O thank the Lord, O thank the Lord

Themes:
Scriptures:
  • 2 Chronicles 5:13
  • 2 Chronicles 7:3
  • Ezra 3:11
  • Psalms 100:5
  • Psalms 106:1
  • Psalms 107:1
  • Psalms 117:2
  • Psalms 118:1-4
  • Psalms 136
  • Psalms 52:9
  • Jeremiah 33:11
Book Number:
  • 279

O thank the Lord, O thank the Lord;
give him the praise, for he is good!
Because his mercy shall endure,
his faithfulness is ever sure:
O thank the Lord, O thank the Lord;
give him the praise for ever!

Copyright Control
Anon.

The Father - His Covenant

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Tune

  • Tannenbaum
    Tannenbaum
    Metre:
    • 88 88 87
    Composer:
    • Scripture Union

The story behind the hymn

A strong traditional tune and a clear biblical text have combined to produce this small classic whose origins as a single item may never be traced. In a slightly different form, it is a survivor from the first Youth Praise of 1966 (where it came between Thank you and How great thou art), but was clearly in popular use before that was compiled. Resembling Psalm 117 in style and compactness, the words also reflect the refrain which often introduces or punctuates OT praise, as in the opening of Psalm 106, Psalm 107, Psalm 118, and Psalm 136, and first (in our Bible order) at 1 Chronicles 16:34. But for the name of Christ, it contains all that can be asked of a brief scriptural and congregational song. On such extracts for singing, see the notes on 280. 253 is another miniature on the same great subject.

The tune [DER] TANNENBAUM (the fir tree) is a traditional German air, but has been appropriated for many uses from Christmas to communism, via the jazz standard Maryland, my Maryland.