We Praise Thee O God, Our Redeemer
History
In 1902, Julia Cory, then Julia Cady, was approached by the music director and organist of her church with a task: he wanted a hymn of thanksgiving and worship. He knew that she had begun writing hymns at a very young age, following in her father's amateur hymnologist footsteps.
Julia was the daughter of a prominent New York architect who also happened to be a Sunday school superintendent. As a result of her family's faithfulness, she was never too far removed from the church. She was a member of Brick Presbyterian Church in New York City, a church that has served New York City since 1767 and still serves the city today. It was in this church that the organist, J. Archer Gibson first asked Julia to pen the words to this great hymn.
Their approach to this hymn was a little backwards from what is customary: they already had the music picked out. Gibson loved the tune KREMSER, as known from an older text often associated with the tune called, "We Gather Together". While Gibson loved the music and the tone of thanksgiving that the melody evoked, he found it at odds with what he considered the "militant" lyrics of the original text.
After toiling for a couple of weeks, Julia managed these three stanzas of this worshipful hymn. In these words, she evokes the importance not only of thanksgiving and devotion, but the legacy of faith and unity that Christians have shared for thousands of years in celebrating God's faithfulness.
Since the first performance of this hymn at the Thanksgiving Day service in 1902, the hymn has captured the hearts of many. It was first published in Hymns of the Living Church in 1910, and has subsequently been the very first hymn in every published edition of the Psalter Hymnal.
Devotion
As we reflect on Julia's own life of faithfulness, it's easy to be inspired by her life of work and service in the church. It comes out even in her own lyrics—we need look no further than the second line, "in grateful devotion our tribute we bring." She believed that with her whole heart, and faithfully served as a result.
What's more, she recognized that we can continue that incredible legacy of faithfulness and thanksgiving because of the legacy of faith we share with believers who came before us. Indeed, our faithfulness should come as a direct result of our thankfulness.
Paul reminds us of this truth, while compelling us to live the truth out in Colossians 3:17, "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
The context around this verse is always exciting and inspiring to me. It's centered in the unity of the church through Christ. The way we ought to let the peace of Christ rule our hearts, that we should bear with one another, we should walk in forgiveness and confession—all wrapped up in an encouragement to sing "psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God."
That's exactly what we want to do. We want to share in the unity of faith that only the gospel can create. The kind of unity that can only be found in a shared allegiance to Christ. This is an incredible unity that transcends chaos that seems insurmountable. With the increasing polarization of our culture and society surrounding everything from politics, religion, and everything in-between, we, as the church, need to stand on the gospel and give thanks to God, together.
As we begin this journey together, remember that we are part of a bigger narrative: the narrative of God's faithfulness and the restoration of people back to Him. The Father is generous—more generous than we can imagine or even think to ask him for.
Thank God today for His faithfulness and His goodness. Thank Him for the legacy of faith that we inherit as the body of Christ.
As we sing these songs of the faith, we not only share with recent generations as we sing the same words to this hymn—we are sharing in the faith of believers for thousands of years who cried out in unity through the gospel, lifting their voice in song to their Savior and their God.
Scripture Reading
Psalm 48:9-14; Ephesians 3:20-21; Colossians 3:12-17
We Praise Thee, O God Lyrics
We praise you, O God,
our Redeemer, Creator;
in grateful devotion
our tribute we bring;
we lay it before you;
we kneel and adore you;
we bless your holy name:
glad praises we sing.
We worship you,
God of our fathers and mothers;
through life's storm and tempest
our guide you have been;
when perils o'ertake us,
you never forsake us,
and with your help, O Lord,
our battles we win.
With voices united
our praises we offer,
our songs of thanksgiving
to you we now raise;
your strong arm will guide us,
our God is beside us,
to you, our great Redeemer,
forever be praise!
