A story of the hymn, “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, King of Creation!” by William Petersen

As a student in Bremen, Germany, Joachim Neander lived a godless life. Although both his father and grandfather were Lutheran ministers, Neander wasted his teenage years in immorality. Then, when Neander was twenty, a preacher named Under-Eyke came to Bremen. Neander went to the meeting intending to ridicule the preacher, but instead he was converted.

Four years later he became headmaster of a school in Düsseldorf, and during his time there he wrote more than sixty hymns. Because of his strong Christian views and his evangelistic activities, Neander displeased the authorities and was later removed from his position.

Despite the tensions, he went on writing hymns of praise. Neander often wandered through the valleys and hills near Düsseldorf, communing with his Lord. After losing his position at the school, he lived for a time in a cave and continued writing hymns. Neander died very young, at the age of thirty, but he left behind a legacy of praise to God.

Scriptures: Psalm 67:3; Psalm 103:1-5; Colossians 1:15-20

Themes: Praise, Worship, Comfort

Lyrics of the Hymn:

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!

O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!

All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near;

Join me in glad adoration!

Praise to the Lord, who o’er all things so wondrously reigneth,

Shieldeth thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!

Hast thou not seen how thy desires e’er have been

Granted in what He ordaineth?

Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;

Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee.

Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,

If with His love He befriend thee.

Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore Him!

All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him!

Let the amen sound from His people again;

Gladly forever adore Him.

By JOACHIM NEANDER (1650–1680) Translated by Catherine Winkworth (1827–1878)

Reference for the Hymn:

Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (pp. 66-67). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

A story of the hymn, “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” by William Petersen

Henry van Dyke was serving as a guest preacher at Williams College, in the Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts, when he was so moved by the beauty of God’s creation that he wrote this hymn of joy. The next morning, he handed the poem to the college president. “Here is a hymn for you,” he said. “Your mountains were my inspiration. It must be sung to the music of Beethoven’s ‘Hymn to Joy.’” And it has been ever since.

Van Dyke was not only a Presbyterian minister, but he was also the author of many books, including the best-selling The Other Wise Man. He was a professor of literature at Princeton University, navy chaplain during World War I, and an ambassador to Holland and Luxembourg under President Woodrow Wilson.

When van Dyke published this hymn in 1911, he noted that it was to be sung by people who “are not afraid that any truth of science will destroy their religion or that any revolution on earth will overthrow the kingdom of heaven.” With such confidence, Christians have much to rejoice about.

Scriptures: Psalm 98; Habakkuk 3:17-19; Philippians 4:4-7

Themes: Creation, Joy, Praise

Lyrics of the Hymn:

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,

God of glory, Lord of love;

Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee,

Opening to the sun above.

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;

Drive the dark of doubt away;

Giver of immortal gladness,

Fill us with the light of day!

All Thy works with joy surround Thee,

Earth and heav’n reflect Thy rays,

Stars and angels sing around Thee,

Center of unbroken praise;

Field and forest, vale and mountain,

Flowery meadow, flashing sea,

Chanting bird and flowing fountain,

Call us to rejoice in Thee.

Thou art giving and forgiving,

Ever blessing, ever blest,

Wellspring of the joy of living,

Ocean depth of happy rest!

Thou our Father, Christ our brother,

All who live in love are Thine;

Teach us how to love each other,

Lift us to the joy divine.

Mortals join the mighty chorus,

Which the morning stars began;

Father love is reigning o’er us,

Brother love binds man to man.

Ever singing, march we onward,

Victors in the midst of strife;

Joyful music leads us sunward

In the triumph song of life.

By HENRY VAN DYKE (1852–1933)

Reference for the Hymn:

Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (pp. 43-44). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

A Story of the Hymn, “I know Whom I have Believed” by William Petersen

“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” That’s what we say when job hunting, but it’s also a foundational Christian truth. You can study an entire lifetime to try to discover who God is and how to reach him. But it all comes down to one question: Do you know Jesus?

As a POW during the Civil War, Daniel Whittle began reading the New Testament his mother had given him as he marched off to war, and he committed his life to Jesus Christ.

After the war, Whittle was promoted to the rank of major and then became a successful businessman. In 1873 he began preaching in evangelistic services, and for a quarter century he led revivals throughout the United States. He also encouraged some of the leading songwriters of his time and wrote many hymns himself, including “Showers of Blessing” and “Moment by Moment.” Whittle penned this hymn in 1883, perhaps thinking back to questions he had asked during his imprisonment. There were still many things he didn’t know, but he certainly did know Jesus.

Scriptures: John 14:6; Romans 8:38; 2 Timothy 1:12

Themes: Confidence, Trust, Faith

Lyrics of the Hymn:

I know not why God’s wondrous grace

To me He hath made known,

Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love

Redeemed me for His own.

But “I know whom I have believed,

And am persuaded that He is able

To keep that which I’ve committed

Unto Him against that day.”

I know not how this saving faith

To me He did impart,

Nor how believing in His Word

Wrought peace within my heart.

I know not how the Spirit moves,

Convincing men of sin,

Revealing Jesus through the Word,

Creating faith in Him.

I know not when my Lord may come,

At night or noonday fair,

Nor if I’ll walk the vale with Him,

Or “meet Him in the air.”

By DANIEL WEBSTER WHITTLE (1840–1901)

Reference for the Hymn:

Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (pp. 338-339). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.