TSMSS - Praise the Lord

The original songbook was the Psalms. One particular psalm, Psalm 100, urges that praise be made to God by all lands. Over four hundred years ago, it was written into a hymn that is still sung today.

PSALM 100
Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

This is often called "The Old Hundredth" because it is based on Psalm 100. It is probably the oldest hymn of praise in the English language. William Kethe, a Scotsman, was a minister of the Church of England. But during the reign of Queen Mary, which was a reign of terror for many English Protestants, Kethe fled to German and then to Geneva, Switzerland. In Geneva he was influencd by John Calvin. There he assisted in the translation of the Geneva Bible and helped to produce a complete English version of the metrical psalms. From this Psalter, now more than four hundred years old, "The Old Hundredth" is taken. THe hymn was first published in London in 1561, shortly after Queen Elizabeth came to the throne.

The music was written by John Calvin's choir director, and the hymn has never been set to any other but the original tune.

Source: The Complete Book of Hymns: Inspiring Stories about 600 Hymns and Praise Songs, William J. Petersen & Ardythe Petersen, Tyndale, 2006.

This acapella rendition by the Martins absolutely gives me chills. The words have been updated just a bit, and then they segue right into the Doxology. Let everyhing that has breath praise the LORD! (Psalm 150:6)

ALL PEOPLE THAT ON EARTH DO DWELL
All people that on earth do dwell,
Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice:
Him serve with mirth, his praise forth tell,
Come ye before Him and rejoice.

The Lord, ye know, is God indeed;
Without our aid He did us make:
We are his folk, He doth us feed,
And for His sheep He doth us take.

O enter then His gates with praise,
Approach with joy his courts unto;
Praise, laud, and bless his Name always,
For it is seemly so to do.

For why? the Lord our God is good,
His mercy is for ever sure;
His truth at all times firmly stood,
And shall from age to age endure.

To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
The God whom heaven and earth adore,
From men and from the angel host
Be praise and glory evermore.

WORDS: William Kethe, 1561
MUSIC: Old 100th (Louis Bourgeois, 1551)

Be sure to go by Amy's blog for more songs to bless your weekend!