All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 565)
1 All praise to thee, my God, this night
for all the blessings of the light.
Keep me, oh, keep me, King of kings,
beneath thine own almighty wings.
2 Forgive me, Lord, for thy dear Son,
the ill that I this day have done;
that with the world, myself, and thee,
I, ere I sleep, at peace may be.
3 Teach me to live, that I may dread
the grave as little as my bed.
Teach me to die, that so I may
rise glorious at the awesome day.
4 Oh, may my soul in thee repose,
and may sweet sleep mine eyelids close,
sleep that shall me more vig’rous make
to serve my God when I awake!
5 Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise God, all creatures here below;
praise God above, ye heav’nly host;
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Text: Thomas Ken; Music: Thomas Tallis; Public Domain
Devotion
Yesterday we reflected on the first two verses of the words of Thomas Ken, and I suggested that, paired with the music of Thomas Tallis, this hymn becomes a gift of comfort, forgiveness, and offered grace.
Today we focus on the last three verses. Verse 3 is a hope for peace and faith that even the sleep of death is only a rest in preparation for an eternity with God. Verse 4 is a prayer for daily renewal in rest to prepare for service to God in all of life. And finally, verse 5 is that familiar poem of praise of the Trinity set to lovely music.
Prayer
At God’s invitation we pray: “Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise God all creatures here below; praise God above ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.” Amen.