Another Feast double-pager.
Praise ye the Lord! Praise ye the Lord!
Praise from the heavens and praise in the heights!
Praise Him, ye angels, Praise Him, ye hosts,
And praise Him, ye sun, moon and stars in the heights!
Heaven of heavens, waters above;
Praise the Eternal, let all praise His Name!
When He commanded they were created,
And by a decree fixed their bounds evermore.
Praise ye the Lord! Ye mammals and deeps, too,
Fire, hail, and windstorms, fulfilling His word!
Vapours and snow all hills, too, and mountains,
And cedars and fruitful trees, let’s praise His Name!
Wild beasts and cattle, birds and all reptiles,
Earth’s kings and judges, all people and chiefs;
Young men and maidens, old men and children;
All praise ye the Name of our God evermore!
Praise ye the Lord! Praise ye the Lord!
Praise from the heavens, and praise in the heights!
Praise Him, ye angels, Praise Him ye hosts,
His glory is higher than heaven above;
God lifted high the horn of His people;
He has exalted the praise of His saints;
They are a people near unto God,
The children of Israel, praise ye the Lord!
This one was always popular for the Feast of Tabernacles’ satellite transmission. If you didn’t feel a tug of emotion, as you realized you were one of about a hundred thousand people, all singing the same song at roughly the same time, you would have had to have been made of stone.
The British-Israelism and intelligent design theory implied throughout the hymn would not be clear to any casual listeners unaware of the church’s “inside” theology, which was why this was a Feast favourite.
For those “called to the truth” however, the British-Israelism and intelligent design were enforced all the more strongly, as so many of us belted out the song at once, “young men and maidens, old men and children” alike.
It was a scene the likes of which has never been repeated since — and hopefully will never be repeated again.
