Let the Whole Creation Cry (ELW 876)
1 Let the whole creation cry,
“Glory to the Lord on high!”
Heav’n and earth, awake and sing,
“Praise to our almighty king!”
Praise God, angel hosts above,
ever bright and fair in love;
sun and moon, lift up your voice;
night and stars, in God rejoice.
2 Servants striving for the Lord,
prophets burning with the word,
those to whom the arts belong
add their voices to the song.
Pow’rs of knowledge and of law,
to the glorious circle draw;
all who work and all who wait,
sing, “The Lord is good and great!”
3 Men and women, young and old,
raise the anthem loud and bold,
and let children’s happy hearts
in this worship take their parts;
from the north to southern pole
let the mighty chorus roll:
“Holy, Holy, Holy One;
glory be to God alone!”
Devotion
I love the way that this hymn expresses the desire that all of creation give glory and gratitude to God. It’s not just Naaman and the Samaritan leper. It’s not just you and me. It’s not just Christians, Muslims, or Jews. It’s everyone and everything. Heaven and earth. Angelic hosts. Stars and planets. Servants and prophets. Artists and intellectuals. Those who work and those who wait. Men and women. Young and old.
No one is excluded. Nothing is left out. The whole creation cries in gratitude: “Holy, Holy, Holy—glory be to God alone!”
Prayer
God of grace and glory, we praise your holy name. May we live lives of gratitude and may our voices never tire of singing your wonders. Amen.