Text: Job 12:7-12, Psalm 148:1-14, Matthew 6:26
Of all the monastic saints, we see reminders of Saint Francis of Assisi the most. He is immortalized in backyards everywhere as a stone lawn statue, usually cradling a bird or comforting a fawn. And there is truth behind the sculptures; Francis was actually very well known for his care and attention to animals. In fact, his enthusiasm for preaching the gospel and his love for animals occasionally drove him to go so far as to preach sermons to flocks of birds.
In 1226, with his vision failing and his life nearing its end, he wrote a poem titled “The Canticle of the Sun.” In his weakened state, he celebrated the psalmic call for all creation to praise God as Creator (Psalm 19).
Saint Francis was always keen on unity with nature. In fact, in his original version of this hymn he referred to creation as family: brother sun, sister water, brother fire, mother earth, brother wind, and sister moon (Bailey 264). Although some English translations maintain those sentiments, when William Draper translated it from Latin to English in 1910 for a children’s festival, he paraphrased the original poem, leaving out references to any familial relationships with creation.
We can all join with creation to say, “Hallelujah!” and praise God for His creative goodness. We can sing with the psalmist in Psalm 148, praising God with the stars and the waters, the sea monsters, lightning, and clouds. Let us join together to praise and honor the Lord of heaven and earth.
All Creatures of Our God and King
William Draper
All creatures of our God and King,
lift up your voice and with us sing:,
alleluia, alleluia!
O burning sun with golden beam,
and shining moon with silver gleam,
O praise him, O praise him,
alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
O rushing wind so wild and strong,
white clouds that sail in heaven along,
alleluia, alleluia!
New rising dawn in praise rejoice;
you lights of evening find a voice:
O praise him, O praise him,
alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Cool flowing water, pure and clear,
make music for your Lord to hear:
alleluia, alleluia!
Fierce fire, so masterful and bright,
providing us with warmth and light.
O praise him, O praise him,
alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Earth ever fertile, day by day
bring forth your blessings on our way;
alleluia, alleluia!
All flowers and fruits that is you grow,
let the his glory also show;
O praise him, O praise him,
alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
All you who are of tender heart,
forgiving others, take your part;
alleluia, alleluia!
All you who pain and sorrow bear,
praise God and on him cast your care;
O praise him, O praise him,
alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Let all things their Creator bless,
and worship him in humbleness,
alleluia, alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
and praise the Spirit, Three in One:
O praise him, O praise him,
alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Bailey, Albert Edward. The Gospel in Hymns: Backgrounds and Interpretations. New York: Scribner, 1950.
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83 thoughts on "All Creatures of Our God and King"
I’ve never heard this hymn before but the words remind me of the praise attributed to “The 3 saintly youth” (Shadrach, Mishak and Abednego) sung in the fire in the Deutorocanonical books…(or Apocrypha, depending on your perspective).
I love the reminder that all of creation praises my Saviour!!
@Krystle Scott – thank you so much for the encouragement. I just screenshot your post to remember it :) I needed that.
@Mercy, thank you so much for sharing your walk. It’s exactly what I needed to hear ❤️
Michelle, I read this in the Deuteronomy study today and thought of you: “We live in a generation of forgetfulness, that often scoffs at obedience, and makes light of faithfulness. It is for this reason that we also too often find ourselves in a generation of weakness and cowardice, adrift. If we would see our children and our spiritual communities prosper, we must know and remember the Word and the works of God.” Keep being faithful sister. God sees you. ❤️
1 Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights! – Psalms 148:1. What a great reminder today. I often times forget to just praise the lord for the good things that have happened in my days. Even the simplest of things I often times get lost in my prayers instead of forgetting to just praise him for all he’s done.
@LAURA: thank you for your suggestion. I searched for it on Amazon yesterday wondering if that might be the one, to see your confirmation that it’s the one :) God is good!
Happy Tuesday she’s,
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. The animals in the forest, the fish in the ocean, birds in the sky…will teach us about the Lord. Wow. “Fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word!” (Psalm 148:8). Even weather condition yields. “He has raised up a horn for his people, resulting in praise to all his faithful ones” (Psalm 148:14). Father we thank you that you raise us up in victory (horn) so that we can praise You, for your faithfulness to your children, and to all creatures, which they don’t labor 9-5 but You feed them and care for them… how much more us. We thank you for your faithfulness and give you glory and praise!
@SEARCHING: ❤️
@DAWN PRENATT: praying that the Lord will reveal to you hidden things about your friendship. I also walked a season of some friendships strangely falling off, without realizing I had been praying earnestly for God to uproot anything that is not of Him from me. When the answer came and God’s Hand was stirring strong, I was a bit disoriented as to how certain friendships turned cold. It took some time for adjustment, now I changed my prayer from “Lord restore those friendships” to “Lord provide for me godly friendships, surround me with faithful & genuine people that love me”. Lifting prayers for you.
@RHONDA : amen to “we are so caught up in our pain”. What truth. The devil uses/causes pain to distract and numb us from God, to revert to self, to me me me. But God uses that same pain for deliverance and healing. May all our pain be the first hand witness of God’s mercy, limitless power to overturn any situation, of His enduring love and faithfulness!
@SHARON JERSEY GIRL: prayers for your strong recovery, and finance provision for Arian.
@MOLLY R: grace for co-op and busy schedule.
@KRISTINE LOUGHMAN: prayers for a great time in FL.
Be blessed dear sisters. Bless the Lord, o my soul. Bless the Lord.
I love this hymn. I love the visual of St. Francis of Assisi holding a bird in his hand and comforting a fawn. I had patients in hospice who would tell me they didn’t worship God, but rather worshipped nature or the universe. I always found it so amazing that they could worship the created but not the Creator.
I have prayed for each of your requests by name and by circumstance as I came to them.
Good news: I was able to move my neurologist appointment from December 22 to October 27. Thank you for your prayers.
Sometimes how God works in mind-boggling.
First of, my family and I are recovered from our sickness, so thank you for all the prayers. It feels good to be back to “normal” and I am praying for others still awaiting that.
Tuesday is the day after our homeschool co op, and it’s a day we hit homeschooling hard. We set the tempo of the rest of the week with what we do on Tuesday morning. As mom, that usually means an extra early start to make sure I am ready and doing MY best to set us up for success. Cue the 3 year old, who for the last few days has decided that 4:45am is a great time to wake up. I can easily get frustrated that the whole morning feels derailed by this unexpected change of MY plans. Today, by the grace of God, I embraced it, and him. I was so thankful for the ability to put my wants aside. I got him set up with a snack and a show so I could focus on my Bible Study. Before I started I got an overwhelming urge to pray for my husband…and I felt like I didn’t know what to pray so I sat a moment just listening. I ended up praying Matthew 6:25-27 over him and THEN dove into the study today. I love when God goes before us, I love when He fills our hearts with words to pray over those near and dear. I ended up sending the Job passage and the Matthew passage to him via text, knowing God was ahead of it and preparing my husband to receive it as the gift from God that it was.
Today’s hymn is one of my favorites and another that has me remembering the church sanctuary filled with voices in praise! Thankful today for the goodness of God to meet me where I am!
CHERYL BLOW – I had copied that verse into my comment, too!
10 The life of every living thing is in his hand, as well as the breath of all humanity.
I know I have shared this verse before, but it fits here, too! As I have shared before, I often see the trees in my yard doing just that when the wind blows just right.
SHARON, JERSEY GIRL – Thankful your surgery went well and that recovery is off to such a great start!
Isaiah 55:12
For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
SEARCHING – “He made it all, and He gave His all. How can I not praise Him for all He has done?” AMEN, sister!!! ❤
KRISTINE LOUGHMAN and SHARON, JG – Amen! I feel the same way. Sometimes I feel like Snow White caring for all the critters and plants around our house. What joy they bring, mostly I think because we see them as gifts from our good Father and reminders of his care and attention.
AGNUS DEI by Michael W. Smith
Alleluia, alleluia
For our Lord God Almighty reigns
Alleluia, alleluia
For our Lord God Almighty reigns
Alleluia
Holy, holy
Are You, Lord God Almighty
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb
You are holy, holy
Are You, Lord God Almighty
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb
Amen
This worship song is so beautiful and I had planned to share it at the close of the study, but it just fits today’s reading. Listen to it and release your heart and soul to worship. I have always loved this chorus, but haven’t heard it in a while. It was in the suggestions I followed on YouTube yesterday while on the treadmill!
I also want to mention a page on youtube that I saw yesterday. Hymns Made Fresh – a good resource for learning the hymns we aren’t familiar with. It highlights the words in the correct timing, etc.
Lifting requests to our Creator!
God is worthy of our praise!
I love this verse in Job!
10 In his hand is the life of every living thing
and the breath of all mankind. – Job 12:10
Hallelujah!
My heart has not been praising the Lord as I should lately, and I am feeling convicted today to start making that a more consistent part of my prayer life.
All you who pain and sorrow bear,
praise God and on him cast your care;
I am quick to cast my sorrows and pain, but often forget to praise the God of this beautiful creation.
Praying today for requests mentioned.
For anyone who is interested in the study book we are using to guide us in our Screwtape Letters book club, I bought this one from Amazon:
The Screwtape Letters Study Guide: A Bible Study on the C.S. Lewis Book The Screwtape Letters (CS Lewis Study Series) Paperback – July 4, 2015
by Alan Vermilye (Author)
It is written by a pastor and has very good guiding questions in it.
Praising God this morning for all His blessings and seeing how He truly is working behind the scenes of my life and my son’s life!
Praising God this morning for all you SRT sisters! Every time I open this app I am filled with so much encouragement and gratitude for your prayers. Thank you thank you and have a wonderful week❤️❤️
Ladies, the past few days I’ve felt disconnected from God. I don’t think I’m alone in this. I know it’s me, and I’ve felt so on fire lately, so I’m trying to not get down on myself.
I’m struggling with accepting a possible end of a friendship because I just can’t make sense of it. So I’ve been praying and talking to God about it, to help me find peace since HE KNOWS, and I may never know why. I have an idea, but I don’t know for sure bc she hasn’t spoke to me. This woman has been a huge part of my life for the last 8 years, more like a mother figure, so I just don’t understand. It has me in my head almost constantly about it.
Any suggestions or helpful guidance is absolutely appreciated. Thank you, ladies ❤️
Praising God today for all His creation! The life and breath of every creature and all mankind is in His hand! I never cease to be amazed by God’s creation. Every time I see a beautiful sunset or sunrise – I feel they are shouting God’s praise. Every time I pick a flower from my garden and see how beautiful it is it reminds me of the artistic hand of God that pays attention to every detail right down to every individual petal! God is awesome – there is no other way to describe Him – give Him praise in the highest!! @Rhonda J. – I love Brandon Lake’s song, “I’ll Praise You Anywhere” it was one of the songs he sang at his concert last month – he did an a fantastic job! Many times this song is going through my mind on “repeat”. … “Let them praise the name of the LORD, for His name alone is exalted; His splendor is above the earth and the heavens.” Psalm 148:13
@Mercy – praying for your family’s health and that sickness does not run through you all as the colder days approach.
@Aleida – praying that your home sells soon, and that you transition well into your new home. Also – praise the Lord for Victor’s part time job! Praying that he will continue to go to his meetings and that he will see the vital importance of having car insurance & make that a priority. That’s not something you want to be without.
@Kelly Neo and @all of you praying for my sister Arian – thank you! Continued prayers that she will be able to pay her expenses from month to month. She has been searching for a full time job, but nothing yet. Also – her car breaks down just about every other week!
Thank you all for your prayers for my knee surgery – all went well, Praise the Lord! They had me up and walking right away, but I can’t drive for a week. The pain is minimal with a little stiffness and should go away in the next few days.
Blessings to you all!
@Sharon, JG- hope your surgery was successful and you are resting :)
Thank you all so much for your prayers and insight. I appreciate hearing from each of you. I also confessed how I was feeling to my church community group last night and they prayed for me, too. I know there is power in prayer! God bless you all <3
@Laura- love the Screwtape Letters!!
Good Morning!
Another song I do not know, but I love the reminder that all creation praises the Lord! Small and large creatures, the mountains, trees, and seas. Grand sunrises and sunsets, or a cloudy stormy eve. Raise our hands in singing praise and dancing, or bow down humbly in reverence of the almighty. He is worthy, He is worthy…our Heavenly Father is worthy!
Sometimes we are so caught up in our pain, it’s hard to lift our eyes to the One, and then other times we are too happy in our own makings (so we think), to give credit where it’s due. Or can we stumble along this crazy path of life not looking to the beauty that is magnificent all around us? There are many songs out right now that talk of “praising” at all times. Brandon Lake’s “Praise You Anywhere.” And Elevation Worship’s “Praise!”
Here are some lyrics from the previous-
Faithful all my life
Blessings day and night
Countless reasons why
I’ll praise You anywhere
Every promise kept
Goodness every step
Each and every breath
I’ll praise You anywhere
KRISTINE LOUGHMAN… I was also singing along in my head!
I especially love the fourth stanza…. Forgiving others is one of the hardest things to do. (Our Bible lesson at preschool this week is “Joseph Forgives His Brothers”.) “I’m sorry.” is hard to say, but so much more… “I forgive you.”
Matthew 6:26 is soooo familiar, but I never saw it’s connection to the 148th Psalm before. Duh!!!
Prayers offered daily for all my sweet sisters’ requests. Blessings to you all!
He made it all, and He gave His all. How can I not praise Him for all He has done?
I’ve often wondered how anyone cannot believe in God when you look at the majesty of the natural world around us.
MERCY and other sisters – praying for family health
CEE GEE – the dissatisfaction and distraction you highlighted yesterday, at times it feels like it’s everywhere. Praying we can focus on the Lord and be thankful for what He brings to us, and what He brings us through. ❤️
SHARON JERSEY GIRL – praying for a smooth recovery! Also, see KELLY (NEO) ❤️ comment to me, praying for your sister, ARIAN
ALEIDA – praying for Victor, your upcoming move and sale of home
LAURA and MICHELLE PATIRE – praying for wisdom, guidance, confirmation and peace in each of your circumstances. Sending a big hug to each of you ❤️
ADRIENNE – thank you for the update on Leo!
What a beautiful hymn! I sang along in my head as I read the lyrics. We made it to the Florida panhandle for our fall break and the powdery white sand, crystal clear water, Cotten Candy sunset- all gifted to us by God our Creator. I always find it easier to feel close to God when I’m surrounded by nature. He could have made Earth to be anything but he intentionally added beauty to the design. What a gift!
Love the passage from Job. Nature acknowledgesthe Creator just by being. Lord, help me to do the same!
SEARCHING – continued prayers for Arian. May the Lord continue to provide all she needs.
ALEIDA – praying all goes well with closing on the new house. Continuing to pray that Victor will stick with the program
SHARON, JERSEY GIRL – trusting all wend well with your surgery and you are soon pain free!
MICHELLE PATIRE – praying the Lord will bring you His joy in your situation. Continue to be faithful to what He has asked of you. Trust it is all for your good and His glory
This hymn gave me goosebumps. What a powerful visual— where all of creation, the sun the moon the stars the earth the wind the fire the sea, all living creatures— join together and praise the one true God. Lord, You alone are worthy. With deepest gratitude, I offer my humble thanks for the beautiful life you have given us. Thanks be to God!!
He is so worthy of our praise but in the midst of life we tend to forget this most important part of our relationship with Him! Lord, I want to always give you the praise you deserve! Please keep a reminder in front of me that I may never forget to praise you!
Praise Him. I forget to do that when I am in the midst of the storm and trial. Lord help me remember to Praise you always.
How good is He.
Praise Him
Praise be to Him!
Let us praise him!
What an awesome hymn to study. And so encouraging for me…sometimes in the midst of my struggles and stress I ask for guidance and patience and courage but I forget to praise God for ALL things. And in all things, He deserves to be praised!
If you will watch Louie Giglio’s talk entitled “Symphony,” (you can find it on YouTube) it really brings to life the beauty and power of Psalms 148. Totally worth the watch.
Amen! Amen!! It’s incredible!
Oh wow, I didn’t realize there was another screen I could swipe to the right after the commentary. So glad to have figured out the comments page!
Welcome to the comments, Lisa! We’re glad to have you in our online community! Grateful for you.
– Stormye
Love that song
Great passage and all God children are more valuable than the creatures of the land God provides for every single thing and we are all bless thank you Jesus I give you all the praise in Jesus name amen .
this is so fitting because I’m away at a lake house with my husband for the weekend. it is absolutely beautiful and my favorite place to be that is close to home. things have been very stressed and a little on edge between us. so please pray it will be a renewed time for us.
lord, please help us to take this weekend to draw closer to you. amen
Praying for you, Natasha!
Natasha- how are things going?! Praying for your marriage!
My husband and I are in such a dark place right now as we face two failed IVFs, four babies lost to heaven and more debt than we will likely ever be able to pay off. Praising Him right now is hard. I’m thankful that the earth cries out to praise Him when I can’t.
I’m praying for strength for you and your husband. And a strong bond to hold you two together through this. My heart breaks for you
Lauren,
I am lifting you up to the Lord right now! I too know the pain of IVF and the deep sorrow that comes with miscarriage. When I lost my pregnancy, I felt like I was in a desert- dry & alone. Then I read Jeremiah 31:2 “They found grace in the desert” and it brought me comfort to know that our God is bigger than my hurt and pain and can use our dark places for His glory and our restoration. I admire your strength & will keep you in my prayers.
Praying for you Lauren. My heart goes out to you as I’ve watched my sister struggle with infertility. As I’m sure I can’t understand the depth of your hurt, I know God can.
Just yesterday in the short walk from my office to have lunch with my little girl at her grandma’s, I was reflecting on how the changing trees, the neighborhood dog and the wind all lifted up praise to God, even when the creation made in the image of God, mankind, refused. God’s creation was declaring His glory and I was so thankful that God had given me the grace to hear it and join the chorus!
What a message of Praise. We are to praise God at all times in all that we do. Now often we ask God to bless us and He certainly does. We think of it in terms of His provision, and it means that. It means that He will take care of us and provide for our needs. He will bless us. But what it really means is to speak well of God. We are to bless His name and to speak well of many things about God-to proclaim it. Psalm 34:1 says, “I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Is that true of us? I really am trying to become better at this. I have lots of work to do.
Well said. So true. Thanks for sharing. I went and liked up ps34:1— such a great reminder!
Just a beautiful reminder that God always provides and to not create anxiety for ourselves the things that belong to Him but instead to embrace the beauty He created and praise Him no matter what
This is so crazy that this song was what we studied today. Before even opening my app today, I was writing the lyrics to this song in my journal because my family celebrated the birthday of my 4 year old niece (who since she was 2 has been battling a stage 4 neuroblastoma). We didn’t know that we would ever be able to celebrate her birthday outside of a hospital, but today she was surrounded by friends and loved ones and is currently in remission (praise God!) But also today my dog passed away. Even before I knew, God was preparing my heart to be praising His creation today. So crazy, but so sweet how He works.
I’m so sorry that you lost your dog.
Praise God for your blessed little niece!
I love how this crescendo of creation in the hymn and our participation in the praise hunkers down to a forgiving, tender heart. Never knew that verse and it has opened a new perspective on what creation has to teach. Come to think of it creation IS forgiving -continuing to sing to us even as we abuse it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0d3gO6qDLNA&feature=youtu.be
A great version of this hymn.
I just love Job 12:7-12!!! I love that it say nature will teach us. It’s so true. Animals, plants, insects, all nature is doing exactly what it was made to do. It is shouting God’s praise everyday! We constantly fall but yet He loves us “more that the sparrows”. Amen!
http://www.littlelightonahill.com
There have been times in my life where I had a hard time seeing God in the midst of disappointment and hurt, specially a time when I was far away from home.
But all I had to do was walk out the door and see the sunset, the sunlight shining through the trees and hear the birds singing.
I asked Him to show himself to me, and all of the sudden everything around me exploted in a glorious dance of light, colour and sound ❤
Oh this is so moving!
How perfect is was that I randomly choose this morning to have devotions outside!!
So perfect. Isn’t in these little winks from God that we know His love for us ever more deeply!
7 “But ask the beasts, and they will teach you;
the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you;
8 or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you;
and the fish of the sea will declare to you.
9 Who among all these does not know
that the hand of the Lord has done this?
10 In his hand is the life of every living thing
and the breath of all mankind.
11 Does not the ear test words
as the palate tastes food?
12 Wisdom is with the aged,
and understanding in length of days.
Love these truths.
I love this hymn, and I don’t think I’d ever seen ask the verses before. Beautiful!
It is when I am outside, enjoying creation that I feel closest to God….taking this reminder to step into His creation and sing praises….
I also feel closer to God and more at peace when spending time outside and enjoying the intricacies of His beautiful creation!
I love the story of St. Francis! Often times I feel closest to God when I am in the middle of nature. To Him be the Glory.
All you who are of tender heart, forgiving others, take your part; alleluia, alleluia!
somehow I had missed this part of the song all these years. it’s nice to be addressed so directly, as one long accused of being Too sensitive. just forgive, and praise the Lord. simple, and far from easy.
This is so beautiful. Thanks for the link Marianne. Do you ever notice how the burdens of yesterday seem to be lighter when we praise Him? My spirit responds to Him when I am singing His praises. Even in our hardest times we can rejoice in Him and lift Him up in praise. But we can only do that through Him. He puts that joy and desire in us. He knows what we need. I need to praise Him today!
This is my favorite time of year. As death begins to take hold of the leaves, God’s glory is revealed in the brilliant colors. I will take this hymn with me on my walks and drives, praising God with all of creation.
“All you who pain and sorrow bear, praise God and on Him cast your care.” This is hard to do. In the midst today of disappointment and yes, hurt, I praise Him out of obedience. The emotions of love and gratefulness are subdued beneath, yet still I will praise Him. My voice is quiet and trembling, yet I will look to His face. This is hard but it is right. O praise Him, my heavy heart. Alleluia. Still, I whisper Alleluia.
Praying for your comfort this day. Cast your care on Him, abide in Him, seek His face, and rest in His arms. Isaiah 41:13 For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
Standing with and next to you in prayer. ❤️
May you find peace in God’s great outdoors today Churchmouse.
Prayers for peace for you this day…..
One of my favorites. Lovely to read verses that I didn’t know. The trees here are beginning their exultation.
All flowers and fruits that as you grow,
Let his glory also show…”
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
and praise the Spirit, Three in One:
O praise him, O praise him,
alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Hallelujah.!
Amen..
Thank you Lord God, thank you for everything…Thank you..xx
A new day, a new dawn Sisters, let us be glad and rejoice in it…Every Blessing…xxx
I found this beautiful contemporary version – filmed and recorded in St. Francis´ hometown of Assisi: https://youtu.be/9tevVTnYvss
I especially like the cicada sounds in the background – contributing their share of praise. :)
Thank you so much for this, Marianne…Absolutely beautiful.
Happy Monday and blessings..xx
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
and praise the Spirit, Three in One:
O praise him, O praise him,
alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Hallelujah.!
Amen..
Thank you Lord God, thank you for everything…Thank you..xx
A new day, a new dawn Sisters, let us be glad and rejoice in it…Every Blessing…xxx
Oops, I don’t know how that happened…sorry.
What an incredibly beautiful contemporary version. And such timing for me. The woman who has been a second mom to me almost my entire life and the mother of my best friend, wife of my pastor, organist for our church, is laying in a hospital bed with news today of stage 4 cancer. My heart and soul are heavy but memories of hymns that she played so beautifully are flooding my mind and this one was one of them. Thank you for posting the link. <3
Prayers for you, your friend and both families ❤
Thank you all so much!
Praying for all
prayers lifted <3
Lifting you all up in prayer. Our God is a comforter.
Praying for you in this difficult time.