A story of the hymn, “O Worship the King” by William Petersen

Sir Robert Grant was acquainted with kings. His father was a member of the British Parliament and later became chairman of the East India Company. Following in his father’s footsteps, young Grant was elected to Parliament and led the fight for civil rights for Jewish people. Then he became a director of the East India Company. In 1834 he was appointed governor of Bombay, and in that position, he was greatly loved. A medical college in India was named in his honor.

This hymn by Grant is based on Psalm 104, a psalm of praise. The progression of titles for God in the last line is interesting: “Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend.” We know God first as our Maker, our Creator. Then, even before our conversion, he is our Defender, our Keeper from harm. We know him then as Redeemer, our personal Savior from sin and its penalty. Finally, as we walk day by day with him, as we commune with him and enjoy his fellowship, we know him also as Friend.

Yes, Sir Robert Grant was acquainted with kings, but he treasured most of all his friendship with the King of kings.

Scriptures: Psalm 47:6-7; Psalm 104:1-4; 1 Timothy 6:15-16
Themes: Worship, Praise, Titles of God

Lyrics of the Hymn:
O worship the King, all glorious above,
O gratefully sing His power and His love;
Our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days,
Pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise.

O tell of His might, O sing of His grace,
Whose robe is the light, whose canopy space;
His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form,
And dark is His path on the wings of the storm.

The earth with its store of wonders untold,
Almighty, Thy power hath founded of old,
Hath established it fast by a changeless decree,
And round it hath cast, like a mantle, the sea.

Thy bountiful care, what tongue can recite?
It breathes in the air, it shines in the light;
It streams from the hills, it descends to the plain,
And sweetly distills in the dew and the rain.

Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
In Thee do we trust, nor find Thee to fail;
Thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end,
Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend.
By ROBERT GRANT (1779–1838)

Reference for the Hymn:
Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (pp. 58-59). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.