When Morning Gilds the Skies (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 853)
1 When morning gilds the skies, my heart awaking cries:
may Jesus Christ be praised!
When evening shadows fall, this rings my curfew call:
may Jesus Christ be praised!
2 When mirth for music longs, this is my song of songs:
may Jesus Christ be praised!
God’s holy house of prayer has none that can compare
with “Jesus Christ be praised!”
3 No lovelier antiphon in all high heav’n is known
than “Jesus Christ be praised!”
There to the eternal Word the eternal psalm is heard:
oh, Jesus Christ be praised!
4 Let all of humankind in this their concord find;
may Jesus Christ be praised!
Let all the earth around ring joyous with the sound:
may Jesus Christ be praised!
5 Sing, sun and stars of space; sing, all who see his face,
sing “Jesus Christ be praised!”
God’s whole creation o’er, today and evermore
shall Jesus Christ be praised!
Text: 19th century German; Music: Joseph Barnby; Public Domain
Devotion
I have always loved this hymn. The first verse speaks to me about being able to always give praise from morning to night. Living in North Idaho, we awaken every morning to gilded skies with the beauty of the mountains around us. It is said the birds are singing as the oxygen is released by the trees around us. I hear them singing “May Jesus Christ be praised!” And at the end of the day, I look up in the night sky and the stars ring out those same words of praise with their light. This hymn declares that the whole creation belongs to God. How wonderful that we are called to be wise co-caretakers of all that God has created.
Prayer
Loving Creator, I give you thanks and praise for all you have created. Help me to wisely care for and cherish this creation you have made—and thereby give glory to you! In Jesus name. Amen.