Praise Oh Praise Our God and King

Praise Oh Praise Our God and King is a hymn text by Henry F. Lyte (1836) in 8.7.8.7 D meter. Found in h82 420, tlh 570. Sung to HYFRYDOL.

This Lutheran hymn celebrates God's eternal mercy and covenant steadfastness, central to Lutheran understanding of God's grace. The emphasis on God's mercies enduring forever reflects the Lutheran affirmation of God's faithful sustenance of creation and redemption through Christ.

History & Background

Written by Henry Fitz Lyte in 1836, this hymn was published in his collection and became popular in English-speaking Lutheran congregations through inclusion in The Lutheran Hymnal (TLH, 1941). The text emphasizes the refrain structure of Psalm 136 with its repeated 'For His mercies endure forever' motif.

Hymnal Appearances

• The Hymnal 1982 — 420
• The Lutheran Hymnal — 570

Bulletin Note

Written by Henry Lyte in 1836, this hymn grounds praise in God's covenant mercies—reflecting the Lutheran conviction that all creation is sustained by grace alone, not human merit or effort.

Preaching Connection

This hymn amplifies the Gospel proclamation of God's eternal mercy by giving the hearer a voice of response—moving from the Law's exposure of our need to grace's joyful acknowledgment of God's faithful covenant love in Christ.

Catechism & Confessional Connections

• The Third Article (Concerning Sanctification) Small Catechism — The Apostles' Creed
• Of Justification Augsburg Confession

Stanza Arc

The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Christological anticipation (St. 1-2) → Incarnational paradox (St. 3) → Pneumatological reign (St. 4)

Overview

Henry Baker's harvest hymn on Psalm 136. Every stanza but the last carries the psalm's refrain, 'For His mercies still endure.' It praises God for the sun and moon (st. 2-3), the rain and the fruitful field (st. 4-5), and the full barn (st. 6). Then it turns to 'richer food than this, / Pledge of everlasting bliss' (st. 7), and closes with a Trinitarian doxology (st. 8).

Central theme: Psalm 136's refrain applied to the harvest, rising from earthly bread to the richer food that pledges eternal life

Structure

Eight 7.7.7.7 quatrains, with refrain lines 3-4 in st. 1-7. Call to praise (1); sun and moon (2-3); rain and field (4-5); harvest (6); richer food (7); doxology (8).

Law & Gospel Shape

Gospel throughout: 'His mercies still endure, / Ever faithful, ever sure.' St. 7 moves from First Article gifts to the Gospel's 'richer food.'

Confessional Connections

Ps 136 (TLH's text): 'His steadfast love endures forever.' God's faithfulness (chesed) runs from creation to redemption in that psalm, and the hymn follows the same path. St. 7: 'richer food than this, / Pledge of everlasting bliss.' The Word and above all the Lord's Supper are food that gives forgiveness, life and salvation (SC Sacrament of the Altar; John 6:27, 51). 'Pledge' fits the Lutheran confession of the Supper as Christ's true body and blood given as a pledge and seal of forgiveness (AC X, XIII; Ap XIII). The Trinitarian close (st. 8) answers AC I.

Liturgical Use (Study Notes)

Harvest festival; Thanksgiving Day; general praise.

Historical Notes

Baker (1821-1877), vicar of Monkland and editor-in-chief of Hymns Ancient and Modern, wrote it for the first edition (1861).

About the Tune

MONKLAND (Hymn Tunes of the United Brethren, Manchester, 1824; attributed to John Antes; arranged by John Wilkes).

Scripture References

Ps 136:1 Ps 136:7-9 Gen 1:16 Ps 19:4-6 Ps 147:8 Ps 65:9-13 Ps 67:6 Joel 2:24 John 6:27 John 6:35 John 6:51 Matt 26:26-28 Eph 1:14 Matt 28:19

Stanza by Stanza

Themes

God's sovereignty Praise and thanksgiving God's mercies Covenant faithfulness

Look Further

• Search Hymnary.org for "Praise Oh Praise Our God and King" ↗
• Search IMSLP for public-domain scores of "HYFRYDOL" ↗