

The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: From divine majesty and power (Law) through cosmic sustenance (Gospel) to humble human response in worship

Themes

God's sovereignty and majesty Divine care and providence Creation and God's works Praise and adoration God's eternal nature

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