Praise the Lord of Heaven
Praise the Lord of heaven
This hymn reflects Lutheran emphasis on the sovereignty and majesty of God worthy of universal praise from all creation. It connects earthly worship with the heavenly liturgy, emphasizing the communion of saints and the continuity between earthly and eternal worship.
History & Background
Henry Condell's text first appeared in the 1623 edition of the Shakespeare First Folio as a commendatory poem. The hymnic version was adapted and published in later hymnals, becoming standard in Lutheran hymnody by the 20th century.
Hymnal Appearances
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 844
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 541
- Lutheran Worship — 441
Bulletin Note
Henry Condell (1623) frames creation's universal praise of God's sovereignty. Set to NEANDER's sturdy melody, this hymn echoes the Reformation's emphasis on God's majesty while affirming the mystical communion between earthly and heavenly worship.
Preaching Connection
This hymn deepens the Gospel's proclamation by anchoring our justified response of praise in the theological reality that God's majesty transcends all creation, inviting the redeemed to participate already in the heavenly worship that Christ has opened to us through His cross and resurrection.
Catechism & Confessional Connections
- The Third Article (Concerning Sanctification) Small Catechism — The Apostles' Creed
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: God's creative Word descends in mercy, speaks through history, became incarnate in Christ, and now dwells within believers transforming humanity
Themes
Praise and adoration God's majesty and creation Heavenly worship Angels and saints Divine sovereignty