LBW #529, “Praise God. Praise Him”
Devotion
Many voices bring us this song. One voice, its writer, is Pastor Vedamuthu Masillamony of southern India. Born to Christian parents in 1858, Pastor Masillamony experienced a profound deepening of his faith, which led him to serve as a Lutheran pastor with the Danish Missionary Society.
Another voice is that of its translator, Pastor Daniel Thambryajah Niles, born in 1908 in the region then called Ceylon. A Methodist pastor with service in education and church leadership, Pastor Niles preached at the inaugural meeting of the World Council of Churches in 1948.
The last voice is that of its composer, Anonymous. It is likely that this joyous tune was adapted from an unnamed movie score because its original tune did not lend itself to group singing.
Scripture and deeply respected and spiritual people have shaped the words of this hymn, for which we thank God. And a tune from a forgotten pop movie helps us sing these words with joy.
Prayer
We thank you God for your Holy Word, faithful people and your power to make the common, and even profane, holy. Do the same with us and make us useful servants of your Word and of our neighbors. Amen.